Brazilian Beaches Hit by Second Oil Spill
Crude oil smudges have been spotted at some Brazilian beaches in the northeast state of Ceará, the country's navy said on Monday, almost two months after the area was hit by another oil slick.That was part of a broader spill, whose origin remains a mystery, that stained hundreds of beaches on Brazil's northeast coast between September and November, threatening marine life, tourism and fishing.The navy said samples of the new spill were being sent for analysis to a marine studies institute…
Hapag Invented the Pleasure Cruise
Vacations on a ship – 125 years ago that was considered revolutionary. What many don’t know is that the modern cruises already started in 1891 – on a Hapag ship. On a cold January morning, nearly 125 years ago, nobody could have guessed that the idea would turn into such a success story. In any case, on January 22, 1891, it seemed as if all of Cuxhaven had turned out to marvel at the group of “intrepid travelers” making their way up the gangway of Hapag’s flagship, the “Augusta…
Banks Won't Fund Coal Port Expansion near Reef
Germany's largest bank, Deutsche Bank AG, has declared it will not finance a controversial coal port expansion in Australia near the Great Barrier Reef, responding to calls from environmental groups and tourism operators. HSBC, Europe's biggest bank, also signalled on Friday it would be unlikely to finance the project. Deutsche Bank's stand marks a win for those opposed to $26 billion worth of coal projects that plan to use the Abbot Point port, already facing delays due to weak coal prices. But one company involved said the bank's position made no difference. "This doesn't impact our proposed projects in any way," Indian firm GVK Hancock spokesman Josh Euler said.
"Flashmob" to Support the Cruise Industry in Venice
More than 600 people responded to the appeal launched by the Cruise Venice Committee, the Association which promotes and supports the Laguna’s cruise industry. Porters, mooring, security and tourism operators of the city gathered at the passenger terminal to support the cruise industry, an excellent production sector for Venice, which has made the city Europe's main homeport. The picture shows a meaningful moment of last week’s event, which involved qualified businesses representing the economic activity directly or indirectly generated by the cruise industry…
South Australian Ports Sale Faces Political Storm
The South Australian government expects strong bidder interest in its planned $120 million sale of the state's main ports, but the privatization is facing a political storm. The planned trade sale of the South Australian Ports Corporation has agitated a range of groups, from influential grain growers to the militant dockers union and farmers and tourism operators on the Kangaroo Island resort. The government has seen strong level of interest in the ports at Port Adelaide, Port Lincoln, Port Giles, Thevanard, Klein Point, Wallaroo, and Port Pirie. Hutchison Whampoa, Infrastructure investment group Infratil Australia Ltd., graingrower group South Australian Cooperative Bulk Handling (SACBH), P&O Ports, transport group Toll Holdings Ltd., and Mersey Docks & Harbor Co.
Reduced Ferry Service Hurting Businesses
North Island tourism operators are bracing for fallout from the reduced ferry service from Port Hardy to Prince Rupert this summer. According to the Port Hardy Chamber of Commerce, the season will be impacted dramatically because the Queen of Prince Rupert, the ferry replacing the Queen of the North that sunk in March, is much smaller. There are no passenger accommodations on board and with only one vessel for the whole coast the schedule allows for only two trips a week from Port Hardy – about half the trips last year. North Island businesses that cater to tourists are already feeling the pinch- with tours and reservations being cancelled- and the next two weeks will be telling, say business owners.
B.C. Ferry Uncertainty Hurts Economy
The ongoing uncertainty over ferry service to B.C.'s North Coast is already having a major economic impact on tourism operators, as some travelers have already canceled their plans. BC Ferries lost one of its two vessels that serve the area when the Queen of the North sank on March 22, with the loss of two lives. The corporation has said it will announce its plans within a week for moving about 10,000 tourists to northern B.C. this summer. Some businesses relying on tourism, however, feel that it is too late. Meanwhile, BC Ferries is still trying to figure out how to cover the north's two busy summer routes with just one ferry. One option being considered for the Queen Charlottes is to use barges and float planes instead of a ferry.
