Sea Travel News

Carnival Corporation's Cunard cruise line announced it has taken delivery of its newest cruise ship, Queen Anne, from Italian shipbuilding group Fincantieri.The newbuild was officially handed over on Friday during a ceremony at the Fincantieri Marghera shipyard in Venice. The 114,000-ton ship spans 14 decks and has capacity for up to 3,000 passengers.Queen Anne, the 249th ship to sail under the Cunard flag – and the third built by Fincantieri – will now set sail for Southampton ahead of her seven-night maiden voyage to Lisbon on May 3. She will arrive in her homeport on April 27.

Russia said on Saturday it had repelled an attempted Ukrainian drone attack on Russian "civilian transport ships" on Friday evening in the southwestern part of the Black Sea, a key artery for grain and oil exports from both countries.Civilian vessels on the Black Sea have not generally been targeted since Moscow ordered its troops into Ukraine in February 2022, but last July both sides said they would start treating ships headed to the other's ports as potential carriers of military cargo.In a statement posted on the Telegram messaging app…

Swedish ferry company Stena Line's new ferry Stena Scandica arrived in the port of Nynäshamn in Sweden this morning when it completed its overnight maiden voyage from Ventspils, Latvia.Stena Scandica is the first of two new large and modern ferries on the route between Ventspils and Nynäshamn in Sweden this year. The vessel adds another 70%  more cabins and 30% more freight capacity compared to the existing vessels and offers an attractive alternative way to travel on the Baltic Sea…

The total domestic trips by sea in Australia are set to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.36% from 3.9 million in 2018 to 5.1 million by 2023, holding the highest growth rate among all other transport means.Traveling by sea throughout Australia is becoming a popular past time for the domestic travelers. As a result, cruise operators are increasingly joining forces to offer ‘bite-sized’ breaks along the coast for the domestic travelers, says GlobalData.Johanna Bonhill-Smith, Travel and Tourism Analyst at GlobalData, says: “High costs and less stress are driving more Australian travelers to opt for short breaks along the ocean rather than venturing in-land for domestic travel trips.”Queensland…

Iran and Qatar have launched a new direct shipping route, connecting the southern Iranian port city of Bushehr to Qatar's Doha.The cargo and passenger shipping line is using a roro/passenger ship called Grand Ferry.Bushehr Maritime Director General Siavash Arjmandzadeh stated: "The first Iran-Qatar permanent shipping line was inaugurated this week and the ship is scheduled to depart Bushehr once a week for Doha, Qatar. The ship could carry the cargo and passengers at the same time."He continued that the first voyage was supposed to happen on August 2nd, but there were problems with fueling the ship, and moreover, we wanted to have cargo…

Germany's TT-Line has signed a contract with China's Jinling shipyard for a Green Ship.The concept design for the new dual fuel RoPax ferry has contributions from Denmark's OSK-ShipTech and its sister firm Steen Friis Design - both part of Danish marine consultants OSK Group.With a particular emphasis on flexibility and fast turn-around in ports, OSK-ShipTech has assisted TT-Line with the concept design for their new Green Ship. The firm contract with Chinese yard Jinling Shipyard for a 230 m RoPax newbuilding also includes an option for a sister ship.“We are proud to contribute to TT-Line’s fleet development and in addition to developing the concept for this new Green Ship we have been responsible for the contract design as well as basic design…

Slovenia-based supplier of blockchain solutions for logistics, CargoX has  launched the CargoX latform to become the first open, neutral, and accessible blockchain platform in the shipping industry.The company said that the platform can be used by businesses of any size, and it was recently selected as the winning innovation at the IRU World Congress among 77 startups after a presentation in front of over 1000 attendees from more than 60 countries."Shipping, freight forwarding, NVOCC, exporting and importing companies, forwarder alliances and networks, and ecosystems providing solutions for logistics and supply chains all over the world can now start using the CargoX platform to speed up their business and slash costs…

Cruise line Virgin Voyages has assigned Wärtsilä the responsibility of the maintenance of its three brand new cruise ships due to enter service in 2020, 2021 and 2022.The comprehensive 10-year Optimized Maintenance Agreement, signed on April 30, 2018, gives extensive responsibility of maintenance to Wärtsilä, who will ensure that vessels are powered and operated reliably, efficiently and sustainably.Wärtsilä’s Dynamic Maintenance Planning allows maintenance operations to be carried out based on remotely monitored and analyzed real-time performance data.

Good opportunities for local port cities are up for grabs as a cruise shipping boom sweeps the Baltic. Both Rostock and Kiel are already profiting from it. Between them they are expecting 1.3 million cruise ship visitors during this year’s season – an increase of 12.5% over last year. The managing directors of Germany’s two leading Baltic passenger ports, Rostock and Kiel, addressed the issue during a news conference at the ITB, the world’s leading travel trade fair in Berlin. The Managing director of the Port of Rostock (Rostock Port GmbH) Jens A. Scharner and Dr Dirk Claus, Managing Director of the Port of Kiel  spoke about the trend to sea travel in northern Europe and about new developments in the two Baltic ports.

The Taiwanese harbor city of Kaohsiung has launched a new hybrid electric ferry, which aims to curb greenhouse and diesel emissions for marine passenger transport across the region. Kaohsiung recently re-launched the Cijian Island passenger ferry, retrofitted with a Visedo electric propulsion system, replacing the original diesel engine. It heralds Asia’s first hybrid electric ferry and, if successful, the Kaohsiung City Government plans to retrofit the rest of its diesel fleet to help reduce pollution levels around Taiwan’s largest harbor.

Vard Holdings Limited announced that it has secured contracts to build four luxury expedition cruise vessels with French cruise company PONANT. The contracts follow on a Letter of Intent (LoI) reached in March 2016, which set out several conditions to be met including satisfactory financing. All conditions have now been fulfilled and the contracts have become effective. The ice-class expedition cruise vessels will be approximately 10,000 gross tons, about 131 meters long, 18 meters wide and will have a cruise speed of 15 knots.

2GO Group, Inc. plans to boost profit by a quarter this year amid a sanguine outlook on its logistics, distribution, and express courier businesses, a company official said. The company has set a P1.1-billion ($0.04billion) net income target this year, 25% up from P880 million last year, 2GO President and Chief Executive Officer Sulficio O. Tagud, Jr. said. 2GO has successfully transitioned from a predominantly shipping and transport company to a full-service logistics and supply chain solutions provider. The company has a fleet of interisland ferries and cargo ships of the former Aboitiz Transport System. In December 2010, major stockholders of the company, namely Aboitiz Equity Ventures and Aboitiz and Company Inc. sold their shares to Negros Navigation, Inc. (Nenaco).

Condor Ferries have made their final sailing from Weymouth. Cross-channel ferry services from Weymouth have come to an end with the final sailing to Guernsey. Condor is to operate a new and larger ferry on a single service from Poole instead as Weymouth's port is deemed too small. Poole's bigger facilities can accommodate their new vessel - the Condor Liberation. Condor Liberation marks a £50 million investment and, according to the ferry company, a 'new era in sea travel'. She'll make her maiden voyage this Friday. The ferry, which features the brand's new colours - dark blue, pink and gold - has Duty Free shop, children's play area, plus a range of eating and drinking outlets.

AS Tallink Grupp and Meyer Turku Oy signed a contract for the construction of LNG powered fast ferry for Tallinn-Helsinki route shuttle operations. The dual fuel ship will be about 212 metres in length with a passenger capacity of 2800. The fast ferry will cost around 230 million euros and will be built at Meyer Turku shipyard for delivery in the beginning of 2017. The project will provide approximately 2000 man-years employment for the shipyard. The new environmentally friendly ship uses LNG as fuel and she will comply with the new and stricter emission regulations for the ECA areas including the Baltic Sea. The ship, with a gross tonnage of 49 000 and service speed of 27 knots, will bring significant improvement in energy efficiency.

P&O Ferries and MTN Communications (MTN) announce the delivery of high-performance Internet connectivity and access to online content through the first Wi-Fi hot spot on the English Channel. This service is now live on the English Channel on ferries serving the P&O Ferries Dover-Calais route. These vessels are reportedly the first ferries in the world connected to the MTN Terrestrial Broadband Network (TBN), in addition to having back-up satellite connectivity, as many cruise ships do today.

It’s full steam ahead for Kiel’s Ostuferhafen construction work. Kiel’s new cruise ship passenger handling pavilion at Berth No. 1 in the Ostuferhafen is rapidly taking shape. The steel support framework is almost complete and the next step will be cladding the 1.670 m² structure with a transparent plastic covering. Dr Dirk Claus, the Managing Director of the Port of Kiel (SEEHAFEN KIEL GmbH & Co. KG) said “the work is right on target and will be finished at the end of May. The…

This year’s cruise shipping season in Kiel opened on Saturday, April 5 when the first cruise ship of the year, the AIDAcara, berthed in the port after sailing through the Kiel Canal. During this year’s season, which will last until mid October, 22 different cruise ships are registered to visit Kiel a total of 125 times. The highlights of the season include the Kieler Woche regatta between June 21 and June 29 during which 16 cruise ships will be in the port alongside many tall ships. Dr.

The Commandant of the United States Coast Guard, Admiral Bob Papp, Jr. spoke of the Arctic as an emerging frontier during the 2013 State of the Coast Guard Address in February 2013. He said, “… one example of what our future holds can be seen in the emerging frontier of the Arctic, where there is a new ocean appearing. In September 2012, we observed the lowest sea ice extent in recorded history, and there are vast areas of open water where there used to be ice…As the receding ice increasingly gives way to commercial ventures…

US-based Nuvera Fuel Cells says it will be working with Italian shipbuilder, Fincantieri, on a program to power hi-end marine vessels with advanced fuel cell technology. Nuvera has been commissioned to produce and deliver eight of its Orion™ fuel cell stacks (total power 260 kW), which will be used as range extenders for use on marine vessels. Nuvera’s fuel cell auxiliary power units will provide marine vessels with air-independent propulsion (AIP). This is the same technology used in non-nuclear submarines, which allows them to operate without the need to surface for oxygen.

Greek Merchant Marine Minister Christos Papoutsis has signed 32 new operating licenses to passenger shipping firms in a bid to improve competition in the industry. "Until deregulation of sea travel in 2002, new applications submitted for licences will be examined immediately," the ministry said. "The criteria the applications will be examined upon will the public's interest, unimpeeded access to the islands and healthy competition." Greece has said it will liberalize island shipping by 2002, two years ahead of schedule, as a result of a recent ferry sinking that killed about 80 people. Company No. Licenses Strintzis Lines 4 Anek Lines 3 Lesvos Maritime 3 Attica Enterprises 2 Minoan Lines 2 Minoan Flying Dolphins 1 Other companies 17

The Department for Transport has published National Statistics on sea passengers traveling on short-sea routes, for the third quarter of 2004. UK, one percent lower than the corresponding quarter last year. Arrivals and departures to the UK each totaled 4.7 million. corresponding quarter last year. sea passenger traffic (1% higher than the same quarter last year). lower than the same quarter last year. same quarter last year).

The Natchan Rera is a breath of fresh air in Japanese sea travel, the new Incat-built high speed ferry’s entry into service on 1st September bringing a completely new concept in ferry travel to those crossing Tsugaru Strait between the islands of Hokkaido and Honshu. The 61-nautical mile run across the Strait takes just 95 minutes, approximately half the time currently taken by conventional ships. While passengers are reaching their destination twice as quickly, Higashi Nihon Ferry is also changing the quality of time passengers spend on board from one of simple transportation to that of a high-class comfortable hospitality-focused experience.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Department of State (DOS) announced today the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) for the land and sea portion of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), a core 9/11 Commission recommendation. Proposed rules require a passport or other secure document denoting citizenship and identity for all land and sea travel into the United States. As the first rational step as we move towards full WHTI implementation, DHS intends to end the routine practice of accepting oral declarations alone at land and sea ports of entry. On Jan. 31, 2008, U.S. and Canadian citizens will need to present either a WHTI-compliant document or a government-issued photo ID…