Crystal River News

The Coast Guard rescued a 76-year-old man after his sailboat ran aground in Crystal River, Monday. Rescued was Jack Baird, 76, from Dunnellon. At 11:32 a.m. Sector St. Petersburg watchstanders received a report of a disabled and aground 45-foot sailboat near the Crystal River navigational marker 2A. Baird reported he was unable to communicate with a local commercial salvage company and needed assistance. A Station Yankeetown 24-foot Special Purpose Craft - Shallow Water boatcrew was launched with Nature Coast Emergency Medical Services aboard. Baird reported suffering a hand injury and seasickness symptoms. The boatcrew transferred Baird to River Haven Marina, Homosassa. Baird was met by his wife at the marina. "Mr. Baird did the right thing," said Petty Officer 2nd Class Jason R.

With a range of dignitaries in attendance, Simwave will officially open its 5,000-square-meter maritime training center in Barendrecht on April 19. The three hundred guests will take a look behind the scenes at the new location, which houses more than 50 simulators. The center has already been in use for some time now. The 'site acceptance test' was successfully completed on January 29th, in collaboration with the supplier of the simulators, the Norwegian company Kongsberg Digital.

Just a few weeks after delivery of the Crystal Bach, shipbuilder MV WERFTEN has handed over the Crystal Mahler, the second of four Rhine Class ships for client Crystal River Cruises. After the ceremonial change of flags, the ship was christened at the outfitting quay of MV WERFTEN in Wismar. Like its sister vessel, the 135-metre long and 11.4-metre wide river cruise ship was specifically designed for exploring Europe’s rivers. It complies with the highest safety and navigation standards…

Genting Hong Kong appointed travel industry veteran Tom Wolber as President and CEO of Crystal Cruises, effective September 15. Wolber brings to the role over three decades of experience in general management, operations, newbuild construction and business development. He joins Crystal most recently from the Walt Disney Company where he served in various executive roles for 28 years, 10 of which were with Disney Cruise Line where he served as Senior Vice President of Operations. Wolber helped transform Disney Cruise Line into a global cruise line.

Shipbuilder MV WERFTEN has completed its first newbuild project, having today delivered Crystal Bach, the first of four new Rhine Class luxury river cruise vessels for Crystal River Cruises. Designed specifically for river cruising in Europe, the 135-meter-long and 11.4-meter-wide Crystal Bach will sail along the Rhine, Danube and Main Rivers through the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Switzerland, carrying up to 106 passengers in 55 large suites, all designed to be above the water line with horizontal sliding windows.

Edie Rodriguez is Chairman, CEO and president of Crystal Luxury Corporation, Ltd., a broad travel brand that includes Crystal Cruises, Crystal Yacht Expedition Cruises, Crystal River Cruises, Crystal Luxury Air, Crystal AirCruises and Crystal Exclusive Class ships with Crystal Residences. She met with Maritime Reporter in NYC to discuss the evolution of the cruising brand, as well as the benefits of owning your own shipyards in today’s torrid cruise market. You’ve been at the helm of the Crystal brand for about three years now.

Genting Hong Kong is a rapidly growing global travel brand, spreading its wings – literally and figuratively – into ocean cruise, yacht, river cruise, air and shipbuilding. Maritime Reporter & Engineering News speaks with key executives at Genting Hong Kong: Mona Lai, SVP Corporate Communication; Gustaf Gronberg, SVP Shipbuilding & Marine Operations; and Jarmo Lakso, Managing Director, MV Werften, for insights on the future growth strategy. Genting Hong Kong has been an active newsmaker in the cruise sector during the past year.

Genting Cruises has confirmed its build program for the MV WERFTEN shipyard group following the launch of the first Asian luxury cruise ship, Genting Dream, in Singapore, Hong Kong and Guangzhou, China. Executive Chairman, Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay, stated during the three events that Genting is committed to the long-term development of the cruise industry in Asia. With the rapid growth of the cruise industry in Asia but only a limited number of yards capable of building large cruise ships…

German shipyard MV WERFTEN has awarded ALMACO Group a contract to build the luxury suites and galley areas for Crystal River Cruises’ four Rhine Class luxury river yachts, which will be delivered in 2017 and 2018 from Wismar. The scope of work involves a total of 220 luxury suites and corresponding corridors as well as the visual turnkey delivery of the main galley and pantries, including galley equipment and lining for all four river ships. ALMACO previously refurbished the crew accommodation and catering areas onboard Crystal River Cruises’ Crystal Mozart earlier in 2016…

The first two of four Rhine class river cruise ships are simultaneously under construction at MV WERFTEN in Wismar. Delivery of the 7-star vessels Crystal Bach and Crystal Mahler to Crystal River Cruises will be in 2017. Shipbuilder MV WERFTEN held a keel-laying ceremony for two Rhine class river cruise ships in Wismar today. The Crystal Bach (yard number 120) and Crystal Mahler (yard number 123) are the first two of four new luxury river cruise vessels to be built in the completely covered dock shop.

Genting Hong Kong Ltd will invest 100 million euros in its German shipyard, MV Werften to focus on building new large ships. The three shipyards in the German State of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern bought this April would be named MV Werften, be managed in Wismar. The company  will focus on eventually building three large cruise ships a year. Lloyd Werft, located in Bremerhaven and bought last September, will focus on its prior business of repairs, conversion and building of megayachts. MV Werften has covered docks, fabrication halls and painting shops, but will be upgraded in the near future. The yard will deliver four luxury Crystal River ships in 2017…

Genting Hong Kong announced that the three shipyards in the German State of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern bought this April will be named as MV WERFTEN*, be managed in Wismar and will focus on building large new cruise ships. Lloyd Werft located in Bremerhaven and bought last September will focus on its prior business of repairs, conversion and building of megayachts. “To make MV WERFTEN one of the world’s most modern and efficient cruise shipyards, we will invest 100 million euros in a thin plate laser welding line…

Launching Crystal River Cruises fleet, Crystal Mozart, the Queen of Europe’s Rivers, will boast a full redesign that features a refurbishment of crew cabins and crew areas by ALMACO Group. ALMACO’s turnkey delivery will include the modernization of 50 crew cabins and crew areas such as the gym, mess, recreation areas as well as store rooms. The project awarded in early February is being carried out in Austria, where Crystal Mozart will sail on her maiden voyage round-trip from Vienna, July 13, 2016.

Genting Hong Kong, announced the completion of the acquisition of Nordic Yards’ three shipyards in Wismar, Warnemunde and Stralsund, Germany for the consideration of 230.6 million Euros. The deal will give Genting Hong Kong the core expertise, manpower, fabrication capacity and covered drydocks to build a global cruise fleet for its three brands - Crystal Cruises, The World Most Awarded Luxury Cruise Line ; Dream Cruises, Asia’s Most Luxury Cruise Line; and, Star Cruises, Asia’s Leading Cruise Line. “We are pleased with the completion of the transaction as ownership of the yards provides certainty that we can build a fleet of high quality cruise ships at a pace dictated by our growth rather than constrained by supply as cruise ship order book continues to reach all-time highs…

Boarding team members from Coast Guard Station Yankeetown stopped four unsafe passenger vessels operating on the Crystal River, Fla., and in the vicinity of Homosassa, Fla., Dec. 29, through Dec. 31, 2008. During random safety boardings, crewmembers discovered two commercial vessels operated by Stadt Aquatic Adventures operating with more than their maximum allowable passengers. Additionally, Yankeetown crews discovered that the captain of the second vessel failed to properly report a marine casualty involving one of its main engines. The Coast Guard terminated both voyages for the safety infractions and will seek civil penalties against Stadt Aquatic Adventures. The Coast Guard will also pursue action to suspend the captains’ licenses for failing to comply with proper safety procedures.

Two people were rescued and one died after their 16-foot skiff boat capsized Tuesday in the vicinity of the Crystal River power plant. Edward Calcani, 71, of Beverly Hills, Fla., was located deceased on the north side of the power plant channel by the crew of an HH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater around 4 a.m. this morning after searching for eight hours. The Jayhawk crew located Edward Calcani Jr and Larry Dates clinging to the hull of their capsized vessel about 2 a.m. this morning. A boat from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission that was assisting a Coast Guard Station Yankeetown rescue boat in the search transferred the survivors to the 40 boat ramp on the Withlacoochie River for further transfer to EMS.