Esprit News

Lindblad Expeditions has shared images of its newest fleet addition ahead of the vessel's inaugural voyage in the Galápagos Islands.The National Geographic Islander ll is an expedition cruise ship acquired to replace Lindblad Expeditions' vessel National Geographic Islander for year-round operations in the Galápagos. Accommodating just 48 guests in 26 suites, the ship will sail for Lindblad Expeditions with a 1:1 guest-to-crew ratioThe 3,370 GT, 280-foot-long ship was built by…

Lindblad Expeditions has take delivery of the secondhand expedition cruise ship National Geographic Islander II.The vessel, which was previously named Crystal Esprit and operated by Crystal Cruises, will sail year-round in the Galápagos Islands, replacing Lindblad Expeditions' vessel National Geographic Islander.The 3,370 GT, 280-foot-long ship was built by Flender Werft in Germany from 1989-1991 and was operated by Windsor Lines and Star Cruises before its sale to Crystal Cruises in 2015.Accommodating just 48 guests…

Crystal Yacht Cruises announced the 55-cruise roster of 2022 and early 2023 itineraries for Crystal Esprit.A number of new options punctuate the collection of regionally focused voyages, with dozens of seven- and eight-night options catering to busy travel schedules or easily combined into longer adventures, said a company press release.In addition to exploration of hubs of profound history, featured destinations also capitalize on the 62-guest Crystal Esprit’s adventurous spirit, with numerous locales that are ideal for active, outdoor pursuits.Featured are 11 new itineraries in the areas most popular among Crystal yachting guests, including five in the Greek Isles…

The APM Terminals Maasvlakte II’s new rail service between the Rotterdam terminal and Venlo, a key logistics hub on the Dutch-German border has been a huge success so far, claimed the port operator.APM Terminals said that following the success of the initial five-times-per-week service, plans are already in place to scale this up to 14 times per week over the coming weeks. Venlo, a key logistics hotspot, was identified as an opportunity for the terminal following a gravity analysis involving key customers. A gravity analysis simplifies the paths taken by cargo through the terminal, and helps identify opportunities to improve efficiency in the logistics chain.Venlo stood out as it is ideally located for servicing distribution centers of major retailers such as C&A…

Dutch shipowner and manager JR Shipping takes over four container spring ships and is expanding its fleet again.Harlingen-based JR Shipping said that it has added three 1,436 TEU container feeders to its fleet. A fourth vessel with the same capacity will be added within the next few months.Taking into account the recent sale of one of its container feeders, JR Shipping will thus increase its container capacity by over 4,500 TEU.The phased purchase concerns the MV’s Aalderdijk, Akerdijk and Alsterdijk (first phase) and the MV Amerdijk (second phase). The first-mentioned two vessels have now been rechristened MV Essence and MV Escape and will sail for JR Shipping under the Dutch flag.The current charter contracts with WEC Lines and Unifeeder will continue.

Two maritime pilots who defied fire to bring a burning ship to safety, averting a major maritime catastrophe, received the 2017 IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea during the 2017 IMO awards ceremony, held on Monday (27 November). Pilots Captain Michael G. McGee and Captain Michael C. Phillips, from Houston, United States, were recognized for their role in averting a major tragedy in September 2016. The ship they were piloting, the 247 meters-long tanker Aframax River, broke down in the Houston Ship Channel in the middle of the night and burst into flames after colliding with mooring dolphins. Captain McGee and Captain Phillips were surrounded by a towering wall of burning fuel as the raging fire quickly spread across the channel…

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.

Crystal Cruises announced an expansion plan under new owners Genting Hong Kong that includes three 1,000-passenger vessels, its first new ships in decades. Plus, Crystal will expand into adventure, yacht and river cruising, and luxury jet trips. The three Crystal Exclusive Class ships will be about the same size as the 20-year-old Crystal Symphony and the slightly larger 2003-built Crystal Serenity. The line has signed a letter of intent with Lloyd Werft to build the ocean ships, which will have an unprecedented space ratio of 100 gross tons of space per guest, Crystal said. The minimum size of the cabins on the ships will be 400 square feet. The first ship is due for delivery in late 2018. The ships will be built to sail in polar waters, Crystal said.

Established in 1984 as a company dedicated to engineering marine motors, Armor Mécanique is situated in the port of Lorient. And while the coastal view remained picturesque, the ensuing years brought change. The company, founded by Marcel Février, is now dedicated to precision engineering and boilermaking. In 2005, upon Février’s retirement, experienced precision engineer Franck Vincent took on management of the company. Upon taking up the reins of Armor Mécanique, Vincent found that he had quite a lot on his plate.

The Coast Guard Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to the education and welfare of Coast Guard members and their families, announced today that its Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan community center program is nearing its goal and that the “Buy a Brick” program is a key component of that success. A top priority for the Coast Guard Foundation, the Sault Ste. Marie Community Center will give Coast Guard members and their families in the area an all-inclusive indoor recreation facility that will serve as a safe place for families to enjoy themselves and build a community during the long Michigan Upper Peninsula winters. “Our ‘Buy a Brick’ program is instrumental in reaching our funding goals for the Sault Ste.

The Coast Guard Foundation, a nonprofit organization committed to the education and welfare of Coast Guard members and their families, has announced  its plans to build a community center in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. A top priority for the Coast Guard Foundation, the Sault Ste. Marie Community Center will give Coast Guard members and their families in the area an all-inclusive indoor recreation facility that will serve as a safe place for families to enjoy themselves and build a community during the long Michigan Upper Peninsula winters.

HMAS Newcastle has handed over security operations for Operation SLIPPER in support of the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) in the Middle East to HMAS Melbourne. Newcastle has provided maritime security around the Horn of Africa, conducted counter-piracy and anti-smuggling operations in the Gulf of Aden and executed counter-terrorism activities since May 28, 2013. The Guided Missile Frigate handed over to sister ship HMAS Melbourne on September 24, 2013. HMAS Newcastle's Commanding Officer…

Schneider Electric released its Pelco Esprit SE IP Integrated PTZ Camera System including both standard and pressurized models for video surveillance and IP network connectivity. Built upon the Esprit SE positioning system platform, the system now features dynamic window blanking, auto tracking, internal scheduling clock, electronic image stabilization, and multilanguage menus – all formerly reserved only for high-speed domes. Designed and built for continuous use featuring an integrated camera and lens, pan-and-tilt unit, multiprotocol receiver, and Sarix-based H.264 encoder, Esprit SE IP offers dynamic remote positioning capabilities and is capable of remaining completely operational in up to 90 mile-per-hour wind conditions.

Newport News - Huntington Ingalls Industries President and CEO Mike Petters spoke at the University of Virginia's Darden School of Business on March 6. Petters' address was part of the school's Leadership Speakers Series, which features the world's thought  leaders and gives MBA students, faculty and staff the opportunity to hear and discuss leaders' stories and advice. Petters shared with students his views on leadership, talent development and the importance of having great people. When asked what he has learned in his career as a leader, Petters said success is not the result of products or processes, but the efforts of people. "The most important thing done in business is done through your people," he said.

Military Sealift Command fleet replenishment oiler USNS Big Horn delivered vital fuel and supplies to Canadian navy ship HMCS Charlottetown April 29, the first replenishment at sea of a coalition ship by an MSC ship during Operation Unified Protector. Unified Protector is the NATO-led operation to protect civilians and civilian-populated areas in Libya. The operation includes an arms embargo enforced by Charlottetown and other NATO warships and aircraft patrolling the approaches to Libyan territorial waters to reduce the flow of arms, related material and mercenaries to Libya. Big Horn delivered 29,782 gallons of fuel to Charlottetown during the 44-minute evolution while operating alongside at 13 knots on a mostly cloudy day in the moderate seas of the central Mediterranean.

Military Sealift Command fleet replenishment oiler USNS Big Horn delivered vital fuel and supplies to Canadian navy ship HMCS Charlottetown April 29, the first replenishment at sea of a coalition ship by an MSC ship during Operation Unified Protector. Unified Protector is the NATO-led operation to protect civilians and civilian-populated areas in Libya. The operation includes an arms embargo enforced by Charlottetown and other NATO warships and aircraft patrolling the approaches to Libyan territorial waters to reduce the flow of arms, related material and mercenaries to Libya. Big Horn delivered 29,782 gallons of fuel to Charlottetown during the 44-minute evolution while operating alongside at 13 knots on a mostly cloudy day in the moderate seas of the central Mediterranean.

Gulf Energy Maritime has taken delivery of the second of 13 double-hulled tankers on order with Korea’s Hyundai Mipo Dockyard (HMD) in less than three months. The $57m Gulf Elan is the eighth double-hulled tanker in GEM’s growing fleet. The company is to receive another 11 of the total order book of 13 ships valued at $590 million by 2009 end. The ship was named by lady sponsor Jane Slemeck, wife of Mark Slemeck, managing director of Kingfish Services Ltd., London-based operators for IPC/Itochu Petroleum which has time chartered the ship for one year. Gulf Elan will follow the trading path of its sister ship, Gulf Esprit, delivered to GEM last November, by going into time charter with Oman Methanol Company, a subsidiary of Oman’s giant Omzest Group, on a 15-year deal.

Freight rates for forward positions in the panamax sector continue to remain soft despite higher levels attracted by the prompt and spot markets, shipbrokers said on Tuesday. While charterers have to pay a premium for panamaxes available for spot and prompt loading dates due to a squeeze on the supply of ships, the high levels of panamax tonnage available for September loading started to put pressure on owners and force them to accept rate discounts. The negative vibes in the forward physical panamax market also affected the panamax over-the-counter markets, shipbrokers also said. They cited among the best August fixtures the charter, by grain house Cargill, of the newly built Danae, of 75,106 dwt.

According to reports, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB ) has granted a loan of $100m to Gulf Energy Maritime (GEM) PJSC, a Product / Chemical tanker Company. The Loan agreements were signed yesterday at GEM Offices between Yusr Sultan, CEO of GEM and Shafqat Ali Rana, Head of ADCB's Dubai Corporate Div. and P.P.Saradhi, Vice-President of ADCB in the presence of Hassan Jarrar, Head of Commercial Banking, ADCB. GEM signed this loan with ADCB for their recently ordered vessels Gulf Castle and Gulf Cobalt. These hulls of 75000 dwt each are two out of four Panamaxes ordered in January this year and are the high specification double hulled product tankers, being built at Hyundai Mipo Dockyard. Gulf Castle & Gulf Cobalt are scheduled for delivery in 2009.

The $55mGulf Esprit - the first of 13 double-hulled tankers ordered by Dubai-headquartered Gulf Energy Maritime (GEM), the Middle East's largest independent commercial product tanker operator - has been named at Korea's Hyundai Mipo Dockyard. The 47,000 dwt Gulf Esprit is the seventh double-hulled tanker in GEM's rapidly growing fleet - now one of the youngest in the world. The company is to receive another 12 hi-specification vessels with an order book value of USD 570 million by 2009 end. Delivery of the Gulf Esprit, which will go into time charter with Oman Methanol Company, a subsidiary of Oman's giant OMZEST Group, on a 15-year deal, takes GEM's asset value to $1.1b.