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Iceland News

07 Feb 2024

Smyril Line Orders Methanol-ready RoRo Ships at CIMC Raffles

(Image: Knud E. Hansen)

Smyril Line announced it has signed a contract with the CIMC Raffles shipyard in China for the construction of two new vehicle carrier vessels.The ro-ro ships will each be 190 meters in length with 3,300 lane meters for trailers. They have been designed in close cooperation with naval architects Knud E. Hansen for year-round seaworthiness in the North Atlantic. Smyril Line plans to place the vessels into service on its current network, operating a route between Europe, the Faroe Islands and Iceland from 2026.Compared to the company's existing fleet…

29 Nov 2023

Royal Navy to Help Defend Undersea Cables

Source: UK Government

A Royal Navy task force of seven ships will deploy with allies early next month to jointly patrol areas with vulnerable undersea critical infrastructure, following an unprecedented agreement by ministers of the 10 Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) nations.The UK contribution to the deployment will include two Royal Navy frigates, two offshore patrol vessels and mine countermeasures vessels, as well as a Royal Fleet Auxiliary landing ship – supported by a Royal Air Force P-8 Poseidon…

30 Oct 2023

US Opens Northernmost Diplomatic Station, in Arctic Norway

© jamenpercy / Adobe Stock

The United States on Friday opened its northernmost diplomatic station, highlighting the increased importance of the Arctic region for Washington at a time when cooperation among Arctic nations has been hit by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced the opening of the station, in Tromsoe, Norway, in June, as a means for the United States to have a "diplomatic footprint above the Arctic Circle"."Symbolically, it is significant," Andreas Oesthagen…

27 Oct 2023

Lloyd's Register to Classify Methanol-Ready North Star CSOVs

Credit: North Star

Lloyd's Register (LR) will classify two methanol-ready Commissioning Service Operations Vessels (CSOVs) being built by VARD for the UK-based offshore vessel operator North Star."The new tonnage will increase North Star’s offshore wind capabilities as it progresses its ambition to add 40 hybrid-powered SOVs to its fleet by 2040. The introduction of the two CSOVs will expand North Star’s capabilities to support commissioning and maintenance work essential to ensuring offshore wind farms can operate.

25 Sep 2023

AI Unlocks RIB Safety & Efficiency Gains

(Photo: Hefring Marine)

Facing rising costs, an Icelandic tour operator is using technology powered by artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance safety and slash insurance premiums for its fleet of high-speed rigid inflatable boats (RIB).Reykjavík-based Whale Safari runs tourist RIBs for whale and bird watching excursions in Iceland. From an insurer’s standpoint, the endeavor—which sees vessels that seat up to 12 passengers achieving high speeds and g-force wave impacts—is inherently risky. To make matters worse for companies like Whale Safari…

15 Sep 2023

Iceland Suspends Whaling Ship over Animal Welfare Violation

Iceland has suspended the operations of one of its two whaling vessels for taking too long to kill a fin whale, the authorities and the boat's owner said on Friday.The government two weeks ago ended a two-month pause in whaling that had been imposed after a report concluded that killing whales took longer than Iceland's animal welfare law allowed.Although it imposed stricter regulations and surveillance in order to limit the whales' suffering, there were nevertheless protests from animal welfare campaigners and Hollywood stars including Leonardo DiCaprio.An inspection carried out on Sept.

25 Aug 2023

Lauritzen Adds Three Secondhand Bulk Carriers

Lauritzen Bulkers announced it has taken full ownership of three additional secondhand bulk carrier vessels in the month of August.The three geared capesizes were built between 2015 and 2017.Asian Bulker is a handysize built in 2017 with a summer DWT of 36,169 mt, taken over by Lauritzen Bulkers on August 14.Australian Bulker is a handysize also built in 2017 with a summer DWT of 36,184 mt, taken over by Lauritzen Bulkers on August 16.Iceland Bulker (previously Glorious Mahuta) is another handysize vessel with a summer DWT of 37,775 mt and was taken over on August 24.

26 Feb 2024

Crossing Death's Door Daily

© Derek Victor / Adobe Stock

Washington Island Ferry Line (WIFL) has been the essential link between the residents, business and visitors of Washington Island and Wisconsin's Door Peninsula for more than eight decades.Picturesque and peaceful Door County isn't named for some intrepid settlers named Door. The name has a more ominous meaning. It's derived from the treacherous passage between the peninsula and Washington Island that mariners called Porte des Mortes, or Death's Door.A unique combination of environmental…

10 Jul 2023

Saab Develops Concept for Remotely Operated Rescue Craft

Source: Saab

A new-generation rescue craft proposed by Saab’s Docksta Shipyard would use remote-operation technology to dramatically cut response times for maritime accidents.Known as the Docksta Loitering, Optionally Crewed, High Speed Rescue Vessel (LHSRV), the proposed vessel could potentially travel at speeds in excess of 40 knots to maritime emergencies to provide a safe evacuation point for up to 20 survivors at a time.One potential application for the craft is in the oceans around Canada…

25 Oct 2022

Samskip Inks Biofuel Supply Deal with GoodFuels

(Photo: Samskip)

Samskip has extended its commitment to sustainable biofuels in shortsea shipping operations, calculating that it will make 45,000 tonnes in additional CO2 emissions savings before the year is out as a result.The European multimodal group has signed a new agreement with supplier GoodFuels, committing the Samskip containerships Endeavour, Innovator, Hofell and Skatafell to run on marine grade bio-residual fuels.Offering a drop-in replacement that cuts 90% cuts off the CO2 emissions generated by conventional fuel oils…

07 Oct 2022

US Navy Jet Flew Across Baltic Hours After Nord Stream Burst

(File photo: Mike DiMestico / U.S. Navy)

A U.S. Navy reconnaissance aircraft flew near the site of the ruptured Nord Stream 2 pipeline in the Baltic Sea hours after the first damage emerged, according to tracking reviewed by Reuters, a flight Washington said was routine.Russia's Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines burst on Sept. 26, draining gas into the Baltic Sea off the coast of Denmark and Sweden. Seismologists registered explosions in the area, and police in several countries have launched investigations.Flight data showed…

30 Aug 2022

Norwegian's First Prima Class Cruise Ship Christened

Godmother of Norwegian Prima, Katy Perry, joins Norwegian Cruise Line executives in Reykjavik, Iceland to officially christen and name NCL’s 18th vessel in its leading-edge Prima Class. (Photo: NCL)

Norwegian Prima, the lead vessel of Norwegian Cruise Line's (NCL) new Prima Class cruise ship series, has been christened in Reykjavík, Iceland.Built by Italian shipbuilding group Fincantieri, the newbuild is 965 feet (294 meters) long and more than 143,535 tons with capacity for 3,100 guests at double occupancy.The ship features a three-level go-kart racetrack, waterslides, expansive pool decks and infinity style pools, and a multimillion dollar outdoor sculpture gardenThe first of six in NCL's Prima Class…

29 Jul 2022

Norwegian's First Prima Class Cruise Ship Delivered

Norwegian Prima (Photo: Fincantieri)

Norwegian Prima, the first of six vessels from Norwegian Cruise Line’s (NCL) new Prima Class of ships was delivered at Fincantieri's shipyard in Marghera on Friday.Along with her sister-ships, Norwegian Prima will form the backbone of the future NCL fleet, at more than 142,500-tons, almost 300 meters long, and accommodating 3,215 guests. Deliveries are scheduled through 2027.Starting in the summer of 2022, Norwegian Prima will offer itineraries in Northern Europe with voyages from Amsterdam…

13 May 2022

Scana Records Strong Growth

Styrk Bekkenes, CEO, Scana ASA.

Scana reports that it has more than doubled revenues and EBITDA in the first quarter. Revenues increased by 126 percent to $21.2m (NOK 208 million) compared to the same period last year, while EBITDA was up 140 percent to $1.63m (NOK 16 million), with the acquisition of PSW Group being the main driver.“Scana have transitioned to a new company. The acquisition of PSW Group closed on 11 January 2022, and Scana now forms a driving force for the green shift in the ocean industries,” says Styrk Bekkenes, CEO of Scana.“Our ambition is to reach $173m (NOK 1.7 billion) in revenues in 2025.

03 Apr 2022

Holland America Line Ship to House Ukrainian Refugees

A Dutch-flagged cruise ship will provide a temporary home to some 1,500 Ukrainians who fled their country in the wake of Russia's invasion.Holland America Line said its vessel Volendam will be used to accommodate Ukrainian refugees as part of an agreement announced by Netherlands and City of Rotterdam government officials. The ship will dock at Merwehaven, a cargo port on the north side of the River Maas in Rotterdam, for three months to provide a temporary home for approximately 1,500 Ukrainians, part of a larger commitment from the Netherlands to accommodate 50,000 people who fled the war in their homeland.“We are in a unique position to accommodate the immediate need for food and housing…

03 Feb 2022

Has Captain Cook’s Ship Endeavour Been Found?

WikiCommons/Illustration by Samuel Atkins

The Australian National Maritime Museum has announced a shipwreck found in Newport Harbor, off Rhode Island in the United States, has been confirmed as Captain Cook’s ship, HMB Endeavour.There have been very similar announcements made over the years but have they finally made a definitive case?By making its announcement, the Australian National Maritime Museum seems to have decided so, and there does seem to have been significant recent progress, centered on one shipwreck that matches the known details of the Endeavour closely.However…

01 Nov 2021

Denmark, US and 12 Other Nations Back Tougher Climate Goal for Shipping

© diegocardini / Adobe Stock

Denmark, the United States and 12 other countries on Monday backed a goal to reduce emissions by the global maritime sector to zero by 2050, a target to be fleshed out in negotiations at the United Nations shipping agency.The initiative, led by Denmark and announced on the sidelines of the U.N. COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland, aims to build support among countries for the goal at the International Maritime Organization, which is considering new emissions-cutting measures…

13 Oct 2021

ALMACO Delivers Crew Areas for Expedition Vessel Crystal Endeavor

(Photo: ALMACO)

ALMACO said it has delivered the crew areas for the newbuild expedition cruise vessel Crystal Endeavor built in Stralsund in MV Werften shipyard.The company’s scope of delivery consisted of all crew areas and state-of-the-art public areas, where the guests prepare themselves for the expeditions that the vessel offers.ALMACO completed the areas onboard Crystal Endeavor on time prior to the vessel delivery. The steel-to-steel installation included interior and background outfitting. The installation of all 109 crew cabins and crew public areas were done by ALMACO’s team on site.

13 Jul 2021

Shipbuilding: Crystal Endeavor Departs MV Werften Stralsund

The luxury expedition yacht Crystal Endeavor now sails to Iceland for inaugural voyages. Photo courtesy MV Werften

The PC6 luxury expedition yacht Crystal Endeavor recently cruised out of MV WERFTEN in Stralsund, Germany.The vessel, which had been built from 2018, was named by Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania’s Prime Minister Manuela Schwesig on June 26. The 20,200 GT Crystal Endeavor measures 164.5 x 23.4m, touted as the world’s largest luxury expedition yacht, able to accommodate 200 passengers and offers a 1:1 crew to passenger ratio.“Crystal Endeavor” is now en route to Iceland and is scheduled for a July 15 arrival in Reykjavík.

23 Jul 2021

Linblad Expeditions' National Geographic Endurance Honors Shackleton

Photo credit: Julie Rowland

Lindblad Expeditions officially launched the newest addition to its fleet, National Geographic Endurance, at a dockside christening ceremony in Reykjavik, Iceland, the first christening of an international vessel in Reykjavík Harbor.The occasion, a closed ceremony exclusively for Lindblad Expeditions guests, marked a major milestone for the line as the first polar new build in the company’s history. Named to honor legendary explorer Ernest Shackleton, National Geographic Endurance…

24 Aug 2021

MS Otto Sverdrup: Hurtigruten's Third Battery-Hybrid Expedition Cruise Ship

MS Otto Sverdrup offers year-round expedition cruises along the spectacular Norwegian coastline, and is Hurtigruten Expeditions' third battery-hybrid powered ship. Photo: AGURTXANE CONCELLON/Hurtigruten Expeditions

When MS Otto Sverdrup departed Hamburg, Germany, on itsmaiden voyage on August 24, Hurtigruten marked off three milestones: Introduction of Hurtigruten Expeditions’ third battery-hybrid powered cruise ship; Introduction of the first year-round expedition cruises from Germany; and a return of expedition cruises after more than a year of pandemic pause.Since the very first expedition cruise in 1896, Hurtigruten Expeditions has helped to define the expedition cruise category, with today a growing fleet of smaller…

20 Jul 2021

Eimskip Names New CFO

Iceland-based shipping and logistics firm Eimskip has appointed María Björk Einarsdóttir as CFO, to take over from Egill Örn Petersen, who has decided to resign due to personal reasons. Egill Örn Petersen, who has been the CFO of Eimskip since the beginning of 2019, will take another position within the finance department.María Björk Einarsdóttir has, for the last seven years, been the Managing Director of Alma íbúðafélag (previously Almenna leigufélagið) one of the largest real-estate companies in Iceland which she has led from its foundation. She has a B.Sc. degree in Engineering Management, majoring in finance, from Reykjavík University and she is a licensed securities broker.

13 Aug 2021

VIDEO: Norwegian Cruise Line's New Ship Floated Out in Italy

Credit: Fincantieri

Norwegian Cruise Line’s new cruise ship Norwegian Prima was floated out at the Fincantieri shipyard in Marghera (Venice) this week.The Norwegian Prima is the first of six vessels of the Norwegian Cruise Line’s (NCL) new Prima Class of ships. NCL is part of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.Along with her sister-ships, “Norwegian Prima” will form the backbone of the future NCL fleet, being more than 142,500-tons, almost 300 meters long, and accommodating 3,215 guests, Fincantieri said Friday.