STAR sells two ships
December 3, 2000: Star Cruises announced sale of two ships. RENAISSANCE V was sold to Cruise West and renamed SPIRIT OF OCEANUS. The former RENAISSANCE VI has been sold to Hebridean Island Cruises as HEBRRIDEAN SPIRIT, first voyage Edinburgh (Leith) July 3, 2001 to Norway. Passenger capacity reduced from 115 to 79.

SEABOURN SUN cancels
December 2, 2000: SEABOURN SUN, Seabourn/Cunard Line cancelled a December 9, 2000 sailing. Passengers were offered a complete refund plus 25% off a future Cunard or Seabourn cruise within one year. No reason for the cancellation given.

STELLA SOLARIS engine trouble
Dec 1, 2000: STELLA SOLARIS, Royal Plympic Cruises, suffered engine failure which resulted in a cruise cancellation. Passengers were offered a full refund and 50% off a future cruise.

SEABREEZE 1 sold
December 1, 2000: SEABREEZE 1 (ex- FEDERICO C. 1958) laid up in Haifax, Canada and recently arrested as a Premier Lines ship has been bought by the New York Merchant Bank DLJ. (Previously reported here for scrap but techinical managers International Shipping Partners state the ship has many years of trading to some)

PATRIOT arrives in Los Angeles
November 27, 2000: M.S. PATRIOT (ex NIEUW AMSTERDAM) the new United States Lines ship arrives in Los Anegles for a special one day press cruise before returning to San Francisco and sailing to her new desination the Hawaiian Islands. Click on United States Lines for more information, click on M.S. PATRIOT page on maritime matters.

Costa and Cammell Laird at odds over lengthening
November 25, 2000: Cammell Laird's shares lost more than a third of their value and up to 2,000 jobs are under threat after Costa Crociere decided not to go ahead with the E80m ($69m) jumboisation of the cruise ship COSTA CLASSICA at UK shipyard Cammell Laird. COSTA CLASSICA was expected to reach the Birkenhead shipyard 11/23/00, but she was ordered to return to Genoa while off La Coruna, Spain's Atlantic coast. Costa's technicians at Cammell Laird's Merseyside yard were escorted from the facility by security officials. Costa justified its decision on the grounds of alleged "heavy delays" in the yard's preparations for the conversion, and the subsequent risk that the contract would not be completed within the scheduled 17 weeks to March 22, 2001. Cammell Laird dismissed this allegation. The contract is subject to Italian law and the arbitration is to be held in Genoa. The completed mid-section of the ship, due to be floated out at the yard 11/26/00. This was the largest single order won by Cammell Laird so far and was designed to provide a stepping stone to eventually building cruiseships on Merseyside. The contract includes an option to carry out a similar conversion on the sistership Costa Romantica a year later. The shipbuilding group proved its determination in sealing the contract in September last year, beating off Italian competitors by offering a last-minute £8m ($12.6m) price cut as well as a tight, 17-week timescale to complete the job.

PREMIER ships for sale
November 21, 2000: According to Lloyds the laid up passenger vessels REMBRANDT, BIG RED BOAT I (ex OCEANIC) and BIG RED BOAT III (ex S.A. Vaal) currently berthed at Freeport, Grand Bahama, are to be sold by tender pursuant to an order of the Supreme Court of the Bahamas. Tenders to be received no later than Dec 14.

BIG RED BOAT II to cruise again
November 16, 2000: BIG RED BOAT II (ex Eugenio C.) reprortedly arrived in Port Canaveral, Florida on 11/14 from lay up in New York. Reports say she is now owned by Big Red Boat II Ltd., a subsidiary of Progress Group. The new owners paid $5 million in claims against the ship and Premier Line in order to get her released. She currently has a crew of 200, with another 80 scheduled to join her next week. The ship will be chartered for two-, three-, and four-day cruises to the Bahamas from Port Canaveral in mid-December. The identity of the charterer is unclear but possibly Cape Canaveral Cruise Line. She is reportedly undergoing maintenance prior to beginning a Defense Department charter in early December.

Hope for laid up REMBRANDT
November 15, 2000: Reports have come in that both the City of Amsterdam and Rotterdam have shown interest in acquiring the dutch masterpiece S/S REMBRANDT (ex ROTTERDAM (V 1959) for use as a floating hotel or other attraction. The ship is currently for sale by bankruptcy court and laid up in Freeport, Bahamas.

News of Premiers laid up Fleet
November 14, 2000: BIG RED BOAT II has been chartered to the U.S. Department of Defense for a brief security exercise in December. She sailed from lay up in New York November 11 for Jacksonville, Florida. Meanwhile, a US Federal Bankruptcy Court Judge in New York has cleared four ships in the Premier fleet for sale with proceeds to be returned to the court for distribution to creditors. REMBRANDT, BIG RED BOAT I, BIG RED BOAT III are for sale. SEAWIND CROWN still in Barcelona seems to be in the hands of a Spanish courts. SEABREEZE remains in Halifax, Canada and is not under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Federal Court. She was ordered sold to settle some 31 claims against her almost a month ago by the Federal Court of Canada. Legal notices have appeared in the appropriate maritime publications with tenders due in court by 11/17/00.

Arrested BIG RED BOAT II leaves New York
November 11, 2000: Former EUGENIO C., now BIG RED BOAT II in Premier Lines laid up fleet of arrested ships, sailed from Staten Island Home Port, NY to an unknown destination. It is likely that she will be sailing to the Bahamas where her former fleet mates REMBRANDT, BIG RED BOAT I (OCEANIC) and BIG RED BOAT II (TRANSVAAL CASTLE) are also laid up.

QUEEN MARY 2 contract signed
November 6, 2000: Today Cunard Line announced that a contract has been signed with Alstom Chantiers de L'Atlantique shipyard in Saint- Nazaire, France, to build the world's grandest and largest passenger vessel ever constructed, Queen Mary 2. Larry Pimentel and Pam Conover (of Carnival Corporation) made a simultaneous annnoucement in London. Delivery scheduled for late 2003.

Swedish car cariers to become student accomodation
November 6, 2000: Reported in the Swedish newspaper Gšteborgs-Posten, Wallenius Line is planning to convert two car-carrying ships, ANIARA and TOSCA, into student housing. The ANIARA is to be berthed in Stockholm harbour, near the city's university campus. The TOSCA will be moored in Gothenburg harbor. Each ship will house 500-700 student accomodations with parking space below the waterline for 400-500 cars.

Luxus order two British built liners, a first in 25 years
November 2, 2000: British shipbuilder Cammell Laird announced that it has won the contract to build two cruise ships, the first to be constructed in the UK in a over 25 years. The contract worth almost $500million is to build two 400-berth, 28,000 tonne luxury liners with the condition that the Government be prepared to subsidise Cammell Laird's shipyards and provide loan guarantees for the start-up cruise company Luxus. The shipbuilder maintains facilities at Gosport, Merseyside, Teesside and Tyneside. The Department of Trade and Industry will consider the applications for government aid, a decision is is expected bythe end of November.

UNIVERSE EXPLORER in collision with container ship
October 30, 2000: A Press report states that LILIUM a container vessel Lilium (5,671 gt, built 1977) was in collision with passenger ship UNIVERSE EXPLORER (22,162 gt, built 1958) on October 12. UNIVERSE EXPLORER was en-route to a Vietnamese port, with more than 600 Semester at Sea students abaord. On the morning of Oct 12, in Saigon River near Ho Chi Minh City, the cruise vessel sustained a 30-foot gash in the hull and damage to five cabins. No one was reported injured. UNIVERSE EXPLORER continued on her way and docked as planned for a five-day educational visit. Crews made repairs to two shell plates, above deck level, and vessel sailed October 16 for Malaysia. The accident is believed to have happened as UNIVERSE EXPLORER approached three container ships. She passed two of the vessels but collided with the third. The point of impact was 45 feet above the water line and neither tvessel was in danger of sinking. Vietnamese authorities were investigating the collision.

REGAL EMPRESS delayed
October 29, 2000: Reports have been received about the REGEL EMPRESS stranded off Florida's Key West. Reports from the media were unclear as to whether she was aground or has suffered a power failure. However, a call to Regal Cruises revealed that the ship had merely anchored to replace a cylinder head, during this proceedure a passenger called ashore claiming that the ship was stuck on a sandbar. Coast Guard were obliged to investigate. The REGAL EMPRESS (former Greek Line OLYMPIA) was therefore delayed by a few hours. There are no reports of any danger to passengers or crew.

ORIANA (1960) up for auction
October 27, 2000: The former British liner ORIANA now an attraction in Shanghai, China has apparently been auctioned. It's largest shareholder announced on August 15 that it will auction its stake in the ship. The announcement came from Hangzhou West Lake International Tourism Culture Development Co Ltd, which holds a 85 per cent stake in the liner. The other 15 per cent is owned by Hangzhou Jiebai Group Co Ltd, a department store operator. The liner was purchased for $6 million in November 1998 from Qinhuangdao in North China's Hebei Province. After a $3.5 million renovation, the Oriana opened to visitors in Shanghai in February 1999. During its 18-months of operation and despite more than 500,000 visitors, the attraction has not show expected profit. The auction was scheduled for September 28, 2000 since that time the ship is under going a refit. A source said, "Whether the liner will stay in Shanghai depends on the new investor".

New York, London Stock Market Launch for P&O Princess Cruises
October 23, 2000: P&O Princess Cruises plc (P&O Princess) launched its ADRs on the New York Stock Exchange and on the London Stock Exchange. This move follows the demerger of the company from the P&O Group, a defining moment in the 150 year maritime history of the British based group. P&O Princess is the third largest cruise company in the world by revenue, operating six of the most widely recognized global brands in the cruise industry: Princess Cruises, the North American premium cruise brand; P&O Cruises, the UKÕs largest premium cruise brand; Aida Cruises, one of GermanyÕs fastest growing cruise companies; the successful P&O Cruises in Australia, Swan Hellenic in the UK and Seetours International in Germany. Trading symbol "POC" in both locations.

Matson History lost
October 22, 2000: A floating debris field of furniture and life saving devices is all that is left 50 miles off Cape Town South Africa, following the sinking of the historic former Matson liner MONTEREY, which later became MATSONIA, then LURLINE, before a successful carreer under Chandris as BRITANIS. The ship which for the last years during lay up had been renamed BELOFIN-1 was being towed for demolition in India or Pakistan from Tampa, Florida. For a detailed history of the ship please go to: Maritime Matters - BRITANIS. Lost aboard her was a large primitive mural of particular importance as it was brought over from her sister ELLINIS when she was scrapped and dated to 1948. Also, many of the fittings came to BRITANIS from other ships: GALILEO (chairs), the 1980's HOMERIC (sofas), and ATLANTIS (some maps from PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT). the water where she sank had been described as "very deep".

BRITANIS sinks
October 21, 2000: BRITANIS sank at 19:04 Cape Town time (17:04GMT) 50 miles west of Cape Town. South African maritime authorities ordered the tug Irbis to keep BRITANIS 50 nautical miles off the coast as they feared oil pollution should she have sank in coastal waters. There was no power on board Britanis and although the idea landing generators and pumps onboard was discussed, it was felt that the ship was taking water too fast and could not be saved.

BRITANIS sinking off Cape Town
October 20, 2000: BRITANIS under tow of IRBIS is approaching Cape Town having departed Salvador, Brazil for the trans ocean tow to the scrap beaches of India or Pakistan. However, a leak in her aft section that caused a delay at Forteleza remains and repairs were planned in CAPE TOWN. The problem has in the last hours become critical and BRITANIS has developed a list which has now increased to 30 degrees. Portholes are under water and the possibility that she will shortly founder is great. Currently BRITANIS is about 70 miles north west of Cape Town. It appears that repairs are now considered too costly and the focus of activity will be to let her sink in shallow water as an artificial reef in St Helena Bay or Saldanha Bay.

SEA PRINCESS and STAR PRINCESS and to be based in los Angeles 2001/2002
October 19, 2000: Princess Cruise Lines' SEA PRINCESS to inaugurates a Mexico Itinerary from Los Angeles. The 77,000-ton ship will depart on Saturdays, sailing between September 29 and December 22. Princess will base STAR PRINCESS, sister ship to the GRAND PRINCESS in Los Angeles for Mexico sailings in 2002. Star Princess will be the largest ship ever to serve this cruise market. Beginning March 16, 2002, the shipÕs Mexican Riviera itinerary will take passengers round-trip from Los Angeles to Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas.

EXPLORER OF THE SEAS arrives in NEW YORK
October 17, 2000: EXPLORER OF THE SEAS the latest giant cruise ship to clain the title of world's largest passenger ship debued in New York after arriving early on October 17 after a rough crossing from Southampton where it was reported she encountered 40 foot seas and suffered some broken windows.

Crew of SEAWIND CROWN beacome "economic hostages" as conditoins worsen aboard
October 16, 2000: Since Premier ceased operations, the SEAWIND CRWON under charter has been stuck in Barcelona, Spain with 260 Crew members stranded aboard. 28 Women and 232 Men have been left stranded since 17th September, 2000 unpaid for the past month while the institutions that owe their wages and airfare have fought amongst themselves. The companies involved in the dispute are reported to be PREMIER CRUISE LINES, DLJ (DONALDSON, LUFKIN, JENRETTE) New York Investment Bank, ISP (INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING PARTNERS, Miami) Technical Managers for the ship, PRICE WATERHOUSE COOPERS, PremierÕs Liquidators, PULLMANTUR, Charter Company in Madrid. A website has been stet up to draw attention to the desperate plight of the crew at http://www.help260seawindcrew.com/ According to the site "Situation is dangerous as tempers run high with frustration. There is danger of riot, fire, sabotage, individual physical injury and sanitation problems".

QUEEN MARY hosts discussion of QUEEN MARY 2
October 16, 2000: During the Nation Autumn meeting of the Steam Ship Historical Society held on RMS QUEEN MARY on Long Beach, California, (October 6-8) Stephen Payne, lead naval architect for Carnival Corporation and head of the QUEEN MARY 2 project gave a detailed update. Mr. Payne had flown in from London for the event with news on the much anticipated liner. Mr. Payne gave the story of her development and said that signing of a contract was imminent. He issued the following statistics: The new ship is planned at overall length of 1,170 feet; she will have a breakwater on her lengthy bow along with other "ocean liner " features such as a wrap around promenade deck. Balconies will featured. She is to be moved through the water by four propellers of the "azipod" type (mermaids) design. Her hull design is expected to reduce rolling to less than half that of QE2 and her hull plating will be thicker than found in contemporary cruise ship construction. Powered by both diesel and gas turbines she will have twice the power of a CARNIVAL DESTINY class ship. The liner is to be built at St. Nazaire, France, and is anticipated to cost over $700 million. Planned for completion in late 2003 or early 2004.

Other events included, Peter Knego's presentation called "Land of the lost liners", featuring rare photographs of many well loved liners now in lay up through out the world; a visit to S.S LANE VICTORY from stem to stern, a two and a half hour harbour cruise taking in both Long Beach and Los Angeles Harbours narrated by author Gordon Ghareeb, a visit to the Los Angeles Maritime Museum; a tour of the QUEEN MARY, guest speaker maritime artist Ken Marschall who spoke on the efforts to raise SS CATALINA.

S/S NORWAY final transatlantic
October 15, 2000: Following Star Cruises (NCL parent Co) announcement that S/S NORWAY will be withdrawn and repostioned in Asia as a gambling ship, her 16 day transatlantic farewell cruise will begin in Miami, Florida September 2, 2001; departure 4 p.m. Sept 5, New York City 9 a.m.- 5 p.m., September 7, Halifax, N.S. 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. September 9, St Johns N.B. 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. Sept 14, Glasgow, Scotland 8 a.m.- 6 p.m. Sept, 15 Dublin, Ireland 8 a.m.- 6 p.m. Sept 17, Le Havre, France 8 a.m.- 6 p.m. arriving Sept 18, Southampton, England at 5 a.m.

BRITANIS crosses the South Atlantic
October 10, 2000: BRITANIS having departed Salvador, Brazil under tow tug IRBIS some 20 days ago is soon to arrive at Cape Town. A rumour that she was headed for Tuxpan, Mexico for removal of asbestos proved false.

SUPERSTAR LEO to cruise Hawaii
October 9: Star cruises will transfer the luxurious 2,000 passenger SUPERSTAR LEO to NCL's fleet in December 2001. She will begin offering 7-day Hawaiian islands cruises from Honolulu in late December following renaming. A call at Micronesia (Fanning island) will allow NCL to make the cruises legal (Jones act states a non US port must be included in itinerary).

Largest US cruise ship ever built
October 9, 2000: The keel was laid for a new 1,900- passenger United States Lines' ship, the largest cruise ship ever built in a U.S. shipyard. The joint venture between American Classic Voyages Co. and Litton Ingalls Shipbuilding will produce two vessels to sail in the Hawaiian market. The ships will fly the U.S. flag, and be crewed by Americans. Unnamed ship, but dubbed "Project America Hull #1," is the first of two, 1,900-passenger, 72,000-ton ships that AMCV contracted with Ingalls to build. The ships, with a total potential value of $1.4 billion, will begin cruising in early 2003 and 2004, under AMCV's United States Lines brand.

The last passenger ships to be built in the United States, were SS ARGENTINA and SS BRASIL in the late 1950s.

S/S NORWAY: To Asia
October 7, 2000: Star Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line parent company, announced that Miami based S/S NORWAY, will be repostioned to an Asia-Pacific port (yet to be named) in September 2001. Prior to redeployment, she will sail on a summer season of 7-day, alternating eastern and western Caribbean "farewell cruises" as NCL's flagship. The three final "farewell cruises", including a 16-day transatlantic voyage ending in Southampton, will feature special onboard amenities and programming designed to celebrate the ship's legendary heritage and place in maritime history. S/S Norway will be dry-docked in Europe for three weeks before her three week cruise to a homeport in Asia-Pacific which will be announced at a later date.

EXPLORER OF THE SEAS
October 6, 2000: World's largest liner arrives in Southampton for her press debue at the Queen Elizabeth 2 terminal.

ORIANA hit by giant wave
September 28, 2000: The P & O luxury liner ORIANA was hit by a 40 foot wave which smashed through six cabins as she sailed to Southampton from New York. ORIANA was 600 miles west of Ireland in rough seas when the wave hit. Passengers and crew were hit by flying glass, the ship hove to in order to make repairs. Her arrival at Southampton will be delayed.

BIG RED BOAT II
September 28, 2000: Despite rumours of her transfer to Europe the BIG RED BOAT II (Eugenio C.) of Premier Cruise Lines remains arrested at Staten Island, New York. Meanwhile SEABREEZE remains arrested in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Greek Ferry sinks
September 27, 2000: The EXPRESS SAMINA (built as CORSE, 1966) a Greek ferry collided with rocks off the island of Paros and sank in 15 minutes during the hours of darkness. It was reported that passengers had to break in to lockers where the lifejackets were stored, no attempt by the crew to impose order. Chaos ensued after the vessel crashed onto well marked rocks. The harbour entrance is guarded by two large rocks, known to the locals as the "portes" - the doors. The rocks, twice the height of a car ferry, are surrounded by a treacherous reef. After the collision the ferry quickly started to list at an angle of 45 degrees. Passengers jumped for their lives, many found there way to the rocks and clung on hoping for rescue. A flotilla of rescue craft came from the shore and were assisted in the rescue by a helicopter from the aircraft carrier INVINCIBLE and winched to safety.

CROWN PRINCESS to go to Aida Cruises
September 26, 2000: P&0 announces that it has purchased a remaining percentage of German based Aida Cruises. CROWN PRINCESS, Princess Cruises will to go to Aida Cruises in 2002 and join their AIDA, ARKONA and two "A" class newbuildings.

CARNIVAL VICTORY in minor collision with pier
September 24, 2000: As CARNIVAL VICTORY started to back away from her pier in New York there was a loud crunch. Her stern brushed the end of the opposite pier and crushed a portion of the concrete platform and denting the metal structure. Damage to the ship was minimal, but damage to the pier is estimated at $600,000. It appears that Carnival will be responsible for the damage, as the company chose not to use a tug for the departure.

FAIR PRINCESS - legionaire's disease
September 22, 2000: FAIR PRINCESS, currently serving as a floating hotel for over 400 journalists at the Sydney Olympics, has reportedly experienced an outbreak of legionaires disease. Dozens of passengers became ill on a 12-day South Pacific cruise that preceded her Sydney assignment. Several were hospitalized at Noumea, New Caledonia. Two have since died.

Ex Premier - ship locations
September 21, 2000: REMBRANDT arrived at Freeport and is now laid up along with BIG RED BOAT I (Oceanic) and BIG RED BOAT III (Transvaal Castle) which arrived September 17th.

OLYMPIC liners in Sydney
September 16, 2000: Present for opening of the Sydney 2000 Olympic games are the following ships for use as hotel accommodation: FAIR PRINCESS, CAPT COOK EXPLORER, SEABOURN SUN, CLIPPER ODYSSEY, NORWEGIAN STAR, SEVEN SEAS NAVIGATOR, CRYSTAL HARMONY, DEUTSCHLAND and NIEUW AMSTERDAM

Fallout from Premier Cruise Lines
September 15, 2000: Since the news and arrest of Premier cruise Line' vessels, REMBRANDT was able to satisfy the warrant and sail from Halifax, Canada for Nassau, Bahamas where she will be de-stored and laid up for sale. BIG RED BOAT II (Eugenio C) returned from Halifax to New York with passengers from both REMBRANDT and SEABREEZE. BIG RED BOAT III (Transvaal Castle) departed Cozumel for Nassau taking 300 hundred of her original 400 passengers, the rest flew back to Houston.

Premier Cruise Lines' vessels seized by creditors
September 14, 2000: At midnight last night the Cape Canaveral-based cruise line announced its lendor, Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette had taken possession of its ships. Florida based Premier cruise Line ordered the ships to return to various ports, tie up and off load passengers.

DOLPHIN IV out of service
September 13, 2000: Cape Canaveral Cruise Line stated: "We would like to inform you that Cape Canaveral Cruise Line has taken the Dolphin IV out of service. We are incontinuing negotiations with potential investors in hopes of bringing in another ship by October. If we are unable to achieve that goal, we will accommodate guests with current reservations on another cruise line or will issue a refund."
September 3 the DOLPHIN IV returned from a cruise to a schedule drydocking. It is believed that the condition of the corroded tanks was the cause of the problem.

S.S. CATALINA in Ensenada
September 9, 2000: The S.S. CATALINA Preservation Association continue their work to raise the half sunk CATALINA from the harbour in Ensenada, Mexico. September 8 was given as a possible date for the raising but some more openings in the hull were discovered and are being closed by divers working long shifts. For updates please check

OCEAN LINERS converge on New York
September 8, 2000: P & O Line are sending ORIANA on a transatlantic crossing from Southampton to New York, this will be a maiden call for ORIANA. Also arriving the same morning with ORIANA, Sunday September 17, between 7am and 8am will be QUEEN ELIZABETH 2, NORDIC EMPRESS, PACIFIC PRINCESS, and REGAL EMPRESS.

FAIR PRINCESS sale
September 8, 2000: A Dallas-based investment firm, Allegiance Capital Corporation, announced its negotiated purchase of $15.5 million for TSS FAIR PRINCESS. The plan is to convert the liner into a five-star luxury casino based in the Port of Hong Kong. The sale price was $15.5 million. The seller, P&O Holidays, will make significant repairs as part of the sale and has also agreed to pay for delivery of the ship to Hong Kong in December 2000, where she will be refurbished at a cost of approximately $7 million.

New CARNIVAL ship name released
September 6, 2000: Carnival released the name for the next Spirit-class ship, it will be ready in 2004 and named CARNIVAL MIRACLE.

BRITANIS on the move
September 7, 2000: BRITANIS/BELOFIN-1, has sailed from her temporary stop over Fortaleza, Brazil for repairs where she was anchored since August 10. She is headed for Salvador under tow from IRBIS for further repairs.

BRITANIS/BELOFIN-1 stalled en route to breakers
August 30, 2000: BRITANIS/BELOFIN-1, as previously reported here was towed away from lay up in Tampa, Florida July 3. She is bound for either India or Pakistan to be scrapped but remains forsale until rounding Cape of Good Hope, upon which time bidding will begin by scrappers. Potential buyers in California with plans to convert the ship to a Hotel and casino in San Francisco have withdrawn. The 1931 passenger ship, under tow from tug IRBIS, has suffered some leakage in the aft compartments and was anchored off Fortaleza, Brazil for repairs on August 10th. She remains there today, with insurers arriving to inspect sea worthiness before the ship can continue.

Carnival buys the other half of COSTA CROCIERE
August 29, 2000: British package holiday group Airtours is selling its 50% stake in Italian cruise operator Costa Crociere to cruise giant Carnival Corporation for $525 million. Carnival currently owns the other 50%. Britain's second-biggest tour operator acquired Costa jointly with Carnival in June 1997. The new deal, which is subject to approval by Airtours shareholders, gives Carnival complete control of Costa, and it also retains the 26pc stake in Airtours acquired in 1996.

CARNIVAL VICTORY arrives New York
August 18, 2000: Carnival Cruise Lines took delivery of the new 2,758-passenger 102,000-ton Carnival Victory July 28. The Carnival Victory, the 15th vessel in the "Fun Ship" fleet and the third in Carnival's highly successful "Destiny-class". She departed Monfalcone, Italy, August 2, on her transatlantic crossing and arrived arrive in New York on August 14. Carnival Victory sailed on its inaugural voyage -- two-night cruise-to-nowhere departing August 18. The ship will then launch a program of four- and five-day cruises from New York to the Canadian Maritimes August 31.

GLOBAL MARINER sinks
August 2, 2000: 1979 built general cargo ship GLOBAL MARINER sank in Venezuela's Matanzas harbour after a collision with ice strengthened multipurpose cargoship ATLANTIC CRUSADER August 2, 2000. GLOBAL MARINER won worldwide publicity as the former International Transport Workers Federation exhibition ship as she sailed around the world as an exhibition ship and spending just over a year in her high profile role in a circumnavigation of the world before returning to the United Kingdom to pay off this spring. Until April 2000, after which she was bareboat chartered to Clyde Marine as a training ship under the management of Northern Marine. She left Europe in June and had been trading in the Caribbean and Central America.

M/S DEUTSCHLAND passengers killed in Concorde crash
July 25, 2000: Over 100 people were killed when an Air France Concorde crashed outside Paris. The chartered supersonic jet was bringing passengers to New York for Peter Deilmans' M/S DEUTSCHLAND luxury cruise to sail from New York through the Carribean, the Panama canal to Ecuador. The cruise departed as schuduled

BLUENOSE gets the chop
July 25, 2000: The 346 by 66 foot 6,419 gt MV BLUENOSE, built in 1955 for Canadian National Railways daily round trip Yarmouth, Nova Scotia to Bar Harbor, Maine ferry service, departed Tampa under tow on Thursday, 29 June for scrapping in Tuxpan, Mexico. Designed to carry 600 passengers (with berths for 30 on two decks), she also had two decks for carrying 150 vehicles. In 1984, the ship was purchased by General Dynamics for use as an office and machinery shop at its New London, Connecticut submarine base. In 1996, she was sold to East Coast Equipment Co. and moved to Tampa, where she was ultimately laid up alongside the BRITANIS/BELOFIN-1. The BLUENOSE has 6 Fairbanks-Morse diesel engines, which when running, could produce a total BHP of 12,000 to drive twin screws at a service speed of 18.5 knots. The breaking process has not yet commenced as an eleventh hour bidder negotiates her purchase for future ferry service. Stay tuned to this page for further developments.

Renewed interest in saving oldest large ocean liner
July 22, 2000: While BRITANIS (former 1931 Matson Liner MONTEREY) is towed by Ocean tug IRBIS toward the breakers yard in India, there may be renewed efforts to save this aging liner.
At least two unidentified parties have expressed interest in buying the ship for preservation and hotel development in California. Discussions are apparently underway with the current ship owners to have the liner turned around and towed back to the US. No further information is available.

PARADISE out of action
July 21, 2000: Carnival Cruise Lines, announced that it has canceled four cruises scheduled to depart between July 16-August 6. PARADISE which departed the Port of Miami July 16, returned later that evening with a technical problem in one of the Azipod propulsion units. The ship will be drydocked at a Newport News, Va., shipyard for repairs. The vessel is now scheduled to re-enter service on August 13, 2000.

FUNCHAL black out
July 20, 2000: While under charter to UK tour operator FUNCHAL lost all power at Gibralter and the cruise had to cancelled. Passengers were flown home to the UK. After temporary repairs, she departed Gibraltar for Lisbon but had to cancel her following cruise. She is expected to be back in service for her July 26 cruise.

Cunard extends letter of agreement for QUEEN MARY 2
July 18, 2000: CUNARD Line extends its letter of intent with Chantiers de l'Atlantique for the Queen Mary 2. Contract confirmation has been postponed because of difficulties in the design process. A firm commitment might come in mid-August. The proposed QUEEN MARY 2 will measure 1130 feet in length, from keel to masthead she will measure 21 stories, at nearly 150,000 GT. She is expected to carry a mere 2800 guests, which is a low number for a ship of this size. She will be propelled by the world's first four-pod ship propulsion system, utilizing two fixed and two rotating propulsion pods that will enable her to cruise at nearly 30 knots.

New cruise line comes into being
July 18, 2000: A new company, INDIAN Ocean Cruise Line has been formed. Planning to begin operations on November 14, the Cayman Islands registered company has initiated a five year lease of OCEAN MAJESTY. The 1966-built, 10,000 GT OCEAN MAJESTY leased from Greek operators, is currently sailing in the Baltic under charter to UK tour operator Page & Moy. She will carry 600 passengers in the Indian Ocean. Passengers are expected from Europe, America and Asia. According to cruise company chairman Jaswant Lalwani, "we hope to lease another two to three ships next year" to add further destinations.

Mysterious and fatal collision of Spanish ferrys
July 16, 2000: CIUDAD DE TANGER collided with CIUDAD DE CEUTA 2.5 miles south-east of Point Carnero near Algeciras, both ferrys operated by Trasmediterranea. The cause the collision, in which five passengers were killed and 18 injured, remains a mystery. The CIUDAD DE CEUTA, with 290 passengers on board, had departed from Spain en route to Morocco when CIUDAD DE TANGER collided with it. The ongoing investigation reports no hint that a collision was imminent, but one of the ferries suddenly changed course. After the crash, both vessels made it to Algeciras.

QE2 bumps warships in minor incident
July 5, 2000: Cunard's QUEEN ELIZABETH 2 had an uncomfortable moment while docking in New York at pier 88. In a minor collision she scraped paint and lost part of a railing while docking after her 4 day July 4th cruise to nowhere. Her stern wandered across towards the dock towards the Japanese warship KASHIMA, which she hit snapping the mooring lines KASHIMA was forced against HMS MANCHESTER which lost the gang way and suffered some bent some metal. Tugs came to assistance. No injuries or serious damage was reported.

Worlds oldest large ocean liner, 1931 BRITANIS to leave Tampa for the breakers
July 3, 2000: At 10am Eastern Time, the final departure of BRITANIS now named BELOFIN-1 for the journey (former Matson Liner MONTEREY, MATSONIA, Chandris Line BRITANIS) from where she has been gradually rotting in lay up in Tampa, Florida. Her last active duty was in 1994. Her owners, taking advantage of a surge in the price of scrap, are sending the ship to the breakers. Ocean tug IRBIS ship will be guiding BRITANIS on the risky tow round Cape of Good Hope in hurricane season. After she rounds the Cape, several scrap merchants will begin bidding as she approaches India and pakistan. If plans for her conversion to an hotel in San Francisco progress, there is still about 30 days to get the ship turned around.

CHAYA BAHARI update: 10 passengers saved
July 3, 2000: Amazingly ten passengers have been rescued in a highly dehydrated and sunburned state from the seas around the Moluccas Islands, Indonesia. See story below.

492 passengers feared lost as CHAYA BAHARI sinks in storm
July 2, 2000: The CHAYA BAHARI an Indonesian ferry carrying many passengers fleeing the religious conflict on Halmahera Island capsized in rough seas in the Moluccas Islands in eastern Indonesia, 40 nautical miles off the northern coast of Sulawesi June 29th. Hopes faded of finding any survivors with rescue efforts hampered by thick fog and heavy seas. Radio contact had been lost soon after the wooden hulled vessel reported at about 0100 hrs that she was taking on water, there remains no sign of the ship. All that has been found so far is a lifebuoy. Three warships and a search and rescue team vessel have been scouring the sea where the ferry sank. Dozens of local fishing boats have also joined the rescue attempt. The ferry sank 2,200 km northeast of Jakarta.

BRITANIS - oldest liner afloat- to go to the breakers
July 1, 2000: BRITANIS (currently called BELOFIN-1) formerly of Chandris Line is headed to the breakers. The 1931 liner sailed as MONTEREY, then MATSONIA, and LURLINE for Matson Line before before being named BRITANIS with Chandris Line in 1970. Over the past year plans were made for her to become a floating hotel in San Francisco refecting her Matson Line past, but sadly that has not materialized. A tug has arrived to take her to the breakers in pakistan, the departure date is set for Monday July 3rd, 2000. For indepth history and photographs go to BRITANIS on maritimematters

U.S. built passenger vessel launched
June 27, 2000: American Classic Voyages' launched the first hull for a new Coastal Voyages fleet. "Intimate ships will showcase the beauty, heritage and character of coastal destinations". The first of two coastal liners was successfully launched at Atlantic Marine, Inc., in Jacksonville, Fla. The CV CAPE MAY LIGHT is in the water and under construction. The coastal ship is one of two 226-passenger ships being built at Atlantic Marine for AMCV's Delta Queen Coastal VoyagesSM fleet, which will begin sailing nine itineraries along the U.S. East Coast in spring 2001. AMCV is the nation's largest owner and operator of U.S. flag, U.S.-crewed passenger vessels. These 300-foot vessels will have 114 cabins. For more information visit www.coastalvoyages.com

BIG RED BOAT II aborts cruise
June 25, 2000: Premier's BIG RED BOAT II (ex- EDINBURGH CASTLE, EUGENIO C., EUGENIO COSTA) arrived in Boston suffering serious problems with the airconditioning. The cruise was cut short with Premier supplying buses to take passengers back to New York. The ship sailed back into New York for repairs arriving June 26.

Olympic Voyager sets sail
June 24, 2000: Billed as the world's fastest cruiseship, (not including QE2 as she is a liner!) Royal Olympic's OLYMPIC VOYAGER, started her commercial life with a seven day cruise from Athens. The 836-berth, 25,000 gt vessel, the first new cruiseship for a decade to fly the Greek flag, is the first of two sisterships being built for Royal Olympic by German shipyard Blohm + Voss. They are based on a frigate hull design evolved by the shipyard, specialists in naval contracts. In an inaugural trip from Athens to the Greek islands Olympic Voyager reached 29 knots and is capable of 32 knots.

BIG RED BOAT II loses anchor
June 23, 2000: Premier's BIG RED BOAT II (ex- EDINBURGH CASTLE, EUGENIO C., EUGENIO COSTA) while in Newport, RI was anchored to tender the passengers. When the pilot ordered the ship ahead, the crew neglected to raise the anchor. The dragging the anchor it caught an undersea power cable and severing it, a back up cable lay 500 yards away from main cable, but unfortunately the ships' anchor severing it too and fouling the anchor. Parts of Newport were black out. The anchor had be cut and abandoned.

BIG RED BOAT III slices tug with propeller
June 10, 2000: Premier Cruise Line cancelled what would have been only the third cruise of BIG RED BOAT III (ex TRANSVAAL CASTLE, ISLANDBREEZE) from the Port of Houston after the tug JUPITER was struck and sunk by the ships propeller. No injuries were reported. The following cruise was also cancelled and the former Union-Castle liner will sail to Mobile, Ala., New Orleans or Tampa, Fla. for repair. Over 1,140 passengers returning from their vacation aboard the Big Red Boat III were given certificates valid for another Premier cruise. Passengers who expected to board the cruise ship Saturday afternoon were given refunds and a 50% discount on any Premier Cruise Lines' vessel. The U.S. Coast Guard is conducting an investigation into what caused the Jupiter to run into the propeller.

ORIENT PRINCESS no longer gambling in Hong Kong
June 4, 2000: M.V. ORIENT PRINCESS (ex YAO HUA built 1967), employed in overnight gambling out of Hong Kong, arrived in that port on May 27 2000, is now under arrest at Government Mooring Buoy A38

Former TRANSVAAL CASTLE sets off as BRBIII from Houston, Texas
June 2000: Despite a rocky start for the BIG RED BOAT II (former EUGENIO C, EUGENIO COSTA, EDINBURGH CASTLE), which is still at pierside in New York City undergoing mechanical and operational maintenance and has yet to sail for Premier Cruises, the BRBIII (former TRANSVAAL CASTLE, SA VAAL, FESTIVALE, ISLANDBREEZE) is reportedly off to a great start on her Houston-based program with intitial sailings at or near capacity.

ORIANA rescues crew of sinking ship
May 29, 2000: The P&O cruise ship ORIANA rescued nine stranded seamen off the coast of southern Italy after their ship sank. The Turkish cargo vessel ORSAY, carrying a cargo of timber had capsized. The ORIANA, enroute for Dubrovnik, was diverted to Brindisi to land the crew.

Small fire aboard NIEUW AMSTERDAM all safe
May 23, 2000: A small fire broke out aboard the Holland America Line cruise ship NIEUW AMSTERDAM, as she as sailed through Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska. Approximately 1,700 passengers and crew no one was seriously injured. The fire was confined to the aft section of the Carnival-owned ship, in the crew quarters, below the main passenger deck. It was extinguished within 45 minutes, the US Coast Guard said. One person sustained minor injuries. Holland America said the ship should be fully repaired and back in service by June 1.

World Cruise Co ceased?
May 21, 2000: The World Cruise Company reportedly ceased operation. Passengers from the chartered RIVIERA are off-loaded in Tahiti during the world cruise. Little information is available.

OCEAN EXPLORER 1 withdrawn
May 2000: The OCEAN EXPLORER 1 operating by The World Cruise Company on three back to back world cruises, was taken out on service at the completion on only one circumnavigation, and laid up at Eleusis, Greece. The second cruise was taken over by 1967-built MV RIVIERA, originally the Spanish car ferry LAS PALMAS DE GRAN CANARIA, later rebuilt as the CROWN DEL MAR for Crown Cruise Lines before being sold for Mediterranean cruise service as the D. JUAN.

AURORA sets off again
May 16, 2000: P&O's new superliner which had curtailed it's maiden voyage due to overheating bearings resumed her cruise schedule, sailing fomr Southampton berth 106 at pm on May 15.

Passenger airlifted from transatlantic QE2
May 15, 2000: A sick passenger, described as an elderly American woman, was airlifted from the deck of the ocean liner QUEEN ELIABETH 2 by an RAF helicopter as the liner appraoched the coast of Britain. The liner was sailing on a regularly scheduled transatlantic crossing from New York to Southampton, an increased her speed to come within the 200 mile range of the helicopter.

AURORA set to dawn again
May 14, 2000: P&O's new superliner which had to return to Southampton one day into her maiden voyage, will be ready to sail again on Monday May 15. Having undergone emergency repairs at Blohm + Voss in Germany to an overheated propeller bearing which forced theabandonment of the maiden cruise. AURORA is expected back in Southampton on Monday to embark passengers for her second voyage, a cruise of the Canaries.

Possible sale of S.S. UNITED STATES?!
May 14, 2000: Unsubstantiated rumours about a possible sale of the laid up S.S. UNITED STATES have begun to circulate. An announcement is to be made May 19th.

AURORA breaks down in Bay of Biscay
May 2, 2000: AURORA P&O Line, one day from Southampton on her maiden voyage, a two weeks mediterranean cruise, a bearing over heated and forced her return to Southampton. The cruise was cancelled and passengers sent home. The ship will be repaired in time for the following cruise.

WORLD DISCOVERER aground in Solomon Islands
May 1, 2000: Society Expedition's 3,724 gt WORLD DISCOVERER was run aground to prevent sinking, all are reported safe. Over 100 passengers from Europe and the United States were rescued on Sunday when the cruise liner ran aground, according to local police. The Liberian-registered mv World Discoverer was forced to beach on the island of Ngella after running into a large rock. The ship was carrying 112 passengers and 80 crew. A passenger ferry was sent from the Solomon Islands capital, Honiara, about 40 km (25 miles) to the south, to rescue the survivors. The accident happened at 4 p.m. local time (0500 GMT) on Sunday in a narrow channel known as Sandfly Passage.
It was reported that the liner had developed a list of up to 20 degrees in the channel and the captain had decided to beach the ship to avoid sinking.
The ship was built in 1974 in Bremerhaven, Germany, as Bewa Discoverer. It is currently registered in Liberia and is owned by Seattle-based Society Expeditions. It has 80 cabins with 138 berths. It has a double hull construction enabling it to sail through Antarctic ice. It carried a fleet of inflatable dinghies allowing passengers to explore the ice floes. The liner also regularly cruises in the South Pacific.
Click here for dramatic photographs of the ship ashore IAN SHIFFMAN - TABLE BAY UNDERWAY SHIPPING

AURORA arrives in Southampton
April 16, 2000: P&0 Lines new AURORA arrived in Southampton for her naming ceremony before her maiden voyage May 1st. An excellent site for photographs of her maiden call can be found at Simplon Cards at www.simplon.free-online.co.uk/Aurora02