STAR Fire At Monfalcone
June 29: The 109,000 gt third GRAND PRINCESS class ship, STAR PRINCESS suffered a fire that started on Deck 4 when an acetlyene torch lit debris. The amount of damage is estimated in the millions and six crew members were hospitalized, their injuries a result of smoke inhalation and/or fleeing the vessel. Some of the Monfalcone-based Fincantieri shipyard workers jumped overboard at great risk, but all were eventually accounted for.

TOSCA In CROWN's Future
June 29: When Princess Cruises 1990-built 69,845 gt MV CROWN PRINCESS is transferred to Seetours next year, her new name will be TOSCA.

Special event in Southern California: Bill Miller on QUEEN MARY
June 29: Maritime author and lecturer Bill Miller, presented an entertaining program with excellent slides aboard the QUEEN MARY, in Long Beach California, in a packed Mauretania Room on Friday evening. The special fund-raising event was sponsored by Tom Chirby of Long Beach, with proceeds donated to the restoration and preservation of QUEEN MARY. The event was held on the Eve of the Steamship historical Society cruise on board SS INDEPENDENCE, now in her 50th year. A new book on INDEPENDENCE and CONSTITUTION will be available on the cruise begining in Maui, Hawaii June 30.

Hyundai Halts!
June 29: Ken Murayama reports that HYUNDAI KUMGANG departed on its last voyage to North Korea from Tonghae on 27 June and that the company will shut down its cruise service, which began in November 1998. The KUMGANG will join the already withdrawn PONGYAE and PUNGAK, and will be available for immediate lease or resale. A ferry service with the SEBONG (ex Treasure Island) will continue for the time being.

CROWN PRINCESS Towed To Copenhagen?
June 28: Princess Cruises' 69,845 gt 1990-built 1,590 passenger MV CROWN PRINCESS has suffered a serious mechanical breakdown and had to be towed into the port of Copenhagen on Tuesday, 26 June.

HEBRIDEAN SPIRIT gets Royal Christening
June 26: The ultra-luxurious HEBRIDEAN SPIRIT, is to be officially named by the Princess Royal in Leith, Edinburgh alongside the former Royal Yacht BRITANNIA at 12.30pm on Tuesday July 3. HEBRIDEAN SPIRIT was built in Itlay as RENAISSANCE SIX in 1991 and has been completely refurbished echoing the style of her sister ship, HEBRIDEAN PRINCESS. Claiming to be one of the most expensive and sumptuous cruise ships afloat she has accommodation for a mere 79 passengers in 50 cabins and attended to by a crew of 70.

ARCADIA assumes adulthood
June 26: P&O Cruises' ARCADIA will become an adults only ship from Autumn 2002. Passengers will have to be aged 16 and over to be able to book cabins on board.

MONA LISA: Men have Yet To Name You....
June 26: While details on the "soon-to-be-former" P&O VICTORIA's new operators are still not ready for disclosure, the ship's future name may actually be MONA LISA instead of its Italian equivalent LA GIOCONDA (as previously reported).

Costa Names Next Ships
June 25: Costa has released the names of four ships that will be joining its fleet in the next three years. When Holland America's WESTERDAM is transferred to the Italian Carnival Cruise Lines subsidiary in the spring of 2002, she will take on the name COSTA EUROPA and not COSTA HOMERICA, as many had predicted. The Finnish-built sister to COSTA ATLANTICA will be called COSTA MEDITERANEA while the two Sestri-Ponente newbuilds will be named COSTA FORTUNA and COSTA MAGICA.

PROVENCE's Latest Incarnation
June 25: One veteran liner that continues to find employment is the former PROVENCE of Society Des Transportes Maritimes. The 1952-built ship has been re engined and completely rebuilt over the years, having sailed as ENRICO C, ENRICO COSTA, SYMPHONY, and most recently as Golden Sun Cruises' AEGEAN SPIRIT. Following the collapse of her charter to Golden Sun, she was rechartered to Cruise Holding Shipping of Greece who in turn are subchartering the handsome liner to British cruise/tour operators Travelscope and Festive. As OCEAN GLORY 1, she will be sailing in European waters this summer.

Orders Slow Down For Two of "Big Three"
June 24: In coinciding announcements, it appears that two of the cruise industry's major contenders have suspended or delayed options on shipyard newbuilds as the economic slowdown and overcapacity impacts profits. Royal Caribbean has deferred its option with the Meyer Werft Yard at Papenburg, Germany from 27 June, 2001 to 26 July, 2002 for a fifth and sixth unit of its RADIANCE OF THE SEAS class of ships. In the meantime, Princess Cruises has suspended an order from Chantiers de L'Atlantique for two new ships originally due in 2004 until July 2002 with delivery in 2005-6.

Festival names new ships
June 23: Festival Cruises has announced the name EUROPEAN STARS for the second of two newbuildings, which was originally to be named EUROPEAN DREAM. EUROPEAN STARS is expected to sail her maiden voyage in April 2002. A sister ship the EUROPEAN VISION, to be delivered June 2001. These new vessles, both being constructed at Chantiers de l'Atlantique in St Nazaire, France, have a passenger capacity of 1,566.

ARABELLA cruise yacht enters New England service
June 23: Atlantic Stars Hospitality is introducing ARABELLA a sleek 49-passenger 160-foot cruise yacht to the New England cruise market this summer. Sailing on three - four and six-night from Newport, RI to Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, Provincetown, Cuttyhunk and Plymouth, through October.

LADY OF MANN Summers in Azores
June 20: Isle Of Man Steam Packet Company's veteran ferry LADY OF MANN, after a 1.5 million pound refurbishment, arrived in the Azores on 18 June for a summer charter schedule. With her newly modified and upgraded passenger facilities, she now meets international safety and stability requirements. She will return in September to commence her regular Irish Sea service.

PALMIRA vs. PALOMA
June 22: Paulo Mestre reports that Neckermann-chartered PALMIRA will cease operations on 23 August, due to low occupancy, resulting in the cancellation of the ship's fall Mediterranean program. Meanwhile, sistership PALOMA will continue operating for Hansa Touristik at least through the end of 2001. The 9,878 gt PALMIRA dates from 1981 as the LEV TOLSTOY and the 11,496 gt PALOMA is the 1980-built former DIMITRI SHOSTAKOVITCH.

SUN to Sea, In Wake of SEA
June 20: The former SHALOM/HANSEATIC/ROYAL ODYSSEY/REGENT SUN left Freeport, Bahamas under tow of HUA ANN (former SMIT NEW YORK) for shipbreakers in India on 7 June.

Meanwhile, her ex fleetmate, SEA (former GRIPSHOLM/NAVARINO/SAMANTHA/REGENT SEA) continues on her way (following a brief looting off Dakar), to India for demolition. It would appear that the eleventh hour plan to save her as a floating hotel in Stockholm will not come to pass. SEA is reportedly nearing the Cape Of Good Hope.

VAL DE LOIRE Saved From Eta Sabotoge
June 19: Ray Marsh reports that Brittany Ferries' VAL DE LOIRE was almost the victim of a terrorist attack led by Basque separatist organization Eta. Spanish police relayed evidence indicating that a car bomb would have been driven aboard the ship, but that officials would have been warned and thus been able to evacuate all passengers from the VAL DE LOIRE before the bomb was set off by remote control. The VAL DE LOIRE operates between Plymouth, Santander, and Roscoff, and to Cork, Ireland in the summer months then shifts to the English Channel operating from Portsmouth to Caen, France.

Russian sidewheeler gets visit from the Steamship Historical Society of America
The Steamship Historical Society is sponsoring a trip to northern Russia to travel on one of the world's few surviving sidewheel overnight steamers. The tour departs on August 16 and returns two weeks later. Organized by a firm that is a recognized expert in Russian travel, it includes three days and nights on the paddle steamer N.V. Gogol for a cruise from Archangelsk on the Dvina River; a trip by overnight ship from Archangelsk to the famous Solovetsy Islands, with two days of touring that ancient fortified monastery, using the ship as the hotel; and several days of included sightseeing in and around St. Petersburg, the magnificent capital of the tsars. With airfare from Newark the cost is anticipated to be about $3700 per person, double occupancy including most meals, internal airfares, and tours. For further information on this unique adventure, contact William M. Worden on email or at: 1020 Iroquois Avenue, Detroit, MI 48214, USA.

Cascade selling drydock
June 20: The Portland, Oregon based, Cascade General Shipyard has put its huge No 4 floating drydock up for sale to prevent yard closure. The UK bankruptcy of Cammel Laird (which had a 49% stake in the operation) and a recent cancellation of a major Alaskan Tanker maintenance project, have forced the sale of this valuable asset. It will be transferred to Freeport, Bahamas, taking its cruise ship business along with it. With a technical lift capacity of 87,000 metric tons (and reportedly the largest drydock in the western hemisphere), it is scheduled to depart Portland, Oregon under tow on 21 June.

ex SHOTA RUSTAVELI Off to Backwards Start
June 19: The handsome 1968-built 20,499 gt MV SHOTA RUSTAVELI, fourth unit in the distinguished German-built IVAN FRANKO quintet that included the ALEXANDR PUSHKIN (now sailing as Orient Lines MARCO POLO) made an auspicious return from three years' layup at Iliychevsk, Ukraine, as the ASSEDO. Scheduled to depart from Odessa (which spelled backwards is Assedo), Ukraine on Tuesday, 7 June, for a charter cruise to Greece, Italy, France, and Spain, ASSEDO remained at her berth until midnight Monday, 11 June, due to inclement weather and maintenance problems. Many of her 600 Russian passengers were forced to stay in an hostel and purchase their own food until the ship sailed, Itar-Tass/COMTEX reports. The shortened cruise will now only call at Spain before returning to Odessa. ASSEDO is now owned by Marchvin, under charter to Metropolis-Tur, and is marketed to CIS states. Kind thanks to Stefano Fermi of Cybercruises for this story.

SILVER WHISPER christened
June 18: In Genoa Italy at a morning ceremony, Godmother Marzia Lefebvre D'Ovidio, wife of Silversea Chairman Manfredi Lefebvre D'Ovidio, released a salmanazar of Moet & Chandon onto the bow of SILVER WHISPER. The ultra-luxurious 382-passenger, 28,258 grt ship becomes the fourth vessel in Silversea's fleet.

Real Names For Renaissance Fleet
June 18: With a new team at the helm, Renaissance Cruises have announced that their fleet of eight newbuilds (R ONE, R TWO, R THREE, R FOUR, etc.) will be getting "real" names at some point in the very near future. The Chantiers-built 30,000 gt ships have been extremely popular for their relatively intimate size and tasteful decor. All eight ships are virtually identical, even in furnishings, color schemes, and fittings.

Hold Those Ships!
June 18: Following Royal Olympic Cruises' latest announcement that the OLYMPIC/OLYMPIA EXPLORER will now be delayed until 15 September (from its original delivery date of 27 April) due to "technical difficulties", American Classic Voyages has revealed that the coastal liner CAPE COD LIGHT's first 12 voyages would be scrubbed and that the "Project America" twins under construction at Pascagoula, Mississippi would be delayed from four to nine months.

NORDIC EMPRESS returns to Bermuda
June 17: Following the brief fire, reported below, Royal Caribbean International's NORDIC EMPRESS returned to Bermuda early today. Almost all of the ship's 1,566 guests were flown home via New York, some chose to remain in Bermuda overnight to continue their vacation tomorrow on Celebrity Cruises' HORIZON. NORDIC EMPRESS was moved to King's Wharf in Bermuda where repairs continue to the damaged engines.

MARINE EXPEDITIONS Latest To Go Bust
June 17: Sadly, yet another small cruise ship operator has joined the throng of bankrupt companies in what has been a tough year for the cruise industry, especially those operating outside the Carnival, Princess, and RCI triumvirate. Toronto based Marine Expeditions ceased operations on May 6, leaving passengers on the 1976-built 4,251 gt MV LYUBOV ORLOVA stranded in Reykjavik, Iceland. Eventually, they were flown home via Dublin. The successor to Marine Expeditions, Inc., Marine Expeditions was formed last year following the bankruptcy of affiliated World Cruise Company. It is expected that the majority of the passage fares and deposits on future cruises will be refunded by the Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO).

NORMANDIE statue goes back to sea
June 16: The Miami Herald reported that the Art Deco statue created for the 1935 French ocean liner NORMANDIE, which had been a fixture at the Fontainebleau Hilton for 47 years, is going back to a life at sea. The bronze statue, called "La Normandie" by sculptor Leon Georges Baudry, was removed from the hotel June 15. The 1,000 pound figure, that once stood at the top of a grand staircase to the NORMANDIE's first-class smoking room until it was removed in New York in 1941 as NORMANDIE was tranformed into a troop transport, is headed to Italy for cleaning and the addition of a marble base. La Normandie will then be deliverd to the shipyard in France where it will be placed aboard the Celebrity newbuilding SUMMIT. Celebrity's two other new ships also have ocean liner themes. MILLENNIUM, which began service September 2000, has a specialty restaurant with wood paneling from the 1911 steamship SS OLYMPIC. The INFINITY, which went into service in February 2000, has glass panels from the 1952 SS UNITED STATES' ballroom in its restaurant.

Small fire aboard NORDIC EMPRESS
June 16: It was reported that Royal Caribbean International's NORDIC EMPRESS is returning to Bermuda early June 17 under her own power. A small fire started by a ruptured fuel line was suspected as the cause of a fire in the main engine room. The fire, which broke out June 15, left the ship without power. The vessel's sprinkler system extinguished the fire and no injuires were reported. The ship drifted for a time, and a tug was dispatched from Bermuda. However, NORDIC EMPRESS, powered by its starboard main propulsion engine (which was not damaged in the fire), proceeded back to Bermuda at eleven knots, according to reports. Passengers will be flown home via New York, where the cruise originated on June 10. The company is providing all passengers a free seven-night cruise certificate. The next cruise, which was due to start June 17, will be cancelled. Ticket holders will receive a full refund, plus a free seven-night cruise certificate. After the ship docks in Bermuda, repairs will be made and she will then sail to New York.

REMBRANDT Salvation?
June 15: The 1959-built SS REMBRANDT, former ROTTERDAM, has been the subject of many recent rumors, the latest of which would have her berthed in Amsterdam as a floating hotel. The perfectly preserved liner has been languishing at Freeport, Bahamas since the collapse of Premier Cruise Lines last year. The plan is reported to be backed by Dutch real estate company IMCA Vastgoed, who intend to preserve the ship in a manner similar to the QUEEN MARY at Long Beach.

INFINITY finds room in Victoria dock
June 15: Celebrity Cruises' brand new INFINITY experienced problems with the propulsion system which required dry-docking. The 293-meter-long, 16-deck-high cruise ship has inched its way into Victoria's Esquimalt Graving Dock for repairs. INFINITY is the largest cruise ship on Canada's west coast. Both a Canadian war ship and a Russian trawler under repair had to be moved from the Victoria shipyard to make room for the massive Alaskan cruise ship. Mechanical problems surfaced earlier this month in Liberian-registered INFINITY. Celebrity decided to have the ship repaired after completing its voyage to Vancouver. Repairs are scheduled to complete on June 21, in time for the her next cruise to Alaska.

"INDY" and PATRIOT boom
June 12: In contrast to a statement warning of the possible withdrawal of the SS INDEPENDENCE on May 16, American Classic Voyages today reported a significant improvement in booking momentum and a rosy forecast for the summer season on its Hawaii cruise ships INDEPENDENCE and PATRIOT. The Company also announced a cost control program to reduce its expenses including plans to axe 70 full-time staff positions from shore-based operations of around 470 full-time personnel. American Classic Voyages controls United States Lines, American Hawaii Cruises, Delta Queen Coastal Voyages and The Delta Queen Steamboat Co.

Fairer Seas For CHINA SEA DISCOVERER?
June 11: A number of conflicting reports have recently surfaced about the fate of the 1956-built SS CHINA SEA DISCOVERER, (exCARINTHIA/FAIRLAND/FAIRSEA/FAIR PRINCESS). While it appears that she will thankfully not be going for scrap in India, a report of her transfer to Mediterranean cruises for managing company V-Ships to sail alongside former sister ALBATROS (ex SYLVANIA/FAIRWIND/DAWN PRINCESS) may have been premature. The latest from Jonathan Boonzaier on this handsome veteran liner is that she will remain with her present operators for Taiwan-based cruising. The ship is currently laid up at Kaohsiung, which thankfully shut down its hungry scrapyards in the late 1980's.

WWII wreck found in Gulf of Mexico
June 8: "Hugin-3000", an unmanned remotely controlled submarine, officially referred to as "an autonomous underwater vehicle" (AUV), belonging to BP and Shell Oil, discovered wreckage of a German World War II submarine U-166 in the Gulf of Mexico. While surveying for a planned underwater pipeline route, Hugin-3000 found the wreck in approximately 5,000 feet of water about 45 miles from the mouth of the Mississippi River. The discovery was reported to the U.S. government, which notified the government of Germany. The U-166 was the only submarine sunk in the Gulf of Mexico during the war and now lies near another previously located casualty of World War II, the passenger freighter S.S. ROBERT E. LEE, which was sunk by a torpedo from the U-166 on July 30, 1942. 15 crewmembers and 10 passengers on the US ship were lost in the attack. The U-166 was sunk two days later by the U.S. on August 1, 1942, after a patrol plane sighted a submarine on the surface and then dropped a depth charge.

MARGARITA L Update
June 8: Reports of the sale of the Latsis-owned MARGARITA L (former WINDSOR CASTLE) to Indian shipbreakers may be premature. Although several interested parties are on the verge of an offer, a final deal has not yet been confirmed. Her fleetmates MARIANNA 9 (ex PRINCIPE PERFEITO) and MARIANNA VI (ex AUREOL) were sold for scrapping earlier this year.

PONTA DELGADA On the Brink
June 8: The sadly derelict 1,054 gt MV PONTA DELGADA, former feeder ship for Empresa Insulana de Navegacao, took on water at her Lisbon berth on June 3 and is now partially submerged. The 1961-built ship had been laid up for several years and was virtually stripped and abandoned. The failure of one of her tanks is presumed to be the cause of this recent mishap and it appears as though she will be raised and scrapped in situ or towed to a local breaker.

MV SEA "Mugged" off Dakar
June 8: Le Populaire, a Senegalese newspaper reported on 31 May that the partially stripped MV SEA, enroute to Indian scrappers via tug SOLANO, was attacked and pillaged by pirating fishermen off the coast of Dakar. Electronic equipment and furniture were loaded into motorized boats before the towing crew could chase the thieves away. Many thanks to Charles Dragonette for this report.

GIOCONDA
June 7: Preliminary reports indicate P&O's classic VICTORIA will continue service as GIOCONDA for new operators after her lease-back to P&O expires in September 2002. This announcement coincides with Maritime Matters' six page tribute to this stunning beauty. Click here to go to VICTORIA (ex- KUNGSHOLM, SEA PRINCESS).

INFINITY to drydock
June 6: Celebrity Cruises' brand new INFINITY experienced problems with the propulsion system. Two cruises to Alaska, June 8 and June 15, have been cancelled. In a report from the cruise line, it would appear that the current cruise would be not affected. The failure occurred in a bearing surrounding the main propulsion shaft and demands that the item be replaced before the part fails completely. The ship will continue her current cruise, returning to Vancouver as scheduled on June 8. No shipyard has yet been named for the repair work.

NORWAY sails
June 3: U.S. Coast Guard inspectors cleared the SS NORWAY, Norwegian Cruise Line, to sail one week after probelms with the sprinkler system were discovered. The former SS FRANCE remained berthed for more than a week in Miami, Florida while repairs were made. Passengers on the cancelled cruise had remained onboard for two days in Miami in the hope that repairs would be completed, but were sent home May 29 with a full refund and offered a free future cruise. NORWAY sailed Sunday June 3, on a seven-day cruise of the eastern Caribbean.

GALAXY drydocked
June 2: As GALAXY, Celebrity Cruises, departed Amsterdam, the ship touched bottom and damaged the port propeller. The Captain diverted from his course to Olso and returned the vessel to Amsterdam for divers to investigate. A plan to dry-dock the GALAXY in Hamburg, Germany June 6 was announced. Passengers from the 14-night cancelled cruise were offered a full refund and a future cruise. The ship is expected to return to service June 16.

Infinitely too big
June 2: The 965 foot INFINITY was barred from entering Hawaii's Nawiliwili Harbor on Kaua'i in April. Harbor pilots refused the ship as too long for the "S" shaped entrance to the port. Hawaiian Tug & Barge said it plans to station a tractor tug in Nawiliwili Harbor in preparation for a growing number of cruise-ship visits. The company said it will repostition the tractor tug ELEU to Nawiliwili by December to meet demands from United States Lines, Norwegian Cruise Line and other cruise companys. Tractor tugs have increased maneuverability, which is especially suited for assisting large ships in and out of tight harbors. Harbor pilots working Nawiliwili have twice refused to land Celebrity Cruise Lines' INFINITY this year.

Southampton gets warmer waters
June 1: It was reported today that Royal Caribbean International is to base its UK voyages out of Southampton, England for 2002.

NORWAY goes nowhere
May 31: Norwegian Cruise Line was unable to fix the faulty sprinkler system on the NORWAY in time for the delayed cruise to continue from Miami, Florida. Passengers were wined and dined, taken to local sights and finally awarded refunds and free future cruise vouchers. The 2,032 passengers left the ship Tuesday, May 29, after the seven-day Caribbean cruise was called off after almost 30 hours waiting aboard ship. A Coast Guard spokesman was reported to say that said NCL could possibly face disciplinary action, including fines, if the agency's marine safety branch determine the cruise line was in violation of federal marine safety regulations.

SPARTAN to WISCONSIN CLIPPER
May 28: Happy news from the Great Lakes! The Lake Michigan Carferry Company plans to spend $10 million to refurbish former Chesapeake & Ohio ferry S.S. SPARTAN to sail between Milwaukee and Muskegon, Mich. on the route once popularized by the now-preserved veteran ferry MILWAUKEE CLIPPER.

With her new name, WISCONSIN CLIPPER, the 49 year old ship will carry up to 620 passengers and 200 cars, the Associated Press reported. She is scheduled to enter service in 2003, and will boast two restaurants, two movie theaters, four bars, and a coffee shop. She will join her sister ship, the coal-fired S.S. BADGER, which is now operating between Manitowoc and Ludington.

Hapag to Carnival?
May 28: The Sunday Telegraph said the Carnival Corporation, the world's biggest cruise group, was considering the purchase of Hapag-Lloyd from Preussag AG to bolster its European presence following its sale of shares in money-losing Airtours. Hapag-Lloyd's fleet includes the ultra-deluxe MV EUROPA, and the expedition style vessels COLUMBUS C, BREMEN, and HANSEATIC.

NORWAY Detained
May 27: Norwegian Cruise Line's legendary SS NORWAY was prevented from sailing today as repairs to her fire safety system were made under order of the US Coast Guard. Rubber patching in numerous parts of the ship's sprinklers had to be replaced with welded metal before the ship could depart. Meanwhile, the 2032 passengers on board were kept happy with an open bar, on board entertainment, a $200 shipboard credit, and free shore excursions in the Miami region. No further information on when the ship would be cleared to depart was available.

Martinoli Awarded Renaissance Contract
May 25: Renaissance Cruises today announced that it has signed an agreement for its marine and technical operations with Martinoli SAM, a Monte Carlo based ship management company. The company, which was founded in 1946 by Federico Martinoli and still retains the name of its founder, has earned a distinguished reputation for their expertise in this area. With the acquisition of the "R" fleet Martinoli SAM becomes the world's largest private shipmanager of cruise ships.

Renaissance Cruises currently operates one of the youngest and most technically advanced cruise fleets in the industry.

SEVEN SEAS MARINER christened
May 22: Radisson Seven Seas Cruises newest ship SEVEN SEAS MARINER, billed as the world's first all-suite, all-balcony cruise ship -- was christened at the Port of Los Angeles May 22. Arleen Martin Carlson, (first lady of one of America's most influential business families, board member emeritus of the Carlson Companies, Inc. of Minneapolis and wife of the company's late founder, Curtis Carlson) made a short speech and sent the champagne bottle hurtling towards the bow. The fact that the bottle did not break did not seem to mar the proceedings. The Peninsular High School Band played the national anthems of France and United States and special inaugural plates were handed out to the assembled guests. The SEVEN SEAS MARINER departs May 23, on a ten-night cruise from Los Angeles to Vancouver to begin her inaugural season in Alaska.

NORWEGIAN SKY Turns for the Worse
May 20: News reports today showed a good deal of superficial damage to the public areas of Norwegian Cruise Line's NORWEGIAN SKY, which rolled significantly following a sharp turn in the Strait of Juan de Fuca which runs between Washington's Olympic Peninsula and Canada's Vancouver Island. A misfunctioning auto pilot mechanism was thought to be the cause of the incident.

MARINER to be Named in Los Angeles
May 19: Radisson Seven Seas' spectacular new ultra-deluxe 46,000 gt MV SEVEN SEAS MARINER will be named in Los Angeles on Tuesday, 22 May in a gala christening ceremony. Maritime Matters editors Martin Cox and Peter Knego will be attending and plan to post details about this exciting event.

"INDY" in Deep Water?
May 18: In a sobering revelation, made May 12, American Classic Voyages (parent company of American Hawaii Cruises, Delta Queen Steamboat Company, and United States Lines) indicated that due to declining yields per passenger capita on the SS INDEPENDENCE in the first part of 2001, the veteran liner may be withdrawn from service. The famed sister ship to the SS CONSTITUTION (featured in "An Affair To Remember" and "I Love Lucy", sank enroute to scrappers in 1998), the nearly identical INDEPENDENCE entered service in 1951 for American Export Lines. She began sailing for American Hawaii Cruises in 1980 after a major refurbishment and has been a fixture in Interisland cruising ever since. The INDEPENDENCE is one of a handful of classic ocean liners left and will be host to the Steamship Historical Society of America on a 7 night 50th anniversary celebration featuring ship historians Bill Miller and Frank Braynard departing on 29 June.

OLYMPIC VOYAGER wins at Lancaster
May 17: Cruise and Ferry Awards 2001 hosted at the Royal Lancaster Hotel gave Royal Olympic Cruise Line's new 28 knot OLYMPIC VOYAGER the title of "most significant cruise ship newbuilding in the past two years". The OLYMPIC VOYAGER took the top prize amongst fierce competition for pioneering the fast cruise concept with major competition for the award ccoming from Royal Caribbean and Star Clippers. The panel of judges, who were chosen from such organizations as the International Maritime Organisation, the Maritime Hotel Academy and the Royal Institute of Naval Architects, were industry professionals recognizing initiatives in design work, safety, environmental protection, technology and shipboard services. OLYMPIC VOYAGER was built by the German shipyard Blohm + Voss and delivered in June 2000.

CHRISTINA O Back from the Brink
May 16: Tauck World Discovery Tours will be handling sailings of the 325-foot ultra-luxurious CHRISTINA O, which was originally built by Aristotle Onassis and donated to the Greek government after his death in 1975. With a mere 18 staterooms for 36 guests, the CHRISTINA O, which was given a $50 million refurbishment, will be sailing to the Greek Islands from Brindisi this summer, transferring to the Caribbean in the winter. This should be a happy return for the lovely ship, which sat in obscurity for 25 years.

PRINSENDAM
May 15: Holland America Line has revealed the new name to be given the 38.000 gt MV SEABOURN SUN which will be transferred from Seabourn Cruise Line in June of 2002: PRINSENDAM. This important name has not been used since the 1973-built PRINSENDAM was lost by fire in 1980 off Alaska (with all passengers safely rescued). She will embark on cruises ranging from 10 to 18 days in her first year following a series of introductory events on the US East Coast. The ship was built in 1988 as the ROYAL VIKING SUN and sailed as such for both Royal Viking and Cunard Lines.

Fates of ex-CENTAUR and ex-FABIOLAVILLE Confirmed
May 15: Jonathan Boonzaier reports from Beijing that, indeed, both former colonial combi-liners HAI DA (ex Blue Funnel Line's CENTAUR) and HAI HUA (ex Cie Maritime Belge's FABIOLAVILLE) were sold for scrapping in Southern China during 1999.

Sewage From NORWEGIAN SKY to Alaskan Sea
May 11: Norwegian Cruise Line's NORWEGIAN SKY was cited by the US Coast Guard for dumping sewage between Juneau and Ketchikan on 3 May, 2001. A civil penalty case is being levied against NCL for the violation.

Save the SEA!
May 10, 2001: Lars Hemingstam in Stockholm recently wrote the following appeal: The GRIPSHOLM of 1957 is under tow, bound for India to be scrapped, unless the last payment to save her is made in a very short time. There is still a chance to save her and make true of the plans to convert her into a floating cruise terminal and hotel in Stockholm. Please help us by emailing the following members of the Stockholm City Council and make your individual plea for one of the finest ships still afloat. And international opinion could just make the difference! Those of you who have personal memories of the GRIPSHOLM, or any of the other SAL ships, please write something about that in your email.
The persons to send a message to are:
carl.cederschiold@stadshuset.stockholm.se City budget office
and stella.fare@stadshuset.stockholm.se
Head of the Board of the Port of Stockholm

QM2 launch announced
May 7, 2001: Cunard have announced that the proposed launch date for the QUEEN MARY 2 will February 2003, with the delivery expected by December.

WESTERDAM to replace aging RIVIERA
May 7: Further to the 29 March posting regarding the transfer of WESTERDAM from Holland America to Costa in June of 2002, it was announced that the 30,400 gt COSTA RIVIERA (originally Lloyd Triestino's GUGLIEMO MARCONI) will be removed from the Costa fleet. The 1963-built vessel remains in service but is currently for sale.

GOLDEN PRINCESS arrives in Southampton
May 5, 2001: Accompanied by a helicopter and two fire tugs, the brand new GRAND PRINCESS Class GOLDEN PRINCESS sailed up Southampton Water on schedule from her builders in Italy to berth 105/6 The Mayflower Terminal. Hundreds of interested locals crowded vantage points at the Hythe Pier, the Town Quay and Mayflower Park to greet the giant new cruise liner. Sailing on several short shakedown cruises, her maiden voyage begins May 16, Southampton to Barcelona.

New Cunard ships?
May 3, 2001: May 3, 2001: Rumours are circulating in maritime circles that Cunard is to receive two ships, possibly from Holland America Line. This move could also leave the future of CARONIA (ex VISTAFJORD) in doubt. Parent company Carnival has the ability to switch ships between its companies.

Hold That Ship! update
May 2, 2001: Royal Olympic Cruises has cancelled cancelled the first eight cruises planned for the new OLYMPIC EXPLORER while rebuilding work is carried out at the shipyard. the work is expected to take aproximately two months. OLYMPIC EXPLORER's first cruise could now take place on July 6.

REMBRANDT/ROTTERDAM Foundation Formed
May 1, 2001: In a grass-roots effort to save defunct Premier Cruises' 1959-built SS REMBRANDT, a foundation is being established by five ship enthusiasts in The Netherlands to help raise awareness and stimulate local interest in the liner. They hope to explore the field of cultural subsidies and get commercial parties interested in bringing the former Holland America Line flagship "home" to either Rotterdam or Amsterdam for static use. They have no intent to purchase the ship, themselves. The ex ROTTERDAM is currently laid up in Freeport, Bahamas awaiting sale. She has adapted with the changing cruise industry over the years and has thus seen very little alteration from her original configuration, making her one of the most well-preserved of the few classic liners still afloat. As more details become available, Maritime Matters will post updates.

CONSTELLATION Revelation
April 30, 2001: Celebrity Cruises has announced the name of the fourth unit in its brilliant new series of 91,000 gt ships: GTS CONSTELLATION. She will debut in April of 2002, following the GTS SUMMIT, which is due in October 2001. The first ship in the series, the GTS MILLENNIUM, entered service in 2000 and was joined last month by the GTS INFINITY. These ships are powered by gas turbine engines, are beautifully appointed, and filled with stunning collections of contemporary art. Each ship has a specialty dining room featuring fixtures from famous ocean liners: The MILLENNIUM has walnut panels from the RMS OLYMPIC; The INFINITY has glass panels from the SS UNITED STATES; and the SUMMIT will feature panels from the SS NORMANDIE. There was no word yet on what the CONSTELLATION will feature.

INFINITY Named
April 29, 2001: Celebrity Cruises' 91,000 gt GTS (gas turbine) INFINITY made its maiden arrival in Los Angeles today, topping last week's record of largest visiting ship set by Royal Caribbean International's 90,500 gt MV RADIANCE OF THE SEAS. The INFINITY was completed in February 2001 by the Chantiers de L'Atlantique shipyard at St. Nazaire, France. A credit to her shipyard and builders, the unusual-looking ship is one of the world's most spectacular from within. A large gathering of travel agents and VIPs were on hand to attend a pierside naming gala that featured an orchestra, trumpeters, a pipe and drum band, dancers, and several vocalists. Parent company Royal Caribbean International's CEO, Richard Fain, was on hand to introduce godmother Solveig Aars Wilhelmsen (member of the Wilhelmsen family that co-founded Royal Caribbean Cruise Line), who cut the rope releasing a huge bottle of "bubbly" on the ship's port side flanks. Long may she sail!

Hold That Ship!
April 29, 2001: Royal Olympic Cruises' 25,000 gt MV OLYMPIC EXPLORER, nearly identical sister to the very well-received 2000-built MV OLYMPIC VOYAGER will not be delivered on schedule so that the yard can make improvements to the vessel. The second in what was to be a three ship order from the Blohm and Voss shipyard, the EXPLORER would join the VOYAGER as the fastest cruise liner in the world. Their "mono hull" design and powerful machinery give them a maximum service speed of 27 knots. No specifics on what type of improvements or a new delivery date were made available.

PACIFIC PRINCESS: "Adieu" In '02
April 28, 2001: Princess Cruises announced today that the pioneering 19,903 gt MV PACIFIC PRINCESS will leave their fleet in the Fall of 2002. Built in 1971 as the SEA VENTURE for now-defunct Flagship Cruises, she was sold to P&O-owned Princess Cruises in 1974, entering service in 1975 as the PACIFIC PRINCESS. She soon became one of the most famous cruise ships afloat as the featured ship in "The Love Boat" television series, which is credited for the "cruise boon" that began in the late 1970's. Her identical sister, the 1971-built ISLAND PRINCESS (former ISLAND VENTURE) was sold to Hyundai in 1999, becoming the HYUNDAI PUNGAK (see news item 4/24). It is likely that the name PACIFIC PRINCESS will be given to one of the massive newbuilds Princess has on order.

OCEANIC Transformation Progressing
April 27, 2001: Arturo Paniagua reports that OCEANIC arrived on 6 April at the Cadiz Yard of IZAR Carenas but due to her deep draft, could not enter the dry dock until 10 April. Nearly 9,000 square meters of hull and superstructure were repainted. Although her hull is now white, she sports the letters "Pullmantur Cruises" in its center. New propellors may be fitted in order to save fuel and the installation of bow thruster units is being considered. The ship is due to leave for Barcelona at the end of April for some interior refurbishment prior to her first cruise on 28 May.

Petition to save last White Star vessel in Paris
April 27, 2001: An online petition to save NOMADIC is available at:
http://www.petitiononline.com/Nomadic/petition.html.
"On the River Seine in Paris, France, near the Eiffel Tower, lies the NOMADIC. Constructed in 1911 at Belfast, she and her sister, TRAFFIC, were built for the White Star line to serve their new Superliners, the OLYMPIC and the Ill-Fated TITANIC, by transferring passengers and mail from Cherbourg to the ships. TRAFFIC was sunk in WWII. NOMADIC continued in service until the late Sixties. In 1974 she was bought and converted into a floating restaurant. However, she now lies in paris, rusting and unused, and she is in danger of being scrapped! This ship is the very last survivor of the White Star Line." Another webiste on her with recent and historic photos can be found at:
http://www.nomadic.fr.st/rub-intro/englishversion/index.htm

More EUROPE Sinking Info
April 26, 2001: Maritime Matters learned today that the former ENGLAND, enroute via tow to Indian Shipbreakers sank in the Red Sea in a depth of 450 meters. There were no injuries or loss of life. No further details were available.

QE2 rescues injured sailor
April 24, 2001: Barbara Huff, passenger aboard QE2 on a transatlantic voyage reported Captain Wright received a distress call from a fishing vessel. The Cunard liner was the nearest vessel with medical facilities to a Spanish fishing boat with an injured sailor. The liner retraced its route for some 150 miles arriving about 8p.m. A boat was lowered from QE2 with Dr. Martin Carroll on board. The sailor's head wound was serious enough that he was transferred to QE2. The nearly 12 hour delay meant canceling a call at Madeira, the Azores were selected instead. The injured man was said to be recovering well and had received many get-well cards and greetings from the passengers and crew.

Hyundai Hurting
April 24, 2001: Peter Newall and Ken Murayama report that South Korean-based Hyundai is scaling down its cruise services to one ship, the HYUNDAI KUMGANG (with two years remaining under charter from Star Cruises). The 28,078 gt ship was built in 1973 as the ROYAL VIKING SKY and later sailed as SUNWARD (3), BIRKA QUEEN, SUNWARD (again), GOLDEN PRINCESS, and SUPERSTAR CAPRICORN. Passenger bookings have halved in the past year, dropping from 49,264 in the first quarter of 2000 to 24,264 this year.

The fate of a fourth vessel, the ferry HYUNDAI SEOLBONG, has yet to be announced.

RADIANCE and INFINITY L.A.'s Largest
April 22, 2001: Royal Caribbean International's ravishing 90,000 gt RADIANCE OF THE SEAS called at Los Angeles for a series of introductory VIP and travel agent events on 21 and 22 April. The largest passenger ship ever to visit the famed Southern California port, her record will soon be eclipsed by Celebrity Cruises' 91,000 gt INFINITY, which is scheduled to make her maiden arrival on Sunday, 29 April for a gala naming ceremony.

MV SEA On the Way To......?
April 19, 2001: The former GRIPSHOLM/NAVARINO/SAMANTHA/REGENT SEA, once nicknamed "The Golden Yacht", cast off her lines this morning at 8:30 EST and departed Tampa at the end of a tow rope. The Dutch tug SOLANO will be guiding her to her next destination, either Indian ship breakers or (if hopeful reports from Sweden are correct) dry docking in Europe for ultimate preservation in Stockholm as an hotel ship and convention center. Local enthusiast Don Martin reports the ship looked sealed up and well prepared for the long voyage as a Fox News helicopter circled the SEA for final shots.

SEA Update
April 19, 2001: Due to high winds and seas in the Tampa region, the MV SEA's departure has been delayed until 7:00 AM EST Thursday, 19 April.

SEA's Departure Delayed
April 18, 2001: With workers still aboard securing her for the overseas tow, the MV SEA is now scheduled to depart Tampa on Wednesday, 18 April. Maritimematters is awaiting confirmation before it can reveal specific details about the ship's intended destination and service. Please stay tuned to these pages for the latest on the former pride of the Swedish merchant marine.

Shalom to Dimming SUN
April 18, 2001: The 1964-built SUN, following a misguided gutting for use as the SS CANYON RANCH AT SEA, awaits a tow to the scrapyard from her berth some 30 miles east of Freeport, Bahamas. The California-based Canyon Ranch Corporation opted for a newbuild instead, and pulled out of its conversion of the ship into a deluxe floating spa in late 1999. The handsome liner has had a variegated pedigree of names and service since her debut as Israel's largest passenger ship SHALOM, going on to sail for German Atlantic Lines as the HANSEATIC, Home Lines as the DORIC, Royal Cruise Line as the ROYAL ODYSSEY, and Regency Cruise Lines as the REGENT SUN. After millions spent to strip the ship of her accommodation, she was recently sold for less than $1 million.

SEA to Sea?
April 17, 2001: The MV SEA, idle at Tampa for nearly four years, was scheduled to depart under tow this morning via the Dutch tug SOLANO. Her destination is yet to be confirmed, but the 1957-built vessel, which stunned the world upon her debut as Swedish American Line's GRIPSHOLM, will either be preserved for stationary use or scrapped. SEA was also known for her service as Karageorgis' NAVARINO and Regency Cruise Line's REGENT SEA. An aborted rebuilding into the casino ship SPLASH during 1997 has left the old liner stripped and partially gutted.

CHINA SEA DISCOVERY Discovers Deeper Port
April 17, 2001: Jonathan Boonzaier of Singapore relays that the SS CHINA SEA DISCOVERY is indeed back in service following her scrubbed season of Hainan to Viet Nam Cruises. When it was discovered that the venerable 1956-built ship's draft of 28 feet 7 inches was too deep for the port of Haikou, she was switched to a less than successful series of overnight gambling cruises out of Hong Kong. Now, it appears that the ship (originally Cunard's CARINTHIA, later Sitmar's FAIRSEA and Princess/P&O's FAIR PRINCESS) has found a berth that can accommodate her Clydebank-built draft and is sailing between Hainan and Viet Nam during the week and on Hong Kong-based casino cruises on the weekend.

AMERIKANIS Round Africa One Last Time?
April 17, 2001: In an unfortunate turn of events, the plan to preserve Chandris's 1952-built SS AMERIKANIS for use as an hotel ship and attraction at London seems to have fallen through. It was announced that the ship, which has been idle at Eleusis, Greece for the past few years, was sold for approximately $2 million and will likely be scrapped in India. She was originally KENYA CASTLE, one of three intermediate vessels built for the Union Castle Line's 'round Africa service before her purchase and rebuilding for Chandris as the AMERIKANIS in 1968.

WINDSOR CASTLE in the news
April 14, 2001: In an article by Jon Ashworth of The London Times entitled, "End of the line looms for part of shipping history", Peter Knego, contributing editor to Maritimematters and classic-ship expert, is quoted on the state of WINDSOR CASTLE, laid up in greece. To view Maritimematters tour of the liner, click on WINDSOR CASTLE

CARNIVAL SPIRIT on first Atlantic voyage
April 12, 2001: Carnival Cruise Lines, 88,500-ton CARNIVAL SPIRIT will depart Helsinki today on its first voyage, a transatlantic crossing to Miami arriving April 24. Carnival took delivery of its new $375 million 2,124-passenger vessel yesterday on April 11 at the Kvaerner Masa-Yards in Helsinki, Finland. The CARNIVAL SPIRIT, the 15th vessel in the "Fun Ship" fleet and the first in a new class of ship for the line. The CARNIVAL SPIRIT will begin its inaugural season with a 16-day Panama Canal cruise departing Miami April 29 and arriving in Los Angeles May 15. Following a series of travel agent functions on the West Coast she will sail on a special three-day Pacific Coastal voyage from San Francisco to Vancouver departing May 20. On Carnival's order book are three additional "Spirit-class" ships under contract with Kvaerner -- the CARNIVAL PRIDE, which is scheduled to debut January 12, 2002, the CARNIVAL LEGEND in summer 2002 and the CARNIVAL MIRACLE in early 2004.

COSTA ATLANTICA scores 100
April 12, 2001: COSTA ATLANTICA, Costa's newest flagship, passed a semi-annual, unannounced sanitation inspection from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with a perfect score of 100. The COSTA ATLANTICA is one of only two vessels currently awarded a perfect score. Inspection reports are made available to the public at www2.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/vspmain.asp.

Grave news for UK shipbuilder Cammell Laird
April 11, 2001: UK shipbuilder Cammell Laird PLC went into receivership today. Industry sources reported that The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC declined to extend overdraft and payment facilities on its loan to the shipbuilder. Work on a refinancing package looks bleak. Hundreds of jobs on Merseyside and in the North East England are at risk. Cammell employs around 3,500 people. Cammell Laird's shares were suspended on the London Stock Exchange at 6 pence in anticipation of the announcement. Cammell had been under threat of financial problems following the decision by Italian group Costa Crociere to terminate its contract for the lengthening of COSTA CLASSICA.

And Another One Gone.....
April 9, 2001: Maritime Matters learned today that the 8,221 gt EUROPE (ex EMMA - 88, AMERICA XIII - 87, ENGLAND - 86) sank enroute to Indian shipbreakers. No further details were available, although former fleetmates MARIANNA VI (ex AUREOL) and MARIANNA 9 (ex PRINCIPE PERFEITO) which were also sold for scrapping were still at their Eleusis anchorages in the first week of April. Sadly, both remaining ships have been stripped of many of their classic fittings as they await the breakers.

3rd Ship Joins Fred Olsen Cruise Lines "Dynasty"
April 9, 2001: Recently defunct Crown Cruise Line's 19,089 GT cruise ship CROWN DYNASTY has been acquired by British operator Fred Olsen for £52M ($74M). The ship, which was built for Crown Cruise Line in 1993, also sailed for Cunard as the CUNARD CROWN DYNASTY, Majesty Cruise Lines as the The CROWN MAJESTY, and NCL as the NORWEGIAN DYNASTY before being resold to Crown Cruise Lines in 2000. The 800 passenger vessel was laid up following the collapse of parent company Commodore Cruise Line in December. After a refurbishment in Europe, she will join Fred Olsen's 11,209 GT 1966-built BLACK PRINCE and 28,668 GT 1972-built BLACK WATCH in the British cruise market. The ship's new name will be BRAEMAR.

RADIANCE OF THE SEAS named in Florida
April 6, 2001: Royal Caribbean International's RADIANCE OF THE SEAS was officially named today in a ceremony at Port Everglades by Margot Pritzker acting as godmother. Mrs. Pritzker is currently an active member of the Asian Art Committee at the Art Institute of Chicago and the Women's Board of Trustees at Northwestern University, as well as Chairman Emeritus of the Board of Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School. Her endeavors in the field of art history have taken her throughout Asia and her exhaustive study of this region and its artifacts has developed into one of the most acclaimed Asian art collections in the United States. Wife of Thomas J. Pritzker, chairman of the Hyatt Corporation and a member of Royal Caribbean's Board of Directors, Mrs. Pritzker joins a distinguished group of godmothers for Royal Caribbean International's fleet.

OCEANIC crosses Atlantic
April 4, 2001: OCEANIC (BIG RED BOAT I) arrived at Lisbon, Portugal today after leaving lay-up in Freeport, Bahamas. Recently purchased by Club Vacaciones and an unidentified airline in preparation for operation by Pullmantur in Mediterranean service to begin May 21. It was reported that she will take on stores and crew in Lisbon before continuing on to Cadiz.

REMBRANDT rumours
April 3, 2001: REMBRANDT, (ex- ROTTERDAM) currently laid up in Freeport, Bahamas next to THE BIG RED BOAT III, (ex TRANSVAAL CASTLE) has been the subject of much speculation. She remains for sale and it was reported today that a previous deal thought to have collapsed may in fact just be on hold.

WESTERDAM Goes "East"
March 29, 2001: Carnival-owned Holland America Cruise Lines officially announced the deployment of its 1986-built 1,773 passenger 54,000 gt MV WESTERDAM (originally Home Lines HOMERIC) to the Carnival-owned Costa Cruises fleet for Mediterranean cruising in April of 2002. No new name has been chosen for the ship (whose transfer will free a much-needed "DAM" name for the Holland America newbuilds), although she follows in the wake of Carnival's redundant TROPICALE which became COSTA TROPICALE in February of this year. Interestingly, she will be joining another former Home Lines ship, the OCEANIC, which is enroute to the Mediterranean for Pullmantur's recently-announced charter. What will become of Holland America's handsome 1984-built 33,930 gt MV NOORDAM remains to be seen, but it has been presumed for some time that she will be sold off or traded into another Carnival subsidiary.

OCEANIC Breaks Her Spell In Layup
March 28, 2001: It was reported today that Premier Cruises' OCEANIC (also referred to but never officially renamed BIG RED BOAT I) has left Freeport, Bahamas, enroute to Cadiz (via Lisbon) for dry docking in preparation for her charter to Pullmantur, set to begin on 21 May. Advance publicity material shows the ship in a white hull. Her former fleetmates BRB II (ex EUGENIO C, EUGENIO COSTA, EDINBURGH CASTLE), BRB III (ex TRANSVAAL CASTLE, SA VAAL, FESTIVALE, ISLANDBREEZE) and REMBRANDT (ex ROTTERDAM) are all awaiting charter or sale and remain at Freeport for the time being.

Classic Liners Bruised but not Broken
March 26, 2001: Just days after Portuguese-based Arcalia Shipping's 5,888 gt, 1965-built MV ARION (originally Jadrolinija's ISTRA, later sailing as ASTRA) hit her quay at Sharm el Sheikh on 23 March enroute from Suez to Safaga, Mediterranean Shipping Company's SS MONTEREY hit a submerged object on 25 March while on a cruise off the coast of Mozambique. The ship, which entered service in 1952 as the USMC C4 cargo ship FREE STATE MARINER, was rebuilt for Matson Lines in 1956 as the deluxe passenger ship MONTEREY. She and her since-scrapped sister MARIPOSA (ex PINE TREE MARINER) sailed for both Matson and Pacific Far East Line until the latter company retired the ships in 1978. Heavily rebuilt, she returned to service in 1988 for short-lived Aloha Pacific Cruises before going to Star Lauro (now MSC). The 661 passenger ship returned to Durban for dry-docking and repairs, resulting in the cancellation of her March 26 and 30 cruises to the Mozambique Islands. The MONTEREY is due to sail for Cape Town on April 3, departing Cape Town on April 6 for Europe. The ARION, meanwhile, continued on her voyage without significant damage.

KONG gets "Konked"
March 26, 2001: The 1993-built 11,204 gt MV KONG HARALD collided with the 2,811 gt 1978-built ro-ro ferry STEIN FIGHTER in the Raftsundet in Nordland Region near midnight on 23 March. The HARALD suffered propeller damage but no injuries to her 198 passengers and 37 member crew were sustained. Following a divers inspection in Stokmarknes, she will be repaired at Fiskarstrand on 30 March. STEIN FIGHTER suffered only cosmetic damage to her bow and continued onward to Svolvaer. With thanks to Hans Hoffman and Ian Shiffman for the updates on the KONG HARALD, MONTEREY, and ARION.

SEABOURN SUN set to "rise" in HAL's Universe
March 23, 2001: In a surprise announcement from Carnival-owned Holland America Lines (HAL) and Seabourn Cruise Line's, it was revealed that the 758 passenger 37,845 gt SEABOURN SUN will be transferred to the HAL fleet on 28 April 2002, following the ship's world cruise. When she was delivered as Royal Viking Line's ROYAL VIKING SUN in late 1989, the ship was considered one of the most luxurious in the world. In 1994, she began sailing for Cunard, and in the fall of 1999, she was transferred to Seabourn Cruise Lines, taking on her present name. Seabourn will continue marketing its niche of upscale, smaller vessels while HAL will have a ship that provides a low passenger density on longer voyages that is half the size of its newbuildings. No new name has been announced for the SEABOURN SUN and it remains to be seen if the ship will maintain single seating dining in its expansive restaurant.

OCEANIC "Pulled" Back Into Service
March 20, 2001: Premier Cruise Line's 1965-built OCEANIC, (also known as THE BIG RED BOAT 1), one of the most influential and beloved ships of her generation, will reportedly begin sailing for Spanish-based Pullmantur in Mediterranean cruise service beginning with a sailing from Barcelona in 21/4/2001. Since the collapse of Premier in late 2000, the ship has languished at Freeport, Bahamas awaiting sale.

ANDAMAN PRINCESS reported listing
March 16, 2001: Siam Cruise Company's ANDAMAN PRINCESS (ex- SVEA JARL, APOLLO III) was reported listing with more than than 400 people on board. Passengers and crew were taken off the 5,145 gt 1962-built ship after she began to take on water near Koh Phi Phi yesterday. A passenger said the vessel started listing shortly after leaving Maya Bay. Water was seeping into the hull faster than the pumps could handle it. Passengers were told to put on lifejackets as the crew prepared for evacuation. Rescue services were contacted as the ship set course for Phuket, but the assisting vessels were too small. The ANDAMAN PRINCESS arrived at Phuket at 1730 hrs, more than three hours after the incident, and her 300 passengers and 100 crew were transferred to vessel BORTINE. The problem was discovered to be a malfunctioning ballast pump. This was corrected in Phuket, and the ship resumed her cruising schedule as of March 20, 2001. In 1988, she sold to her present owners and rebuilt with 415 berths for cruising out of Thailand as the ANDAMAN PRINCESS.

ASTOR/ASTORIA
March 15, 2001: In a pleasing development, Transocean Tours has announced the acquisition of Seetours 1981-built ARKONA, originally Hadag Cruise Line's ASTOR. The ASTOR became the ARKONA in 1985 for Deutsche Seereederei (DSR), but was eventually transferred to Seetours for whom she will continue to sail until 2002, when she joins Transocean as the ASTORIA. She will be united with the nearly identical but slightly larger and more powerful 1987-built ASTOR, which was ordered for Safmarine's Durban to Southampton route but was completed for Morgan Leisure Cruises for worldwide luxury cruising. The second ASTOR was sold to Black Sea Shipping in 1988, becoming the FYODOR DOSTOEVSKIY (later FEDOR DOSTOEVSKIY). In 1995, she was renamed ASTOR. Both ships take take their nomenclature from the famous American financier, John Jacob Astor, who was immortalized when he went down with the TITANIC.

Poseidon Misadventure
March 15, 2001: Following in the wake of Royal Olympic's veteran ORPHEUS (which as ORPHEU was recently delivered to Indian shipbreakers) the surplus NEPTUNE is reportedly being sold for scrap. NEPTUNE began her career in 1955 as Bergen Line's METEOR, with dual use for cruising and overflow Hurtigrute service. The 297 by 45 foot vessel was a replacement for the famed STELLA POLARIS and renowned for her service and cuisine. In 1971, she was completely rebuilt as Epirotiki Line's NEPTUNE (curiously sporting the Roman appellation POSEIDON on her stern) and was a fixture in Mediterranean cruising until the merger of Sun Lines and Epirotiki (which formed Royal Olympic Cruises) in 1996. Laid up and in a deteriorating state, she has spent recent years idle at Eleusis and Marina Flisvos.

CHINA SEA DISCOVERY Shuts Down
March 14, 2001: The latest incarnation for the 1956-built ex-Cunard CARINTHIA appears to be shortlived as CHINA SEA DISCOVERY is laid up. An ambitious program of cruises out of Hainan was called off when it was discovered the ship's draft was too deep for the vacation island's harbor at Haikou. Poor bookings on her resultant overnight gambling cruises out of Hong Kong put an end to the operation shortly after the ship entered service. There are indications that the V-Ships operated vessel may be chartered to augment the European-based programs offered this summer aboard the sold-out ALBATROS (her former 1957-built sister ship SYLVANIA) and the MAXIM GORKIY (originally the 1969-built HAMBURG). CHINA SEA DISCOVERY became FAIRLAND in 1968, FAIRSEA in 1971, and FAIR PRINCESS in 1988, taking on her present name in November of 2000.

RADIANCE OF THE SEAS departs Amsterdam on first voyage
March 11, 2001: Royal Caribbean International accepted delivery on March 9 of RADIANCE OF THE SEAS, the first of its Radiance-class of ships. The 90,090-ton vessel departed Sunday March 11, from Amsterdam, en route to the Port of Miami. Her arrival is scheduled for 9 a.m. on March 21, 2001.

Ex EUROPA To Become Orient Line's Third Ship
March 11, 2001: Currently sailing for parent company Star Cruises as the SUPERSTAR ARIES, the 1981-built 33,819 gt former MV EUROPA will be transferred to award-winning destination cruise specialist Orient Lines in the summer of 2002. EUROPA was considered one of the finest ships of the 80's and earned a reputation for her luxury and unparalleled service during her career with Hapag-Lloyd. She was purchased by Singapore-based Star Cruises in 1999 and renamed SUPERSTAR EUROPE before taking on her present name. SUPERSTAR ARIES will be renamed OCEAN VOYAGER and will offer year-round worldwide itineraries under Orient Lines popular "Grand Voyages" umbrella. Orient Lines currently operates the 826-passenger MARCO POLO (former ALEXANDR PUSHKIN) and 1,025 passenger CROWN ODYSSEY on cruise and land-tour vacations to the Greek Isles, Mediterranean, Scandinavia, Russia, Australia, New Zealand, South Pacific, Africa, India, South East Asia, South America and Antarctica. The addition of the 650-passenger OCEAN VOYAGER will increase Orient Lines' capacity by 36%.

Holland America to retain "DAM" names
March 11, 2001: Holland America Line has announced that the first two ships of the next series of five new 85,000-ton cruise ships will be named the MS ZUIDERDAM and MV OOSTERDAM, respectively taking their names from the south and east "Vista" points of the compass. The names follow the "-dam" naming tradition used for the company's passenger ships since the late 19th century.

AURORA rescues crew in Taiwan Straits
March 9, 2001: P & O's AURORA on her maiden world cruise altered course to assist in the rescue of the crew of a sinking Cambodian log ship in rough seas in the Taiwan Straits. At least ten sailors were rescued by various ships, three were brought aboard AURORA and all are being transferred to Hong Kong. The reason for the sinking was not known but it was postulated that the huge logs on board the vessel, "must have moved and caused the ship to founder." The rudder of the AURORA had also been caught by debris suspected to be from the sunken vessel, the liner was sailing at a reduced speed for Hong Kong.

Star Cruises shuffle
March 9, 2001: Star Cruises announced the revised deployment schedule of the new 91,000-grt, US $400 million SUPERSTAR LIBRA. Upon her completion in fourth quarter 2001, SUPERSTAR LIBRA will be transferred to Norwegian Cruise Line and operated under the NCL fleet in Hawaii. The new ship which is presently under advanced stages of construction in Germany will now be outfitted to NCL's specifications and renamed NORWEGIAN STAR 2. She will be one of two sister ships, the second of which will be named NORWEGIAN DAWN (formerly SUPERSTAR SCORPIO) to be delivered to the NCL fleet at the end of 2002. NORWEGIAN STAR 2 - the first of the Libra-class generation vessels - is bigger with more enhanced features than Star Cruises' previous newbuilds and is expected to appeal to the North American market.

SUPERSTAR LEO Leo which was originally scheduled for deployment to Hawaii will instead remain in Hong Kong where she has developed tremendous mass market appeal. Similarly SUPERSTAR VIRGO will remain homeported in Singapore. Star Cruises will also transfer the SUPERSTAR ARIES to award-winning destination cruise specialist Orient Lines in the summer of 2002. SUPERSTAR ARIES will be renamed OCEAN VOYAGER and will be deployed offering year-round worldwide itineraries under Orient Lines popular "Grand Voyages" umbrella.

ENCHANTED SUN purchased
March 7, 2001: Reported in the Texas Press was the sale of ENCHANTED SUN, (currently laid up at Freeport, Bahamas) for gambling cruises out of Galveston, Texas in April. Her new name will be THE TALISMAN. April 15 is the planned date for the first sailing. ENCHANTED SUN was built for Hellenic Mediterranean Lines as CASTALIA, a passenger/auto ferry that was frequently used for Mediterranean cruises. Her rear mast was part of her funnel, which was positioned somewhat aft. Her conversion into a floating casino seemed to spell an end to her profitability. She has carried many names since then including STENA AMERICA, SCANDINAVIAN SAGA, PRIDE OF SAN DIEGO, TROPIC STAR II, STENA ARCADIA, EMERALD EMPRESS, and finally SOFIA before becoming the ENCHANTED SUN for Commodore.

Raft of laid up passenger ships remain in Freeport, Bahamas
March 5, 2001: Contributing editor; Peter Knego and publisher; Martin Cox of MaritimeMatters, visited Freeport, Bahamas and report a "raft" of laid up ships. BRB 1 (OCEANIC), BRB II (EUGENIO COSTA), BRB III, (TRANSVAAL CASTLE, S.A. VAAL, ISLANDBREEZE), REMBRANDT (ROTTERDAM), DOLPHIN IV (ZION), TROPICANA (TROPIC SEA) and ENCHANTED SUN all laid up awaiting the outcome of various offers from many interested parties. BRB II (EUGENIO C.) appeared to be in excellent condition.

CALEDONIAN STAR hit by rogue wave
March 3, 2001: 3/2/01 a distress call was relayed from the passenger vessel CALEDONIAN STAR (3,132 gt, built 1966). Contacted vessel's master, reported vessel hit by large wave while in lat 53 01S, long 63 31W. Local time about 5:30pm. Estimate of the wave to have been over 100 feet. The glass in the five bridge windows broke in. The bridge awash, one bridge wing damaged with electrical failure and drifting. As the ship did not have radar, etc, the Argentinian Navy sent out a tug to guide the ship into Ushuaia where the passengers disembarked about 24 hours late on march 4. The vessel was then to go for repairs. Some facts on this little known vessel: Built 1966 as an industrial stern trawler MARBURG (German flag), renamed LINDMAR in 1982 and converted into a cruise ship in 1983. Renamed NORTH STAR that year and CALEDONIAN STAR in 1989. Built by AG Weser. 2 M.a.K type 8M582AK medium speed four-stroke 8-cylinder inn-line Diesel engines driving a propeller through a twin-input single-output reduction gear. Three Diesel alternator sets of 200 kW. 292.7' (263' between perpendiculars), Breadth 45.9', Depth 29.5', Draught 18.4'. Gross Tonnage 3,095. Speed 15 knots. 160 passengers, 57 crew. (Thanks to Hans Hoffmann, Ted Scull and Alan Zamchick for this report)

Old sisters GRIPSHOLM and KUNGSHOLM meet one last time
Feb 26, 2001: Contributing editor; Peter Knego and publisher; Martin Cox of MaritimeMatters, visited Tampa, Florida where they toured both P&O's beautiful VICTORIA (ex KUNGSHOLM) and the "dead ship" SEA (ex GRIPSHOLM, REGENT SEA). It was actually possible to see the SEA's superstructure and first black dummy funnel from the bridge wing of her former Swedish America lines sister VICTORIA.

BREMEN slammed by South Atlantic
Feb 23, 2001: It was reported that BREMEN, Hapag-Lloyd's 6,752 GT cruise ship was damaged in a storm while carrying 137 passengers and 106 crew. Hapag-LloydÕs web site reported the wheelhouse windows had been broken and water had entered the bridge in heavy seas during a South Atlantic cruise. No-one was injured and the windows were reported to have been patched up. BREMEN sailed Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego and was due to arrive in Rio de Janeiro on February 26, instead she will put in to Montevideo for repairs.

PATRIOT cruise cancelled
Feb 23, 2001: United States Lines, (American Classic Voyages) announced that MS PATRIOT returned to its home port of Honolulu, Hawaii, on Tuesday, February 20, for engine repairs. A thrust bearing in the generator drive train needed to be replaced. PATRIOT had departed Honolulu, February 17, for its weekly 7-night cruise of the Hawaiian Islands. Port calls at Kahului, Maui, and Hilo and Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii were canceled. The Company notified passengers that they would receive a full refund of their cruise fare and port charges and a 50 percent credit toward the purchase of any cruise operated by United States Lines' parent company, American Classic Voyages Co. Repairs completed Patriot will depart on its regularly scheduled 7-night cruise from Honolulu on Saturday, February 24.

MISTRAL refloated
Feb 21, 20001: MISTRAL has been refloated St. Kitts & Nevis. Two locally-based tugs stationed in St. Eustace island, succeeded in pulling the vessel off the sandbank at 4 a.m. and she continued her cruise with the next port of call being Antigua. Festival strongly refuted one or two media reports that suggested the ship was taking on board water and passengers were having to be rescued. "This is inaccurate, bordering on irresponsible."

MISTRAL aground update
Feb 21, 20001: MISTRAL ran aground at 2 a.m. loacl time on 2/20/01 just off the Caribbean island of St. Kitts & Nevis. No passengers were injured. The ship is now reported to be stuck on a sand bank 900 feet offshore. The passengers were spent Tuesday night on the ship, and authorities hoped rescue crews could free the vessel from the sand bank Wednesday today. In today's report MISTRAL was carrying 530 crew and 1,130 passengers, mostly French, German, British and Italian. One report said that the ship was taking on some water in the bow section, but only in a watertight bulkhead and was no cause for alarm. Divers were investigating the damage but said they could not make a proper assessment until the ship is towed clear of the obstruction.

EUROPA Undone!
Feb 21, 2001: MV EUROPA (ex EMMA - 88, AMERICA XIII - 87, ENGLAND - 86), will join MARIANNA VI (ex AUREOL) and MARIANNA 9 (ex PRINCIPE PERFEITO) in the parade to the scraper's torch. The 8,221 gross ton former DFDS ferry, built in 1964 as the ENGLAND, was to be rebuilt for John S. Latsis when work was halted and the ship was tied up next MARIANNA VI at Eleusis, Greece. She has sat in gutted obscurity for most of the 1990's, a sad outcome for what was one of the most handsome passenger vessels delivered in the 1960's.

MISTRAL aground
Feb 20, 2001: Reports are coming in that M.S. MISTRAL (1999) operated by Festival cruise line has run aground off the island of Saint Kitts and Nevis. The 47,900 gross ton cruise ship launched in July 1999, has 1,139 passengers aboard and a crew of 577, all are reported safe. The ship is perched on rocks about 1,300 feet (400 meters) from shore, watched by a crowd of local residents gathered to witness the spectacle. There were no injuries reported, and passengers remained on board. MISTRAL had been heading from Dominica to the French island of St. Barthelemy. Some damage was reported and it is said that the Captain indicated ``navigational error'' might be to blame. The submerged bow of the 709 foot-long cruise ship was visible from shore, the ship apparently sitting atop submerged rocks. Divers would investigate the damage to determine if the ship could be pulled from the rocks. Officials and Coast Guard personnel from St.Kitts and Nevis, a twin-island nation of some 40,000 people in the Leeward Islands chain, went out to the ship to decide what steps to take. Mistral was to head next to St. Barts, then on to Antigua, Mayreau in the Grenadines and then back to Guadeloupe. Tourism authorities on the island worked on contingency plans in case they have to house the passengers. Tourism Director Elmeader Brookes said Nevis, which has about 500 hotel rooms, could accommodate about 350 people. The small island, with only 9,000 residents living on 36 square miles, would have to send some of the passengers to St. Kitts, which has more than 1,700 hotel rooms.

STELLA "gets her cruise back"
Feb 19, 2001: Despite earlier rumors to the contrary, mechanical work on STELLA SOLARIS is underway to return the classic cruise ship to service. An inside source has reported that the vessel is being refitted in Piraeus and will be back later this year. The STELLA SOLARIS began life as the CAMBOGE in 1953 for Messageries Maritimes Marseilles to Yokohama line voyages. Following a complete rebuilding, she entered cruise service for Sun Lines (now Royal Olympic Cruises) as the STELLA SOLARIS in 1973, maintaining a fiercely loyal following throughout the years.

EAST SEA freighter runs aground filled with refugees
Feb 17, 2001: An aging freighter, the EAST SEA ran aground early Saturday near France's ritzy Riviera town of Nice was carrying more than 900 people, most of them Iraqi Kurds, in what French authorities say was a scheme to smuggle immigrants into Western Europe. Authorities suspected that the vessel was deliberately beached by "people smugglers". the ship was abandoned by the crew facing land with the propellers turned, so that the vessel would not drift away. Authorities took 908 passengers ashore, including three infants born during the weeklong voyage. Many looked weak and gaunt, and nine were hospitalized. It was unclear how many passengers swam ashore before the ship grounded. During the voyage, the passengers were forced to remain standing in the dark, crowded hold of the 90-foot vessel. The Cambodian-registered ship landed in a sandbank about 20 yards from Boulouris Beach between Nice and the town of Saint-Raphael. The immigrants on the "East Sea" paid between $500 and $2,000 for the journey to France, authorities said. The ship left Greece, then made a stopover in Turkey, they said. Requests for asylum will be carried out under the usual procedure, with each immigrant interviewed by a French official, the Interior Ministry said.

MV SEA to scrap
Feb 16, 2001: A deal for the sale of MV SEA (ex- Gripsholm, Navarino, Samantha, Regent Sea) for a reported US $1.08 million was completed on Thursday, 16 February. The ship was subsequently moved to berth 206 (where BELOFIN-1/BRITANIS sat for nearly five years) from her present moorings at Tampa in preparation for the one-way voyage to Indian or Pakistani breakers. In lieu of a tow, efforts will be made to restart the ship's Gotaverken diesels.

VICTORIA to be dethroned
Feb 15, 2001: In a sad announcement the classic VICTORIA (ex KUNGSHOLM, SEA PRINCESS) is to leave the P&O fleet. Coinciding with the transfer of P&O subsidiary Princess Cruises' OCEAN PRINCESS to the P&O fleet at the end of 2002 to become OCEANA, the 1966-built VICTORIA will depart. There are reports that this intimate, classic ship, considered by many to be one of the most beautiful passenger ships ever in her original Swedish American Line configuration, has already been sold but will be leased back to P&O to fulfill her previously announced programs.

APOLLON returns
Feb 14, 2001: Royal Olympic Cruises are reported to be taking APOLLON (ex EMPRESS OF CANADA, MARDI GRAS, STAR OF TEXAS) out of lay up for the 2001 season. This ship appears in the London-issued ROC brochure for summer's sailings. With a blue hull, she will embark on 3- and 4-night itineraries from Piraeus.

NYK plan luxury ship
Feb 13, 2001: In a report today NYK is to make its next cruise ship even more luxurious and spacious than the Crystal Harmony and Crystal Symphony already operating at the top end of the market. Space-per-guest ratio will be on average about 20% more. The number of penthouses will be increased to 100, which is 40% more than the two existing ships, while the deluxe staterooms will be enlarged to 25 sq m. In the four crystal penthouses, there will be 125 sq m of space or 40% more area than what is now on offer. Approximately 85% of all outside staterooms and suites will have private verandahs, compared with 55% currently. Nippon Yusen tendered for the new ship last year and selected the French yard Chantiers de l'Atlantique for its delivery in 2003. The French yard will install environmentally-friendly diesel engines and azimuth pod propulsion.

Laid up MV FAITHFUL moves to anchorage
Feb 13, 2001: M.V. FAITHFUL (ex WAPPEN VON HAMBURG, DELOS, PACIFIC STAR, XANADU, EXPEX) owned by "Friend Ships", Park West Children's Fund, Inc. which provides large scale humanitarian aid, was moved on Jan 5th from her longtime berth at San Pedro to anchor in Los Angeles harbor to await a tow through the Panama Canal and on to Roatan.

French Line returns
Feb 13, 2001: It was reproted today that The French line, (CMA CGM) which has been rapidly expanding its container shipping business and now ranks in the top 10, announced that it had been appointed general agents in France for the US cruise operator Renaissance Cruises. This move will familiarise CMA CGM with a new business activity with a view to direct investment in cruise ships. The company has set up a new subsidiary, Croisieres et Voyages, to represent Renaissance Cruises. The aim is to offer a wide range of sea and river cruises and adventure holidays catering for the French tourist market. Croisieres et Voyages will also be organising tours on three 3-star cruiseships of Classic International Cruises, initially to destinations in the Middle East such as Lebanon, Jordan and Syria.

Cargo/Passenger ship sinks in Panama, 8 lost
Feb 9, 2001: A cargo ship also carrying passengers sank on its way to Panama's remote province of Darien, killing eight people. A sudden movement of cargo in the Don Mejia III appeared to have caused the accident, which occurred shortly after the ship left a port near Panama City. Officials recovered the bodies of eight people, fourteen others were rescued. he captain and the ship's crew were detained for questioning. The ship was carrying corn, rice, fuel and livestock to Darien province, which is difficult to reach by land.

Luxury mini-cruise ship named
Feb 9, 2001: German luxury sailing cruiseship Sea Cloud II has been named in Las Palmas de Canarias over a year after her planned delivery date. It was reprted that delays in the interior outfitting were to blame. The 3,849 gt vessel, accommodates 96 passengers in 48 four-star cabins, will start her maiden voyage to the Caribbean on February 17. Built by Spanish yard Astilleros de Gondan, the ship is fully booked until autumn 2001. Sea Cloud II and her sistership Sea Cloud I have been chartered by Hapag-Lloyd.

Mediterranean Shipping Company shifts focus on newbuildiings
Feb 7, 2001: Mediterranean Shipping Company, a leading container liner plans to order a series of newbuildings to expand its cruise operation MSC Cruise according to reports. It will executed the option it holds with Chantiers de lÕAtlantique for a second 800-cabin, 60,000 gt cruiseship. This is only the beginning of a full scale plan involving the renewal of the MSC cruise fleet, said a spokesman. The option is attached to a E 280m ($266m) order MSC placed at the end of December with the Chantiers de lÕAtlantique shipyard for MSCÕs first newly built cruiseship. The vessel is designed with a low-berth capacity of 1,600 passengers and a total capacity of 2,200 passengers, the sisterships will be delivered in spring 2003 and 2004 respectively. Mediterranean Shipping Company, the world's fourth-largest container carrier with a fleet of about 150 containerships, already owns three aged cruiseships operated by the Naples-based cruise arm.

New CEO for Cunard
Feb 6, 2001: Following an announcement from parent company Carnival Corporation that Larry Pimentel, president and CEO of Cunard Line Limited resigned, Pamela Conover, current COO of Cunard, has been given the title of president of the luxury cruise operator effective immediately.

AUREOL and PRINCIPE PERFEITO sold for scrap
Feb 1, 2001: It has been reported that the John Latsis-owned former African liners MARIANNA VI (ex AUREOL) and MARIANNA 9 (ex PRINCIPE PERFEITO) have been sold to Indian breakers after a long period of lay-up. (Both ships can be found in Maritme Matters index)

INDEPENDENCE to be dry-docked in Hawaii
Jan 31, 2001: American Classic Voyages Co. announced today it has scheduled a one-week dry-dock, beginning Saturday, March 24th, for S.S. INDEPENDENCE to repair the 860-passenger cruise liner's bow thruster. The ship's March 24th sailing has been canceled and the vessel will return to year-round 7-night Hawaii cruise service from Maui on Saturday, March 31, 2001. The work will be done at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard in Honolulu, Hawaii. According to reports. "Passengers on the canceled sailing are being contacted through their travel agent and offered to move to another sailing of the S.S. Independence. Passengers who elect to transfer will be given a two-category cabin upgrade and a $25 per person onboard credit. Passengers who choose to cancel their Hawaii cruise vacation will receive a full refund and 50 percent off a future seven-night cruise on the S.S. Independence."

PAMYAT MERKURIYA sinks
Jan 29, 2001: PAMYAT MERKURIYA sank while attempting a crossing of the Balck Sea. The 979-ton Pamyat Merkuriya was carrying 25 crew members, 21 travelers and five representatives of the Sata tourism company, which owned the ship. Rescue workers picked freezing passengers from rafts on the open water after the Ukrainian cargo and passenger ship sank. At least 14 people were killed, with five missing. It was reported that there were 51 people were on board when the ship sank Friday night. Only on Sunday after the ship failed to arrive on schedule at the Ukrainian port of Yevpatoria did rescuers began searching. The survivors were suffering from hypothermia and skin inflammation from exposure to the salt water and were brought to the port of Sevastopol, about 560 miles south of the Ukrainian capital, Kiev. One passenger Grigory Kozov told Russia's NTV television that the ship tilted and listed for nine minutes before sinking. The vessel was considered safe only for travel in coastal waters no more than 19 miles from land. The life rafts were discovered about 100 miles south of the Ukrainian port of Sevastopol.

CITY OF HYDRA sinks at moorings
Jan 29, 2001: It was reported today that the Greek day-cruiser City of Hydra sank at her lay-up moorings in Greece last November (2000). Formerly CalMac's Claymore of 1955. She was laid up when Cycladic Cruises went bust in the early 1990's. Her condition was described as poor.

MILLENNIUM taken out of service
Jan 29, 2001: The world's first gas turbine cruiseship, MILLENNIUM, is to be taken out of service again because of a faulty electric motor, it was reported today. The ship was previously drydocked in November 2000 shortly after she arrived in the United States for modification of her stern to reduce vibration. Now the Celebrity Line ship will be drydocked during the first two weeks of April. Royal Caribbean, Celebrity's parent, said yesterday the electrical fault was reducing Millennium's power to the extent that some itineraries had to be modified. The second ship in the series, INFINITY, was being similarly modified by the Chantiers de l' Atlantique shipyard.

STAR sells AQUARIUS
Jan 23, 2001: The Danish shipping company DFDS Seaways, has invested DKK800m in a new vessel. DFDS acquired the passenger ship Star Aquarius from Star Cruises. The ship is to operate on the Oslo-Copenhagen route.

MSC order clarification
Jan 15, 2001: MSC has confirmed its order with Chantiers de l'Atlantique, but the details vary from what was initially reported. Evidently the order is for a single ship, with negotiations taking place for a second one of the same or similar size. The vessel ordered will carry 1,600 passengers (not 1,500) and measure 60,000 grt. She is described as being similar to European Vision.

ENCHANTED CAPRI arrested
Jan 13, 2001: The ENCHANTED CAPRI owned by bankrupt Commodore Cruise Lines, was arrested in New Orleans by the International Transport Workers' Federation on behalf of the crew, on Jan 11, who are owed $500,000 in back wages. More than 230 crew stranded on the passenger vessel ENCHANTED CAPRI were sent home to forty different countries in the biggest repatriation operation staged by the ITWF. It was reported that the federation successfully petitioned a court in Florida to release the vessel and her two sister ships, passenger vessels Enchanted Sun and Enchanted Isle, from protection when her owners filed for bankruptcy. A spokesman for the ITWF said, "As food and water ran low on the Enchanted Capri, and with tensions rising on board, the federation decided to pick up the tab for repatriation. It is the owner's responsibility to repatriate their crews and we will, acting on behalf of the seafarers, make sure that that he pays in the end. The misery being suffered by this crew and their distance from home means that something urgent had to be done. In cases like this the ITF is sometimes prepared to advance the money." We can not be expected to intervene like this in every case, so this shows clearly why the legal protection for abandoned crews needs urgent improvement." Meanwhile, 37 crew members of the Enchanted Sun, stranded in Bahamas Freeport earlier this week, received $71,000 as part payment for wages owed following legal action by the ITF. Legal action is continuing in the case of the Enchanted Isle.

MSC orders new ships
Jan 7, 2001: Mediterranean Shipping Cruises reportedly has ordered two new cruiseships from France's Chantiers de l'Atlantique. The new vessels, each with lower berth capacity for more than 1,500 passengers, are planned to be delivered in 2003 and 2004. The contract is perhaps worth about $500m. This news comes two months after the collapse of talks between MSC Cruises and Cantiere Navale Fratelli Orlando which were based on a letter of intent for a 780-cabin vessel priced at $190m, plus an option for a similar second ship. The Livorno, Italy based shipyard had a track record in ferries but was bidding for its first cruiseship contract. MSC Cruises operates three ships - Monterey, Melody and Rhapsody - on a variety of itineraries in the Mediterranean, Caribbean and elsewhere, and it has claimed that these are fully booked.

Laid up MV FAITHFUL moves to anchorage
January 5, 2001: M.V. FAITHFUL owned by "Friend Ships", Park West Children's Fund, Inc. which provides large scale humanitarian aid, was moved from the berth in Los Angeles to anchor in Los Angeles harbor to await a tow through the Panama Canal and on to Roatan.

SEABREEZE sinking mystery
January 4, 2001: It was reported that an investigation in to the cause of the sinking of SEABREEZE seems unlikely. The former Premier Cruise Lines ship sank off the coast of Virginia last month with 34 crew rescued and no casualties. Under International law, Panama, as the vessel's county of registry, is responsible for investigating the incident. Lacking the resources to fully investigate the reason as to why SEABREEZE sank in a storm last month after the engine room flooded may never be fully known. A reporter noted that a deep-sea dive would be necessary to learn why the flood occurred.

PATI breaks up in storm, passengers killed
January 2, 2001: At least six people died and nearly 50 still missing after a Georgian flagged cargoship PATI bound for Greece with dozens of people aboard split in two and sank off Turkey's Mediterranean coast. Rescuers had saved more than 30 people and pulled six bodies from the water near the wreck of the PATI before high winds and cold weather forced them to suspend the search. Those rescued include six of the ship's 10 crew, and 10 Iranians and 16 Pakistanis who had been in the ship's hold and apparently hoped to enter Greece illegally. One section of the ship remains stuck on offshore rocks, and some of the missing were thought to be in a sunken portion of the ship. Estimates suggest that there were 83 passengers on the ship. One further survivor, a 27 year old man was found having clung to a rock for 30 hours.

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