Renowned naval architects and ship designers Peter Yran and Bjorn Storbraaten developed THE WORLD's innovative design. The ship was built by Fosen Mek Verksteder A/S (FMV), in Rissa, Norway, approximately 40 kilometers northwest of Trondheim. Cutting of the steel for THE WORLD took place on March 17, 2000 at Bruces Shipyard in Landskrona. Keel laying took place September 18, 2000. At noon on February 28, 2001, THE WORLD of ResidenSea slid down the slipway at the Bruces Shipyard. The vessel was towed 757 nautical miles, arriving at The Fosen Yard Group on March 6, 2001 for outfitting and completion. THE WORLD was delivered to ResidenSea at 11:59 p.m. on March 12, 2002 and will embark upon her official maiden voyage on May 2, 2002. On March 29, she sailed from Oslo on a voyage to exhibit the vessel and to allow her new residents to move in. The ship will call at Amsterdam, Hamburg, London, Lisbon, and Funchal, Canary Islands returning to Portugal for the maiden voyage with cruising passengers as well as her residents.

Northern Ireland officials are still discussing the logistics of towing an iceberg into Belfast Lough as part of the city's bid to be selected Europe's "city of culture" in 2008. Engineers are concerned that the bay is not deep enough.

Cobh (formerly Queenstown) plans its own TITANIC festival this week, recalling the vessel's final departure on April 11, 1912, with at least 1,343 passengers and 885 crew aboard.

Star Returns to Taiwan
March 30: Star Cruises resumed operations from Taiwan today after a winter suspension related to the recession in Taiwan and reduction in travel in the aftermath of September 11. The 37,000 gt MV SUPERSTAR ARIES (former EUROPA, SUPERSTAR EUROPE) left Keelung with 800 passengers for a two-day cruise in Japanese waters. Star Cruises has eight ships serving Asian destinations. Star also announced it hopes to set up cruises between Taiwan and China.

NIEUW AMSTERDAM Changes Course
March 29: NIEUW AMSTERDAM (ex PATRIOT, NIEUW AMSTERDAM) sailed from Honolulu, Hawaii with a maintenance crew of 150 aboard and arrived at the Panama Canal anchorage March 28. It had been reported she was headed for lay up in Freeport, Bahamas, but now Charleston, South Carolina is her announced destination. Still up for sale, she is due to arrive April 2 for wet docking maintenance.

US - Mexico Ferry Moves Ahead
March 28: Tampa, Florida Port authorities approved an accord with Scotia Prince Cruiseline to offer ferry service to Yucatan beginning in November. The port of Tampa would initially invest US$250,000 for the construction of temporary customs and immigration services, and after six months would evaluate the service and consider investing another US$750,000 for permanent offices. Two previous attempts to provide a similar service have failed, however the strength of the company is given as an indicator of success. Scotia Prince Cruises plans to use the 475-foot 12,000-ton SCOTIA PRINCE, which holds more than 600 passengers and 220 cars. The same ship was used by American Viking in a failed 1998 venture on the same route. SCOTIA PRINCE currently runs a ferry service between Portland, Maine, and Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.

CLIPPER ADVENTURER Aground
March 28: A report from Georgetown, Guyana, says that the 4,000 gt 330-foot MV CLIPPER ADVENTURER (ex ALLA TARASOVA) with 118 American and European passengers ran aground on Tuesday, March 26, and remained stuck late yesterday on a sand-bank in the Essequibo River, Guyana's major waterway. No injuries were reported. The Transport and Harbours Department dispatched three tugs to free the cruise vessel from the sandbank during high-tide. The sandbank is about eight miles from CLIPPER ADVENTURER's intended anchoring destination. The 1975-built CLIPPER ADVENTURER was on a 16-day eco-tour that has already taken her to Brazil, French Guiana, and Suriname. The CLIPPER ADVENTURER is owned and operated by Clipper Cruise Line, Inc.

Dubai Drydock Disaster, Toll Rises: Update
March 27: It has been reported that at least 26 people have been killed and 23 injured with some still missing when the massive drydock at The Dubai Drydocks Co., in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, was suddenly flooded. About 500 workers were at the facility, one of the largest drydocks in the world (covering 500 metres by 100 metres), when eye witnesses reported that the flooding took only minutes. Five ships were in the docking area, which maintains large ships in the Persian Gulf. The company said that two panels on a gate collapsed while they were being worked on. The rush of water combined with large boulders used to anchor the ships are believed to have caused a number of deaths. Damage to vessels was being assessed.

Star Expansion could mean European Orders
March 26: Star Cruises, the Malaysian-based cruise line, is reportedly in talks with several European shipyards over plans for a fleet of newbuildings needed for Star's expansion in Asia. Chong Chee Tut, Star Cruises' chief operating officer, said that the line is in discussions with shipyards in four countries. The vessels envisioned by Star centre on designs similar to the SUPERSTAR LEO and STAR PISCES as well as very large post panamax vessels. New ships could be ordered within 18 months. Other proposals include a possible investment in a new cruise terminal at the former Kai Tak airport, using Hong Kong as the base for new services to mainland China. Star Cruises is also considering plans to resume services to Taiwan and Japan which were cancelled following the global economic downturn.

From BALTIC Back To BIRGER?
March 25: Lars Hemingstam in Stockholm reports that Anaedin Line's MV BALTIC STAR has been renamed BIRGER JARL. The 1953-built liner, which sails on daily cruises to Mariehamm from Stockholm, was originally Svea Line's BIRGER JARL.

Castro visits MISTRAL
March 23: According to Cuban press, President Fidel Castro made a surprise personal visit to Festival Cruises' MISTRAL while the ship was berthed at the Havana cruise terminal in recognition of Festival's Cuban cruise program. Castro was welcomed by passengers and spent several hours on board visiting the bridge and public areas of the ship. Festival's ground-breaking itinerary sails every Friday from Havana calling at Progresso, Cozumel, Grand Cayman and Juventud.

TALISMAN to SeaEscape
March 22: SeaEscape Entertainment, Inc. announced it has signed an agreement to buy the 433-foot MV TALISMAN (ex CASTALIA, SCANDINAVIAN SAGA, PRIDE OF SAN DIEGO, TROPIC STAR II, STENA ARCADIA, EMERALD EMPRESS, ENCHANTED SUN) for gaming operation from either South Florida or other eastern seaboard states. Delivery of the ship is expected in mid-April. Previously operated by Commodore Cruise Lines, the ship is currently in dry dock in South Carolina. Three years ago the vessel was extensively renovated, creating gaming areas, and a two-story casino. A new name will be announced after delivery. SeaEscape currently operate the 512-foot MV ISLAND ADVENTURE from Ft. Lauderdale.

"Re-Nieuwed" NIEUW AMSTERDAM For Sale
March 22: Shortly after regaining her original name NIEUW AMSTERDAM (ex PATRIOT) is now up for sale, according to Carnival CEO Micky Arison, when asked about the vessel at the Seatrade Conference in Miami, Florida.

SUMMIT and INFINITY Dry-Docking
March 20: Celebrity Cruises reports premature wear in the ball-bearing units in the propulsion pods on both SUMMIT and INFINITY. Both ships will be sent into unscheduled drydocking for repair March 29 and April 13, respectively. Currently both vessels are cruising at a lower than normal speed but are operating safely. The ships will be drydocked at the Grand Bahama Shipyard in Freeport, Bahamas. Some cruises have been cancelled or shortened.

R-FIVE To Sail To Five Ports From Barcelona?
March 18: The latest information from Europe suggests defunct Renaissance Cruises MV R-FIVE will be chartered to Spanish operator Pullmantur for weekly cruises from Barcelona to Malta, Naples, Civitavecchia, Leghorn, Villefranche, starting early in May and running through Fall of 2002.

Art Theft At Sea
March 16: A Picasso etching was stolen from its frame on board Carnival's FANTASY during a four day cruise to the Bahamas, according to Florida press reports. "Petite Infante Accroupie et Courtisan", created in 1968 and valued at over $12,000, was liberated from display on the promenade in the early hours of Wednesday morning 3/13/02.

Last Remnant of AMCV Leaves Hawaii
March 15: Bankrupt American Classic Voyages' subdivision United States Lines Cruises' MS PATRIOT (now re-renamed NIEUW AMSTERDAM) left pier 29 in Honolulu possibly for Freeport, Bahamas. Holland America Line reclaimed the ship in a bankruptcy auction on January 27, for $79.8 million, an amount equal to that owed by American Classic Voyages. Her Honolulu registry has been transferred to the Bahamas and plans have yet to be announced regarding the ship's future within the Carnival family of cruise lines.

STAR Shines in LA
March 15: Princess Cruises made history on March 10, as their newest vessel STAR PRINCESS made a pre-dawn arrival at the Port of Los Angeles, becoming the largest ship ever to call there. The ship made an early arrival and was tied up to the berth before 4:30AM, at the completion of a maiden voyage from Singapore to her new seasonal home base in Southern California. A spectacular sunrise greeted her first full day on the West Coast. That same evening, the ship commenced her first voyage from Los Angeles at 8:30 PM with a very long blast from the ship's whistle, and a fireboat escort out of the main channel. The short, 2-Day inaugural revenue voyage touched into Ensenada, Mexico briefly, but passengers were not allowed to disembark. After spending the remainder of the day at sea, the ship returned to Los Angeles on Tuesday, March 12th, for another round of inaugural events, and a 1-Night cruise to nowhere for travel agents. Regular 7-Day Mexico service began on Saturday, March 16th. Aboard the ship on March 12th, Captain Cesare Ditel accepted a proclamation certificate from Nick Tonsich, President of the Board of Harbor Commissioners for the Port of Los Angeles, on behalf of Los Angeles Mayor James Hahn, declaring March 12, 2002 as "STAR PRINCESS Day" in Los Angeles.

The 109,000 gross ton vessel carries 2,600 passengers and will be based in Los Angeles for 7-Day Mexican Riviera Cruises. The arrival of the STAR PRINCESS eclipses the previous record size of a ship calling at Los Angeles, set last year, first by the 90,090 ton INFINITY, and followed in December, 2001 by the 91,000 ton NORWEGIAN STAR.

Curtains ablaze on CINDERELLA
March 14: Reports from Helsinki say that a fire broke out in the three-deck high nightclub at the stern of Viking Line's 46,000 GT passenger and car ferry CINDERELLA. In the early hours of Friday morning, a short circuit behind the nightclub's stage set the curtains ablaze and produced a great deal of black smoke. The crew prepared for a major evacuation, but in the end the 1,700 passengers experienced only a scare and the smell of smoke in their clothing. The helicopters that had been alerted turned back and other vessels called for assistance were not required. There was no panic, and two marine inspectors who happened to be on board gave credit to the crew for very effective fire-fighting and evacuation of cabins.

Minor Fire on DISNEY MAGIC
March 13: A small fire on board DISNEY MAGIC was put out by crew members with no injuries reported. DISNEY MAGIC was about 180 miles northwest of Puerto Rico early Thursday when the fire broke out in her aft funnel. The 2,500 passengers were asked to assemble in a main area of the ship with their life jackets as a safety precaution but the blaze was extinguished within an hour and the ship continued on its scheduled route. The crew notified the Coast Guard about the incident, but did not require any assistance. One deck was evacuated and some passengers were not allowed back into their cabins for a few hours.

CHRISTINA Gets A Sister
March 12: GALEB, the 1937-built yacht once owned by former Yugoslav dictator Tito, will be converted to a luxury cruise ship for John Paul Papanicolau, the owners of the recently refurbished CHRISTINA O (formerly Aristotle Onassis' yacht CHRISTINA). GALEB, which was built as a reefer vessel and was later converted into a luxury yacht, will be refurbished at the same location as CHRISTINA O, the Croatian-based Viktor Lenac Yard.

THE WORLD Delivered
March 12: ResidenSea finally took possession of their new vessel, THE WORLD of ResidenSea. Additional "minor finishing work" had prevented the ship from being delivered by Norway's Fosen Mek shipyard on schedule. The delay means that a christening ceremony scheduled for April 19 in New York was canceled. No new christening location has been announced. The vessel, with its apartment owners in residence, now will begin service May 1 and will spend the summer cruising in Europe without visiting the United States until September.

WESTERDAM Heads East
March 10: After 643 voyages, Holland America Line says "tot ziens" to its 53,872 gt MV WESTERDAM. Originally Home Lines 1986-built 42,000 gt HOMERIC, the ship joined the HAL fleet in 1989 and was given a 130 foot midsection for an increased capacity of 1,494 passengers from 1,000. WESTERDAM departed Ft. Lauderdale for Genova, where she will be refitted as Costa Line's COSTA EUROPA for Mediterranean and Northern European cruise service. Her transfer to the Carnival-owned Costa fleet spelt the demise of the COSTA RIVIERA, which was subsequently sold for scrap.

Alang Atrocities Update
March 7: LIBERTY (ex COSTA RIVIERA, GUGLIEMO MARCONI) arrived at Alang today and was beached. Like former fleetmate CLASSICA (ex PROVENCE, ENRICO C, etc., which is more than half gone by now), she is far out from shore. Demolition work on the still sparkling ship was scheduled to begin on Friday, 15 March.

BLACK PRINCE Aground
March 7: Fred Olsen's 1966-built MV BLACK PRINCE grounded on a sand bank while leaving Casilda, Cuba, at 7AM March 4, with three pilots on board. Two tugs went to the aid of the vessel at about 2PM, local time the day of the grounding, and were joined by two more tugs the following day. The 11,209 gt vessel remains aground with no apparent damage today. The media issued a statement that there was no danger to passengers or crew, and that BLACK PRINCE would miss the next scheduled port of call and proceed to Havana. The following day however, all passengers and were taken off the ship and bused to Havana for flights home. At noon Wednesday, the vessel moved slightly but remained stuck. Two even more powerful tugs have since arrived at the scene.

NEPTUNE On The Beach
March 6: Izmir-based Selim San reports that ROC's MV NEPTUNE (ex METEOR) arrived at the Aliaga shipbreakers on March 2 and was subsequently beached on March 3.

Swan Hellenic to lease R8
March 6: Swan Hellenic will lease the former Renaissance Cruises' R8 for seven years. MINERVA II, as she will be renamed was leased from Cruiseinvest and will replace Swan Hellenic's current vessel, MINERVA and embark on "discovery and exploration cruises" starting in April 2003. R8 will be renovated to provide passengers with the "Swan Hellenic country house style."

INDY Movement
March 5: SS INDEPENDENCE left pier 50 assisted by two tugs at 7:20 AM today sailing north under the Richmond Bridge toward the reserve fleet in Suisun Bay, but then returned to her San Francisco berth at pier 50 after her mast apparently came in contact with the Carquinez Bridge and snapped just above the radar.

Cruiseshares Shares Some Bad News
March 5: Following a well-publicized announcement about the acquisition of the 1959-built SS REMBRANDT (former ROTTERDAM) and an ambitious sailing schedule for the ship beginning in mid-2002, Cruiseshares has now backed off their plans and the REMBRANDT remains on the sales lists. Late last year, Cruiseshares, which was offering time-share units on the ship (and which had previously tried the same with the extremely derelict former SS STATENDAM, currently laid up in Greece as SEA HARMONY), had flipflopped over what the ship would be called, at one time suggesting the name GRANDE DAME. It was no secret that REMBRANDT, currently laid up at Freeport, has a limited active future due to increasingly strict SOLAS regulations due in 2010, but Cruiseshares cited this as the reason they backed out of the deal. As seen in Maritime Matters' tour, the ship is possibly the most important and well-preserved ocean liner afloat. Hopefully, there are brighter days ahead for the REMBRANDT.

SWITZERLAND Majestically Arrives In Greece
March 4: The MV SWITZERLAND (former PORT SYDNEY, AKROTIRI EXPRESS, DAPHNE), fresh from layup, arrived in Piraeus on Thursday, 28 February and will be undergoing a brief refit for new owners Majestic Cruises. With a new name (keep your eyes on this space for more on that), she will be chartered to Page and Moy this summer. One of her fleetmates, OCEAN MAJESTY (ex JUAN MARCH), departed Greece on Sunday, 3 March for her latest Page and Moy Indian Ocean charter. Her other fleetmate, OCEAN EXPLORER I (ex GENERAL WP RICHARDSON, LAGUARDIA, LEILANI, PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT, ATLANTIS, EMERALD SEAS, etc.), remains in pristine condition at her layup berth in Eleusis.

AUGUSTUS To Italy?
March 4: There is considerable momentum growing around a rumored return of the motor ship AUGUSTUS to Genova to serve as a floating hotel and museum. The only surviving passenger ship built for Italian Line, the magnificent AUGUSTUS and her twin GUILIO CESARE, were architectural prototypes of the famed ANDREA DORIA and CRISTOFORO COLOMBO. The 27,028 gt liner, built in 1952, was sold to Chinese interests in 1976 and sat idle at various anchorages until late 1999, when, after several name changes, she was converted into the MS PHILIPPINES floating hotel and restaurant (adjacent to the Manila Hotel). She was only open for a brief period due to the tumultuous political climate in the region. The ship is in most respects unaltered, save for a slight addition to her stern and new soft fittings. She is one of the best examples of a classic liner left and would be a perfect candidate for preservation.

The idea to bring her back to Italy was launched by renowned Italian author and maritime historian Maurizio Eliseo on 18th January at a lecture he gave on the vessel at the beautifully refurbished Ponte dei Mille maritime station of Genoa. AUGUSTUS is one of the many liners featured in his spectacular new book TRANSATLANTICI, and is one of the very few that survive to this day. High level plans are underway and Maritime Matters will be featuring a full tour of the former AUGUSTUS as she is today in the upcoming weeks. Stay tuned to Maritime Matters for more on this cherished liner.

THE WORLD Delayed
March 3: THE WORLD of ResidenSea's inaugural voyage has been postponed once again. THE WORLD was scheduled to begin her maiden voyage March 4, but a spokesperson for ResidenSea announced that "bureaucratic issues" had emerged between the Fosen Mek shipyard in Norway and the line. No new sailing date has been provided.

CARONIA Fined
February 26: After CARONIA spilled nearly 7,800 gallons of oil on the night of February 23 into Guanabara Bay, Brazilian environmental authorities fined Cunard Lines $410,000. The incident was reported to have happened during an operation to remove water from the vessel's tanks. The spill was contained quickly and the clean up completed. The company was fined because the water removal operation was in violation of Brazil's environmental crimes law which prohibits the risky operation in Rio's Guanabara Bay.

NORWAY to stay put
February 26: Susan Robison, Director of Public Relations for Norwegian Cruise Line and Orient Lines officially announced to Maritimematters.com that there is no truth to the specualtion that SS NORWAY was being transferred to Orient Lines at the end of the year. NORWAY will be deployed in the Caribbean through April 2003. Click to see Maritime Matters pages on NORWAY.

CARONIA Detained
February 25: Rio de Janeiro state environmental officials have detained the Cunard liner CARONIA and plan to impose a large fine on the ship for spilling some 13,200 gallons (some 50,000 liters) of heavy fuel oil into Guanabara Bay. The incident occurred Saturday February 23 in the vicinity of Rio de Janeiro port. CARONIA is carrying 730 passengers on an 88-day cruise, and docked in Rio de Janeiro February 22 from Montevideo. CARONIA would have deprated today for Salvador, Brazil but will be detained in Rio de Janeiro until state officials conclude an investigation into the spill.

NEPTUNE Due To Depart Today
February 22: Royal Olympic Cruises' MV NEPTUNE (ex METEOR) is to be prepared for departure today for her short journey from Eleusis to Aliaga, Turkey-based shipbreakers.

Salvation for MS SWITZERLAND
February 21: Maritime Matters has learned that the MV SWITZERLAND has been sold to Majestic Cruises, operators of SS OCEAN EXPLORER I and owners of MV OCEAN MAJESTY. SWITZERLAND is the former refrigerated cargo ship PORT SYDNEY, which was converted to the deluxe cruise ship DAPHNE for Carras Cruises in the mid-1970's. She later sailed for Costa Cruises before going to her most recent owners, Dreamline Cruises, who had her on a long time charter to a subsidiary of now bankrupt Swiss Air. Her sister, the PRINCESS DANAE, formerly the PORT MELBOURNE and DANAE, is owned by Portuguese-based Arcalia Shipping.

LIBERTY Leaves
February 21: Under the delivery name of LIBERTY and with funnel painted blue, the former COSTA RIVIERA/GUGLIEMO MARCONI departed Genova on Saturday, February 16, for Alang shipbreakers.

LOFOTEN Withdrawn
February 21: One of the last traditional Hurtigrute liners, the MV LOFOTEN, has been withdrawn from service. Due to retire in April, her termination was advanced to February 3.

SS UNITED STATES' "Patron" Passes On
February 21: Edward A. Cantor, owner of the SS UNITED STATES, died on Tuesday, February 19, 2002. Mr. Cantor "rescued" the ship, affectionately known as "THE BIG U", from possible scrapping in the mid 1990's and has kept the stripped out liner in Philadelphia since her return to the US from asbestos removal in the Ukraine in 1996. There have been no immediate announcements concerning the fate of this 1952-built ship, the largest and fastest passenger vessel built in the US.

Imperium Cruises Names Ships
February 21: The newly formed Imperium Cruises has announced names their new acquistions. The former Renaissance Cruises' R6 will be renamed WHITE GODDESS, and the former R7 will become GODDESS NAYNA. The ships are due to begin cruising from their new homeport of Dubai in June and November respectively. It was reported that Imperium expect to add a third ship within 18 months.

Panama Canal Considers Expansion
February 20: The US-built Panama canal still uses the original locks installed when it was opened in 1914, which limits vessels to about 100 feet in width. The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) awarded a $1.6m conceptual design contract to a Belgian-French consortium for expanded locks to permit larger ships to pass through the canal. The contract covers locks on the Pacific side of the canal. The ACP said it would negotiate a contract with the US Army Corps of Engineers for similar work on the Atlantic end.

THE WORLD Is Christened
February 20: THE WORLD was blessed in an elaborate ceremony with three priests sprinkling a mixture of champagne and water in the ship's main lobby in Trondheim, Norway today. The brand new passenger ship represents a new concept in cruising. The vessel contains 110 private apartments rather than the staterooms one would find in a conventional cruise ship. The homes sell from $2 million to $6.8 million. The white-hulled ship, built for $266 million, boasts a casino, a sauna, a real grass golf putting green and a tennis court. With her maiden voyage from Olso set for March 4, so far 80 of the 110 apartments have already been sold.

Royal Navy Warships Score Jobs in Glasgow and Southampton
February 17: Orders for three new Royal Navy warships secures thousands of jobs in Glasgow and Southampton. Work will be guaranteed until 2010 at BAE's yard at Scotstoun in Glasgow and at Vosper Thornycroft in Southampton. The Type 45 Destroyer will provide the backbone of the Royal Navy's air defences for much of the first half of the 21st century.

Orient Lines Deny NORWAY Coming Their Way*
February 17: Orient Lines deny that SS NORWAY will be joining their fleet next year despite NCL staff unofficially announcing that she will leave NCL for Orient Lines following her last Caribbean cruise starting December 29, 2002. Click to see Maritime Matters page on NORWAY.
(*EDITORS NOTE: NCL now officially deny the NORWAY is leaving the fleet and have her scheduled through April 2003)

New Ferry Service, US to Mexico
February 16: Despite two previous efforts ending in financial problems by different entities, Scotia Prince Cruises Inc. in Portland, Maine is reportedly planning ferry service from the Port of Tampa to Yucatan, Mexico beginning service in November. Scotia Prince Cruises plans to use the 475-foot, 12,000-ton SCOTIA PRINCE which holds more than 600 passengers and 220 cars. This is the same ship that American Viking used in a failed 1998 venture on the same route. Scotia Prince Cruises currently runs a ferry service between Portland, Maine, and Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.

Scrappers To Take LIBERTY
February 15: With her name changed to LIBERTY and her registry in St Vincent, Costa's dowager SS COSTA RIVIERA (ex GUGLIEMO MARCONI) is being prepared for her one way voyage from Genova to India for scrapping. Meanwhile, former fleetmate CLASSICA (ex PROVENCE, ENRICO C, ENRICO COSTA, SYMPHONY, AEGEAN SPIRIT, OCEAN GLORY I), although beached far from shore, is well into the scrapping process with her bow and most of her forward superstructure gone.

New Cruise Line in Dubai
February 15: Dubai, with its new cruise terminal, will be the home for a new cruise line called Imperium Cruises, it was announced February 13. Imperium Cruises have leased former Renaissance Cruises' R SIX and R SEVEN from Cruiseinvest, the company that purchased six "R" ships at a Marseille auction last November. After being renamed, the Dubai-based ships will cater to a regional market and their itineraries will include the Indian Ocean, eastern Africa and Egypt.

Future for Landlocked Liner?
February 15: The closed SEA WORLD exhibit (former ANCERVILLE, MINGHUA), landlocked in a lawn adjacent to an upscale neighbourhood in Shekou, China, will soon be revived. "Shekou Industrial Zone" is reported to be refitting the former French liner as a recreation centre, and sea water may once again touch her hull. In addition to channeling water around the ship, a plan is being hatched to add a cafe, a nightclub and western style bars to the grounded vessel. The project is to be completed by the end of 2002. Click to see brand new Maritime Matters page on MINGHUA.

Princess Vote Not To Meet
February 15: At the P&O Princess Cruises Extraordinary General Meeting, which began on the 14th in London, the votes have been tallied. With 253,019,846 votes being cast in favour and 151,781,075 cast against, a resolution to adjourn the Meeting was passed. The Meeting has therefore been adjourned for an indefinite period. Shareholders will be given at least fourteen days notice of the date of the adjourned meeting. This will offer Carnival yet another opening for a hostile bid.

NORWAY Sails To Orient*
February 14: NCL staff unofficially announced that the SS NORWAY, (ex FRANCE) will be sailing for their Orient Lines division. After a "final transatlantic" farewell crossing from Miami and New York to Glasgow, Dublin, Le Havre and Southampton last September, it was announced that the ship would in fact be refitted in Germany and return to Miami to resume her Eastern Caribbean service on December 23, 2001. The beloved liner will depart NCL on her final cruise on December 29, 2002 before moving to Orient Lines. Click to see Maritime Matters page on NORWAY.
(*EDITORS NOTE: NCL now officially deny the NORWAY is leaving the fleet and have her scheduled through April 2003).

PRINCESS Up All Night
February 14: The tense struggle for supremacy in the cruise business continued as Princess chairman Lord Jeffrey Sterling offered meals and overnight accommodation to shareholders who had traveled long distances to attend the meeting at a London hotel. Voting on whether to postpone the meeting had begun at noon but proved unexpectedly complicated due to the high turnout of Princess' institutional investors. Shareholders waited late into the night, Thursday, to see the outcome of a critical vote on whether they should meet to consider a merger with rival Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. or delay the decision. A delay would give more time to assess a hostile takeover bid by Carnival Corporation. A merger between Princess and Royal Caribbean would create the world's largest cruise operator. But if a majority of shareholders voted to delay the merger decision, that could create an opening for Carnival.

EUROPEAN PATHFINDER Fire
(Bermuda) February 13: Burmuda registered passenger ro/ro EUROPEAN PATHFINDER ferry on Cairnryan to Larne service reported a fire in the engine-room and called the Coastguard, There were 29 passengers and 35 crew aboard. The crew was able to extinguished the fire and the vessel made way under her own power to berth at Cairnryan, where Coastguard and local fire team confirmed that the fire was out. No injuries reported.

ReNIEUW That Ship!
February 11: The latest unofficial report from the Holland America Line camp states that expatriate ship, MV PATRIOT, the former NIEUW AMSTERDAM of 1983, will take on her original name and return to the HAL fold after a Bahamian refit in June of 2002. Carnival Corporation, parent company of Holland America Line, holds the mortgage on the PATRIOT, which has been idle at Honolulu since the collapse of American Classic Voyages last fall. Click to see Maritime Matters page on PATRIOT

PRINCESA to London?
February 11: It was reported today that Louis Cruise Line's 1936-built MV PRINCESA VICTORIA (originally the Union Castle Line mailship RMMV DUNNOTTAR CASTLE, rebuilt in 1959 for Incres Lines as the deluxe cruise ship MV VICTORIA, and later a much-loved member of the Chandris Cruises fleet as MV THE VICTORIA) will be preserved as a deluxe hotel in the London Docklands area. The Chrome Castle Group will completely restyle the vessel, likely gutting the interior public areas (most of which are singularly elegant and date to 1959 when she was rebuilt in Holland under the supervision of prominent Italian designers). Hopefully, there will be a way to save the best of the old and incorporate it into the new portions of this lovely ship which can be seen from top to bottom on Maritime Matters. Similar plans to save SS AMERIKANIS, the former RMS KENYA CASTLE of 1952, did not materialize when that ship went to Alang breakers last year. Hopefully there will be more such efforts to save the few remaining classic passenger ships. Click here for Peter Knego's tour of PRINCESA VICTORIA

SERENADE Sailings In 2002
February 11: With positive developments regarding classic cruise ships too few and far between, Maritime Matters is very happy to learn that Louis Cruise Line's MV SERENADE (built in 1957 as the JEAN MERMOZ and later completely rebuilt as the ultra successful, chic MERMOZ for Paquet Lines) will be returning to French waters. She will sail for Malta-based Express Tours and Packages, Ltd. between Northern Italy and Nice on three night voyages catering primarily to a German-speaking market. The SERENADE is kept in pristine condition by Louis Cruise Lines and is one of the few passenger ships in service with true old world charm and ambiance.

Bush Budget Sinks New Cruise Ships
February 9: Missing from the US President's $2.13 trillion budget was $250 million in federally guaranteed loans to U.S. shipyards and shipbuilders. On January 11, MaritimeMatters reported that the Navy was being urged to consider completing both "Project America" vessels (once destined for now bankrupt American Classic Voyages' subsidiary United States Lines) for use as floating barracks, hospitals or command-and-control centers. Any hope of reviving the construction now seems bleak: one ship, nearly 40% complete, (the second not yet started) is languishing at Northrup Grumman owned Ingalls Shipbuilding yard at Pascagoula, Miss.

P&O Princess Decline Fourth Carnival Offer
February 8: P&O Princess has rejected the $5.4 billion hostile bid by Carnival Corporation. P&O commented that the offer still posed concerns about regulatory approval, although this fourth bid represented a "realistic" price.

ALOHA, RHAPSODY OF THE SEAS!
February 8: The survey-and-recovery vessel ALOHA reported that it had lost power and was taking on water about 100 nautical miles northeast of Cozumel on Thursday, February 7 during an historic wreck mission. RHAPSODY OF THE SEAS responded to the distress call, along with PEREGRINE III (a drillship), and M/V LIBRA HOUSTON (a container vessel). All nine crew were taken aboard PEREGRINE III after ALOHA sank, and no injuries were reported.

PATRIOT To Leave Hawaii
February 7: Laid up in Honolulu since American Classic Voyages filed for bankruptcy, M/S PATRIOT has reverted to former owners, Carnival Corporation, as of February 4. Carnival, parent of Holland America Line, originally mortgaged the former NIEUW AMSTERDAM to AMCV in October 2000. It is expected that the ship will shortly depart Honolulu for lay up in Freeport, Bahamas. Reports in maritime circles suggest the vessel may be offered for sale or operated as a gambling ship from Florida.

P&O Princess Considering
February 7: Carnival Corporation raised its hostile bid for P&O Princess to $5.4 billion (3.8 billion GB pounds) in a final attempt to derail the British company's agreed merger with Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. P&O Princess responded that it was considering the latest bid.

Royal Caribbean's Choice
February 6: Royal Caribbean may be forced to sell holdings in First Choice Holidays in order to secure UK regulatory approval for its proposed merger with P&O Princess Cruises. The UK Office of Fair Trading referred to Royal Caribbean's $300 million investment in First Choice as the reason for directing the deal to the Competition Commission.

Kvaerner To Merge With Aker
February 5: Kvaerner, the international oil services/ engineering and construction/shipbuilding group, announced that it has agreed with Aker RGI Holding to establish a jointly-owned shipbuilding management company. The new company, to be called "Aker Kvaerner Yards AS", will be owned 50/50 by KvArner ASA and Aker RGI Holding ASA, and will become effective from February 15, 2002. Together, the two groups own 12 shipyards in Europe, and one each in the USA and Brazil. These yards have a total of some 13,500 employees. The shipbuilding operations of Kvaerner and Aker combined will have a leading position within several market segments, such as cruise ship construction, container vessels, Ro-Ro/Ro-Pax vessels, and offshore service vessels. Taken together, the shipbuilding operations will rank top among European shipyard groups in terms of revenue, and fourth in the world. The combined order reserve for the 14 yards currently comprises some 80 vessels. Kvaerner's Shipbuilding operations will continue to constitute a separate business area of the Group.

Carnival's Third Offer Fails to Charm Princess
February 4: P&O Princess turned down the third takeover bid from Carnival Corp., but Micky Arison, Carnival's chief executive went to London to meet with Princess' investors, hoping to incite a shareholder mutiny. P&O Princess rejected the offer as being too small and likely to spark regulatory concerns. Carnival's bid was worth about $5.1 billion. Carnival would likely postpone a fourth atempt until January 2003 in order to avoid triggering further financial penalties, or "poison pills," related to a change in control of a year long joint-venture P&O Princess and Royal Caribbean collaboration in southern Europe. P&O Princess investors will vote on the company's planned merger with Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., on February 14.

MARAD Shows INDEPENDENCE
February 3: The flawlessly well kept SS INDEPENDENCE, now in limbo in San Francisco, has been at the center of rumours as her devoted followers wait for an optimistic sign. Industry insiders report that the ship was visited by a Danish investor group last month that expressed positive interest. It is a testament to her crew that the elderly liner remains in such excellent mechanical condition.

P&O Princess Announcement Expected Feb. 5th
February 5: P&O Princess board plans to hold weekend meetings to assess a renewed hostile takeover bid by Carnival. An announcement is expected to be made on February 5th. Mr Arison will likely lobby P&O investors to delay an extraordinary general meeting scheduled for February 14, and P&O has warned its shareholders that there is a risk jeopardising the proposed merger with Royal Caribbean if the meeting is delayed. There is speculation in financial circles that Carnival will raise the offer yet again.

RIVIERA On The Beach (Update)
January 30: Although it was hotly denied by Costa when Maritime Matters first reported their SS COSTA RIVIERA was to be sold for scrapping this past October 11, the sad news was officially revealed today that the dowager liner, originally Lloyd Triestino's speedy, deluxe GUGLIEMO MARCONI, was sold for 1.76 million USD to unspecified Indian shipbreakers. Maritime Matters will report more details as they become available.

British Government Wades into P&O Merger
January 30: P&O Princess's plan to merge with Royal Caribbean was dealt a blow when the UK Government referred the deal to competition regulators. The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, Patricia Hewitt announced that the merger had raised sufficient competition concerns to justify further investigation. Ms Hewitt's advice followed an initial two-month inquiry by the Office of Fair Trading. P&O Princess's defence against Carnival's offer is thus weakened.

Cargo Ship Struck By WALRUS
January 28: On January 17 the 1990-built former CROWN MONARCH, CUNARD CROWN MONARCH, NAUTICAN, now sailing on overnight cruises from Hong Kong as WALRUS, collided with the Chinese cargo ship WANGTONG 87, setting fire to the latter's wheelhouse. The captain of the cargo ship remains missing although there was no damage to the WALRUS, which has returned to service.

SS INDEPENDENCE at 50
January 25: SS INDEPENDENCE was spotted today at pier 50 in San Francisco. Previously, she was moored across the bay in Alameda since arriving from Honolulu on November 8. Her future as the only US-flagged and US-built liner in operating condition remains unclear.

HapagLloyd's Europa Damaged
January 25: EUROPA arrived in Cape Town January 22, however her departure was delayed 26 hours by gale force winds reaching speeds of 65 knots. With winds dropping to 20 knots overnight, EUROPA sailed, but as the ship passed through the entrance of Victoria Basin, her stern was blown against the East Pier. Sustaining damage to her port stern, the 28,437-ton ship was re-berthed in the Duncan Dock where the damage will be assessed. (Incident reported by Ian Shiffman from Table Bay Bay Underway Shipping).
UPDATE: After examination, the ship was given a seaworthy certificate to sail for Port Elizabeth where a full survey will be undertaken.

Carnival's P&O Bid Fades
January 25: Micky Arison, Chairman of Carnival has been quoted as saying he believes the bid to acquire P&O Princess is now a "long shot". Carnival has increased its efforts to disuade P&O Princess' shareholders away from planned merger with Royal Caribbean, before a crucial vote on 14 February.

Star Cans Kona
January 24: NCL's 91,000 gt NORWEGIAN STAR, which was introduced with great fanfare this past November, will no longer call at Kona, having missed three weeks of calls at the scenic port on the big island of Hawaii due to swells. Instead, she will dock at Hilo on the other side of the same island.

End of the Line for US-Owned Freight Service
January 24: International Shipholding Corp (ISC) listed its LASH ships as "assets held for disposal", the LASH ships - 28,580-grt ROBERT E. LEE, sister ships STONEWALL JACKSON and SAM HOUSTON, all built 1974. ISC, the parent company of Waterman Steamship, will sell two of the LASH vessels, with the third pending for disposal. STONEWALL JACKSON and SAM HOUSTON sail on the US-India schedule, while SAM HOUSTON is laid up. The New Orleans-based company attributed the huge loss to lower results from its US flagged LASH service caused by unplanned shipyard work early in the year and reduced cargo volume in the second half of 2001. Compounding a weak demand, the US-owned LASH vessels have to pay a different set of taxes from the foreign-owned companies. The vessels are likely to be sold for scrap or placed in the US Navy reserve fleet. Most US-flagged liner companies operating in the US are now foreign-owned. Sea-Land Service is owned by Maersk of Denmark, American President Lines is owned by Neptune Orient Lines of Singapore, Farrell Lines is owned by P&O NedLloyd of UK/Netherlands, and Lykes Lines is owned by Canadian Pacific of Canada.

New Order at Kvaerner
January 21: Kvaerner Masa Yards in Finland announced that a memo of understanding was signed with US group Canyon Ranch to build two cruise ships. The 450 million Euro order would see delivery of the new vessels by Kvaerner in 2004-2005.

P&O Shareholder Consider Stalling
January 19: U.K. press reported today that major investors in P&O Princess Cruises were considering whether to table a motion to postpone an extraordinary shareholders' meeting scheduled for February 14. A further delay could allow the friendly merger proposal with Royal Caribbean to run alongside a $5 billion hostile takeover offer from Carnival Corporation, thereby keeping P&O Princess's options open should either bid be blocked by the regulators.

Northrop Completes Newport News Purchase
January 18: Los Angeles-based Northrop Grumman Corporation announced today that it has acquired the remaining shares of Newport News, Virginia-based Newport News Shipbuilding Inc. Ten of the twelve active aircraft carriers in the U.S. arsenal were built at Newport News Shipbuilding, which is currently preparing the USS RONALD REAGAN for service in 2003.

New Carnival Port in Mexico
January 17: Carnival Corporation and Parque Xcaret announced a huge project to construct a tourist cruise port in Cancun, Mexico. It will require an investment of 52 million dollars, and will be Mexico's first port exclusively for cruise ships. The installations will include wharves for the mooring of four mega-cruisers and two smaller ships and include immigration and customs services capable of handling 10 thousand passengers simultaneously. The two wharves will take up 16,700 square meters, while the terminal will occupy 10,022 square meters in its first phase. The project is expected to be completed in 2003.

Carnival Increases P&O Bid
January 17: Carnival Corporation sweetened its takeover bid for P&O Princess by 12 percent yesterday to a revised value of $5 billion (3.5 billion pounds). P&O Princess, which already plans to merge with No. 2, Royal Caribbean, responded that it would consider Carnival's improved proposal.

ISLAND ADVENTURE To Change Ownership?
January 17: SeaEscape Entertainment, Inc. who have been chartering M/V ISLAND ADVENTURE for the last 5 years announced today that it has entered into an agreement to purchase the 512-foot long vessel, The current charter is scheduled to expire on January 21 and has been extended to March 31, 2002. SeaEscape recently spent approximately $250,000 renovating some of the ship's public areas, including the casino and dining rooms, and anticipates further renovations and upgrades. SeaEscape operates 13 "mini-cruises" lasting about six hours every week from Port Everglades and has a capacity of over 1,150 passengers per cruise.

Cunard President Cuts First Steel
January 17: Pamela Conover, Cunard Line's president and chief operating officer, made history yesterday when she pressed a button to begin cutting the first steel for QUEEN MARY 2, at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in Saint Nazaire, France. The 694-day countdown for her delivery has now begun. Click on QUEEN MARY 2 for more details.

QM2 Construction Begins
January 16: Chantiers de l'Atlantique in Saint Nazaire, France, announced the official start date for construction of the new Cunard liner, QUEEN MARY 2, which begins today. The QUEEN MARY 2 will be largest cruise liner of all time. The $750m (nearly GBP518m and 840 m euros) vessel will carry up to 2,620 passengers and is scheduled for delivery in 2004. Based in Southampton, England, her service route will include the traditional transaltantic crossing to New York at speeds of up 30 knots. Construction of the liner has produced 1,000 new shipyard jobs and over 6,000 sub-contractor positions.

Carnival Breaks New Record
January 14: Carnival Cruise Lines experienced a record number of reservations today when 28,061 individual guests booked cruises. Due to the current wave of bookings, Carnival will keep its reservations lines open 24 hours a day, effective Thursday, January 17.

P&O Princess, Carnival Battle and the Poison Pill
January 14: It was reported today that P&O Princess is now considering whether to seek a non-refundable deposit of up to £500m from Carnival Corporation. The UK firm said that a voluntary payment would show that Carnival is serious and not simply trying to disrupt the merger between P&O and Royal Caribbean International. P&O Princess has reaffirmed its support for the merger with Royal Caribbean, which would merge the world's second and third largest cruise operators and give the combined group a similar scale as Carnival. P&O Princess and Royal Caribbean have also formed a joint venture for their European operations. It is this arrangement that involves the so called "poison pill"( a deal that becomes so expensive in the event of a takeover that the company becomes effectively bid-proof). As it stands, if P&O Princess breaks its contract, it would lose the $200 million it has already pledged to the joint venture. P&O Princess shareholders could also face an additional penalty because the company has guaranteed loans taken out by the joint venture. Analysts suggest the final tally could be over $500 million. P&O Princess, however, understand that they may be clear of such an arrangement by January 1, 2003.

P&O Princess Reaffirms Support for Royal Caribbean Plan
January 11: P&O Princess Cruises' chief executive, Peter Ratcliffe, has once again urged shareholders to support a merger with Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd over one with Carnival Corp. It was reported today that he said, "Even if Carnival made an unconditional takeover offer on the financial terms it has proposed, it would not be as favourable financially as the proposed combination with Royal Caribbean." He added,"We believe that a takeover of P&O Princess by Carnival carries different anti-trust issues than the proposed combination with Royal Caribbean. We believe that a combination with Carnival, the largest cruise ship operator in the world, and in particular in the US and in Europe, necessarily presents a greater anti-trust risk as it raises additional anti-trust issues which the regulators would have to investigate."

Navy Discussion over AMCV Hull Continues
January 11: US Senate Minority Leader Trent Lott suggests the Navy should buy the partially built cruise ship to lessen multimillion-dollar losses for the federal government and the shipbuilder, Ingalls. Lott, R-Miss., who lives in Pascagoula, said when he learned ithat the Navy needed a new command and control ship, he called military officials and pitched the idea of converting the ship into a command and control vessel. The cruise ship was one of two that Northrop was building for American Classic Voyages Inc., which filed for bankruptcy in October 2001. Construction began last year at the Pascagoula shipyard with a flashy ceremony featuring fireworks, red, white and blue confetti and dancing hula girls. The Navy continues to study requirements for its next class of command and control ships and currently has four command ships and wants a new one.

CLIA - Announces 15 New Ships in 2002
January 10: The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) announced 13 new ships and two refurbished vessels by its member lines in 2002, the largest number in any single year in the association's 26-year history:
American Cruise Lines: The 49-passenger AMERICAN GLORY departs from Baltimore in July.
Carnival Cruise Lines: The 2,124-passenger CARNIVAL PRIDE begins sailing from Port Canaveral on January 12. The 2,124-passenger CARNIVAL LEGEND inaugurates Carnival's first European departures on August 24. The 2,976-passenger CARNIVAL CONQUEST begins service from New Orleans December, 1.
Celebrity Cruises: The 1,950-passenger CONSTELLATION launches a series of European itineraries in May.
Costa Cruises: The 1,494-passenger COSTAEUROPA (formerly the WESTERDAM) makes her maiden voyage in April.
First European Cruises: The 1,500-passenger EUROPEAN STARS is scheduled to debut in late March, sailing from Barcelona.
Holland America Line: The 784-passenger PRINSENDAM (formerly SEABOURN SUN) begins service on June 3.
Norwegian Coastal Voyages Inc.: The 643-passenger FINNMARKEN and the 674-passenger TROLLFJORD both enter service in the spring on the west coast of Norway.
Princess Cruises: The 2,600-passenger STAR PRINCESS will sail on the US West Coast beginning in March.
Royal Caribbean International: The 2,501-passenger BRILLIANCE OF THE SEAS debuts in July.
Royal Olympic Cruises: The 836-passenger OLYMPIA EXPLORER is scheduled May through October from both Venice and Piraeus.

Glimmer Of Hope For AMCV Newbuildings
January 8: It was reported that the US Congress has an interest in Northrop completeing two cruise ships that had been destined for American Classic Voyages Inc., for the US Navy instead. American Classic Voyages filed for bankruptcy-court protection in October 2001, leaving one ship 37% complete and the second yet to begin. Northrop suspended work on both ships and furloughed about 1,250 workers.According to language in the 2002 Defense Appropriations Bill passed by the House and Senate on Dec. 20, lawmakers urged the US Navy to use loan guarantees offered by the U.S. Maritime Administration to buy the two unfinished ships and use them as "mobile deployable assets."

Possible uses for the ships are suggested as floating barracks, hospitals and command-and-control centers. The two cruise ships are priced at about $440 million each. The idea of using the ships as floating command-and-control centers, with high-tech computers and antennae on board to gather and disseminate battlefield information is being reviewed, according to the Navy.

NEPTUNE Off To The Breakers
January 6: Royal Olympic Cruises' charming MV NEPTUNE has been sold to Turkish breakers at Aliaga and is expected to be delivered from her Eleusis, Greece moorings to her final beaching place in Turkey around the 25th of this month. The former Bergen Liner METEOR, NEPTUNE has spent the past several years laid up and was even incorrectly rumored to have been sold to Indian shipbreakers during 2001.

P&O Princess / Royal Caribbean / Carnival Dance Continues
January 6: According to British press, Carnival Corporation will be lobbying P&O Princess' US shareholders in an effort to force the British company to delay a vote on the planned merger with Royal Caribbean until November 16. By that date the competition inquiries in the UK, Europe and in the US should have been concluded. It is understood that about one fifth of P&O's shareholders are in the US. P&O has given Carnival until January 18 to make a better offer than the P&O Princess/Royal Caribbean merger.

Cammell Laird Hopes in 2002
January 5: The London Times reports that the Birkenhead Cammell Laird shipyard, which once produced the RMS WINDSOR CASTLE, may be showing signs of life since bankruptcy last year. Southampton-based ship repairs business A&P bought the yard last August. A spokesperson said A&P wanted to re-open both Birkenhead and Cammell Laird's Tyneside yard, but added that the decision depended on securing sufficient work. A chief executive inferred that productive discussions with potential customers could see the Birkenhead yard reopen by the end of the summer. Any return, however, would be greatly reduced from the 1,200 strong work force employed before the shut down last year. Initially the yard would employ only 100 workers.

The End Of CLASSICA Draws Near
January 4: After months of dragging her keel some five hundred meters closer to the beach, the scrappers of CLASSICA (ex OCEAN GLORY, AEGEAN SPIRIT, SYMPHONY, ENRICO COSTA, ENRICO C, PROVENCE) are set to begin dismantling in the next day or two.

RHAPSODY OF THE SEAS Repositioned to Tampa
January 4: Royal Caribbean International have repositioned RHAPSODY OF THE SEAS to regular sailings from the Port of Tampa. The ship will dock at the Port of Tampa's Cruise Terminal 2 at approximately 7 a.m. Saturday, January 5 and will sail on five seven-night and one six-night Western Caribbean sailings with ports of call at: Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico; Georgetown, Cayman Islands; and Key West, Florida. On February 9, 2002, RHAPSODY OF THE SEAS will make a special seven-night cruise to New Orleans for Mardi Gras.