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Shipping News: Passenger ship, cruise news and shipping reports from around the world
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SHIPPING NEWS June - August 2005
Hurricane Katrina's Wake
August 30: Carnival Cruise Lines repositioned several cruise ships before Hurricane Katrina slammed into the Gulf Coast near New Orleans and Gulfport, Mississippi, Monday. CARNIVAL CONQUEST, which usually sails from New Orleans on Sundays, was diverted to Galveston, Texas, August 28. CONQUEST remained there overnight while passengers arranging their transport stayed on board. Carnival had scheduled maintenance work this week so no cruise schedule was interupted.Meanwhile, HOLIDAY saw her August 29th voyage cancelled, as she temporarily moved to Tampa, Florida. SENSATION's cruises, September 1st and 5th, will depart from Galveston instead of New Orleans.
Philippine Ferry Bombing
August 28: Over 30 people, including children, were injured when an improvised bomb exploded inside a passenger ferry docked at Lamitan, Basilan in the Philippines early today. Reports say the bomb exploded on board MV DONA RAMONA at the Dangkalan Wharf at 7 a.m. local time. The military said the blast may have been caused by an improvised explosive device left on top of the counter of the ship's canteen on the lower deck. In February last year, the Abu Sayyaf group exploded a similar device on the vessel SUPER FERRY 14 off Manila Bay, killing over a hundred passengers.MidShipCentury Cometh Closer!
Announcing: Maritime Matters contributing editor Peter Knego will be offering a huge variety of ship fittings, furniture, and art from many notable vessels (EMPRESS OF CANADA, IVERNIA/FRANCONIA, STELLA SOLARIS, STELLA OCEANIS, VICTORIA (Incres), STATENDAM, TRANSVAAL CASTLE, and more) rescued from Alang via a forthcoming website due online Mid-September.A gamut of treasures (many of which can be seen in the current P.K. Productions video release, ON THE ROAD TO ALANG,), from punkah louvres to nickel railings, designer chairs and etched glass panels will be available. If you are interested in being notified when this site (currently under construction) is ready, please send an e-mail, with your name and email address to pk@midshipcentury.com
HANSEATIC Grounded
August 27: Hanseatic Tours 1991-built HANSEATIC (IV) had her cruise canceled after she grounded 22 miles south of the Arctic Circle on August 21 near the Norwegian island of Lur¿y. 161 passengers were flown back to Germany the following day and no injuries were reported. The accident left a five-meter long gash in the ship's ice-strengthened double bottom. Hapag-Lloyd has not yet announced which yard will repair the ship, but confirmed that the next scheduled voyage (set to depart Kiel for Norway on August 25) has been cancelled. Reports say this was the third grounding for HANSEATIC since 1996.Katrina Makes Waves
August 26: As hurricane Katrina loomed, Florida's Port Everglades and Port of Miami were closed to inbound ship traffic from 8 p.m. by the U.S. Coast Guard on the evening of August 25th. Royal Caribbean International's EMPRESS OF THE SEAS was moved to the Port of Tampa and the storm caused the ship to skip her regularly scheduled stop in Key West. RCI's MAJESTY OF THE SEAS returned to the Port of Miami a day early and the following cruise was shortened. The Miami port's closure forced Carnival Cruise Lines to reroute IMAGINATION (which remained at sea south of Key West and will return to Miami on Saturday) and FASCINATION (which was scheduled to return to Miami from a four-day cruise Friday morning and will now return Saturday). Norwegian Cruise Line has rerouted the NORWEGIAN DAWN (instead of visiting Great Stirrup Cay, she was sent to Nassau, remaining overnight). A variety of incentives and credits were being offered to delayed passengers.Ferry Fire in Black Sea
August 26: 53 passengers and crew were evacuated from the 1977-built Turkish registered roll on/roll off ferry UFUK-1 after a fire broke out in the engine compartment last evening as the ship was sailing from Trabzon, Turkey to Sochi, Russia in international Black Sea waters. The passengers and crew were taken on board a North Korean vessel, the TRAPESUS-2, and two coast guard vessels and a helicopter were also dispatched to provide assistance.Deco And Liner Lectures On The Mary
August 26: On the weekend of September 2 -- 5, the QUEEN MARY will be hosting the first annual Art Deco Festival as a joint venture between the RMS Foundation and the Art Deco Society of Los Angeles. A number of special events will coincide with the festival, from screenings of classic movies to lectures and an Art Deco Bazaar. On Sunday, September 4 at 2:00 PM, there will be a joint presentation by Steamship Historical Society of America Southern California Chapter head Bruce Vancil and Maritimematters' Peter Knego. Bruce will cover "Ocean Liners and the Art Deco Movement: Exteriors, Interiors and Image" and Peter will present "The Modern Movement at Sea from Mid to Late 20th Century". Peter will also be a vendor at the Art Deco Bazaar, offering a selection of some of the fittings he rescued from various ships at Alang. Call (562) 435-3511 or go to queenmary.com for more details and reservations.Drama At Sea
August 25: An international coast guard operation was sparked after a seasick passenger on board the 1976-built ice-strengthened LYUBOV ORLOVA (named after a Russian actress) made a call to her sister in Italy. She was convinced the vessel was in major difficulties when hit by severe weather near Cape Wrath. The sister alerted the coast guard in Rome who then called the Aberdeen coast guard who quickly tracked down the 100 m long, 4251 gross tonnage vessel. However, the captain responded that all was well despite the gale force winds, and the ship was expected to make a safe return to Dublin.Sand Castles: WINDSOR Pictured on the Beach
August 24: As reported on August 18th, RITA, the former RMS WINDSOR CASTLE, spent the 45th anniversary of her maiden voyage from Southampton to Durban on the beach of Alang as the first cut was made. UK Citizen, L. Royale has loaned Maritime Matters a image of her beached and broken. Please take a look at the SHIP NEWS PHOTOS page and also at the WINDSOR CASTLE page on Maritime Matters.COSTA CLASSICA Fire
August 24: News reports state that a fire broke out on board the 1991-built COSTA CLASSICA, as she was sailing near the island of Poros, Greece. The Costa Cruises vessel was sailing from the Italian port of Ancona for Piraeus, on an eight-day cruise which began in Venice on August 21 calling at Dubrovnik, Croatia, and onto Piraeus and the Greek islands. The ship is carrying crew of 580 and about 1,580 passengers. Greece's merchant marine ministry's search and rescue centre dispatched a frigate, coast guard vessels and a helicopter to the scene. The fire was reported near the stern of the ship and was quickly extinguished. There was no reports of injuries and after the ship docks, more information on the cause of the blaze will likely be revealed. Update: The cruise was cancelled and the ship remains at Pireaus with a clearly blackened upper works at her stern.SPIRIT OF ONTARIO Dented
August 22: Bay Ferries' 774-passenger catamaran SPIRIT OF ONTARIO, a high-speed Lake Ontario ferry collided with a gangway, scraping the hull and smashing three of its windows while docking in Toronto last night. No injuries were reported. The windows were swiftly repaired and the ship's return voyage to Rochester, NY was delayed by only 90 minutes. The vessel nicknamed "The Cat", was relaunched on June 30 after being laid up for almost 10 months.World's Largest Cruise Ship Floated Out
August 19: The first of an order of three Royal Caribbean "Freedom of the Seas" class cruise ships was floated out at Aker Finnyard in Finland today. The 158,000 GRT ship is 339 metres long (aprox. 1,112 feet) and 38.6 metres wide and will carry 5,740 passengers and crew. Ordered in September 2003, the new vessel will be handed over to Royal Caribbean in April 2006. The second and third ships in the series will be delivered in spring 2007 and 2008.WINDSOR's 45th With A Thud
August 18: 45 years ago today, the RMS WINDSOR CASTLE departed on her maiden voyage from Southampton to Durban. Meanwhile, this morning, instead of fireworks and tickertape, there was a loud thud on the beach of Alang as the first cut was made, dropping a portion of her starboard side into the mud.Turkish Terror Plot Foiled
August 18: Four cruise ships with Israeli passengers were ordered not to dock in the Turkish port of Antalya after intelligence revealed a possible terrorist attack. Israeli Transportation Minister Meier Sheetrit gave the order and Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev confirmed that the vessels, including the MIRAGE-1 (ex BLOERO, etc.), were rerouted. In November of 2003, Islamic militants bombed a bank, two synagogues, and the British Embassy in Istanbul, killing 58 people.CHINA SEA DISCOVERY Sold For Scrap
August 17: News from Taiwan has the 1956-built CHINA SEA DISCOVERY (ex CARINTHIA, FAIRLAND, FAIRSEA, FAIR PRINCESS), sold at her third auction for US$4.2m to Indian scrap merchants. The last surviving member of Cunard's SAXONIA quartet built for Liverpool to Canada service is currently listing and under arrest at Kaohsiung. Her last operators, China Sea Cruises, bought her in 2000. She sailed briefly on overnight cruises from Hong Kong and Kaohsiung but was soon laid up and abandoned.Star Cruises Gains India Permission
August 14: Malaysian-based Star Cruises, has been granted permission by the Indian government to operate cruise ships between Mumbai (Bombay) and Goa, and Lakshadweep. The news was released after a delegation from Star Cruises met with Indian shipping minister TR Baalu to discuss berthing at Mumbai and duty free bunkering.Tallink Orders Two Ice Class Ferries
August 13: The Estonian ferry operator Tallink and Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri announced an agreement to build two new 36,000 gross tonnes, high performance, ice-class cruise ferries. The second vessel is an option. The ships, will include a large car deck, carry 2,000 passengers, and operate at a speed of 29 knots.NORWAY Rumblings
August 13: As the NORWAY (ex FRANCE) sits anchored in the haze off Pt. Klang, Malaysia, rumors have begun to rumble once again about the 44 year old ship. Apparently, her turbines are still dismantled, making her imminent use as an active, albeit slowed-down cruise or casino ship in the region unlikely. Further, contacts in the region have reported inspections by 14 Indian scrap merchants had been undertaken and that there was a possibility the ship could be towed to Goa, India in the next few weeks.DREAM Delayed
August 12: Seattle press reports that the US Coast Guard boarded NORWEGIAN DREAM after it arrived in Elliott Bay over six hours late. Many passengers were stranded in Seattle overnight as a result with NCL putting passengers up in a downtown hotel. Apparently, a passenger telephoned the Coast Guard to report that two of the ship's four engines were out of action. The team found two engines working and two under repair. Norwegian Cruise Line officials in Miami said that the ship has had a "minor technical issue" affecting its speed "for a number of cruises.""Voice Of The Engine Room"
August 11: Former QUEEN MARY Engineering Officer David Main will be spending his seventh summer as a volunteer docent giving guided tours of the engine and boiler room on board the iconic liner in Long Beach, CA. A limited amount of 90 minute tours will be given (adults $6/children under 12 $3 in addition to the purchase of a general admission or combination ticket). Tours are offered at 3:00 PM Wednesday through Sunday and are very comprehensive and full of technical information from the man, who, between 1959 and 1961, was responsible for the ship's propeller shaft tunnels and bearings, stern glands and fire protection systems and was one of three officers (and a "greaser") per watch who operated in the forward and aft engine rooms. ÊHe also operated in the number one and the number five main boiler rooms. Main is now the "voice" of the engine room, offering pre-recorded statistical information throughout the engine room tour. He uses archival audiotapes of actual QUEEN MARY engine sounds from when the ship was at sea and the sound of the QUEEN MARY propellers spinning into high gear. For more information about the QUEEN MARY attractions, hotel, restaurants, banquet and meeting facilities or group rates, the public may call (562) 435-3511 or visit the QUEEN MARY at queenmary.comSTELLA Stays Put For Now
August 11: Reports from Izu, Japan, state that due to final negotiations not having been completed, the MS SCANDINAVIA (ex STELLA POLARIS) will remain at her berth until further notice. The ship was to have been purchased from the bankrupt Hakone Railway and taken to Shanghai on July 20 to be refitted into an active Caribbean-based cruise ship. This certainly was remarkable news considering that the gorgeous, yachtlike vessel was built in 1927, is paneled with acres of dark woods (that would never meet today's SOLAS requirements, let alone those in 2010), will need re-engining and a great deal of structural work (she has not been drydocked in 35 years). Negotiations continue and it is expected she may leave in the autumn (after monsoon season is over).NORWAY At Port Klang
August 10: It was reported that the SS NORWAY arrived under tow at Port Klang at noon today. No further information is forth coming.REGAL EMPRESS Is "Queen Of Clean"
August 10, 2005: An unannounced inspection by the United States Public Health Department (USPH) Vessel Sanitation Program found Imperial Majesty Cruise Line's 52 year old MV REGAL EMPRESS (ex OLYMPIA, CARIBE, CARIBE I) with a 96 rating for the second consecutive inspection."The inspector noted that 'a rating of 96 on a 52-year-old ship is just like 100 on a new ship,'" said Arthur M. Pollack, president of the line. "He was extremely complimentary and praised our crew for their outstanding management and knowledge of the key issues surrounding health and sanitation issues."
The 1,180-passenger Regal Empress offers two-night cruises to Nassau from Ft. Lauderdale every other day year 'round. The 610-foot ship met USPH sanitation standards for water, food preparation and holding, general cleanliness, storage and repair and potential contamination of food. "We're extremely proud of our officers and crew in keeping her up to today' s stringent standards for health and sanitary conditions. She may have many miles under her hull, but her ranking certainly exceeds many of the newer ships," Pollack said.
MADAGASCAR On Line
August 10: Indian Ocean Cruises (external link) have introduced the yacht-like 1960-built classic MADAGASCAR (ex BREMERHAVEN, STELLA MARIS II, VIKING BORDEAUX) for cruising in South and East African waters, including Mozambique, Tanzania, Madagascar and The Comoros. At 2,683 gross tons, the 225 passenger ship was originally the overnight German coastal vessel BREMERHAVEN but was purchased by Sun Lines and completely rebuilt into the deluxe Greek Islands cruise ship STELLA MARIS II. In 1998, she became VIKING BORDEAUX and has spent the past few years in layup until being purchased by Indian Ocean Cruises for Mombasa and Durban-based cruise programs.Mercy For The Mercy Ships!
Meanwhile, Mercy Ships smaller 1953-built CARIBBEAN MERCY (ex POLARLYS) has been laid up as a survey is undertaken to determine the feasibility of major fire and safety work required to keep her in service.
August 5: The 1953-built Mercy Ship ANASTASIS (formerly the Lloyd Triestino and Adriatica Liner VICTORIA) is undergoing a major overhaul and drydocking in East London, South Africa. The remarkably beautiful and original passenger cargo liner entered dry dock on July 11 for what was to be a week's worth of repairs after striking a submerged object in Liberia this past spring, but remained an extra week after more damage was found. The ship remains in the shipyard with 155 volunteer crew on board as steel in the chain locker, hold number five bilge and water tanks and hold number two tween decks is replaced. A new engine room alarm and sprinkler system is also being implemented and the ship is expected to remain at East London until September 5 when she departs for Cape Town.ANDAMAN PRINCESS Withdrawn
August 4: Siam Cruises' ANDAMAN PRINCESS has been laid up following the collapse of her operators. The 1962-built, 4,334 gt liner was built as the SVEA JARL for Silja Line and later sailed as APOLLO III for Viking Line.Carnival Fleet Shuffle
August 4: Carnival Corporation have announced the transfer of AIDA Cruises' AIDABLU (ex CROWN PRINCESS) to the UK's Ocean Village brand in Spring 2007. This news comes on the heals of an order for three new 68,500-ton cruise ships for the German-speaking line to be delivered in spring 2007, 2008, and 2009. Princess Cruises' REGAL PRINCESS which was slated to join Ocean Village, will now remain in the Princess fleet.Derelect Classic Evicted From Dar es Salaam
August 3: Tanzania Ports Authority announced that it will remove passenger vessel MV ZAHARA (ex KEFALLINIA, EXPRESS PAROS) from its territorial waters. The derelect ferry has been lying at the Dar es Salaam port since it was barred from sailing Tanzanian coastal waters in 2001. According to the TPA public relations manager, her owners have failed to comply with orders for its removal for more than three years and will be charged for the costs of removal. Failure to comply will result in the ship being scrapped. ZAHARA, reportedly owned by Victoria Marine Passenger Services, formerly operated the vessel from Dar es Salaam to MTwara, but was prevented in sailing in 2001 after the ship broke down at sea with hundreds of passengers onboard. The vessel was built in Greece in 1965 as KEFALLINIA at Perama shipyards for Strintzis Lines, where she had a successful career in the Ionian Sea until she was sold in 1993 to Katapoliani and renamed EXPRESS PAROS also sailing in Greek waters. In 1999 she was purchased and brought to Tanzania for Dar es Salaam - Zanzibar service.Crowd Pulling Cunarder
August 2: Beneath cloudy and rain laden skies an estimated half a million people crowded the harbour at Hamburg, to catch a glimpse of the QUEEN MARY 2 when she arrived from Norway. Captain Bernard Warner was reported to say that nowhere had the ship been as enthusiastically greeted as in Hamburg. QM2 sailed last night for Southampton, and on to New York.HMS MEDUSA Saved
July 31: According to the Southern Daily Echo, a lottery grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund of nearly UK"£"1m has been awarded to a vessel which was reviewed by Her Majesty The Queen at this year's Trafalgar 200 celebrations in the Solent. HMS MEDUSA, which led British forces on D-Day, can now undergo a major refit to keep her afloat. The restoration work will extend the MEDUSA's life by 60 years and allow her to travel further than the Solent, as she is currently limited to. On D-Day, the MEDUSA marked the route through minefields for the invasion forces and accepted the surrender of German forces in Holland in 1945. She was also the first allied ship to navigate the North Sea Canal to Amsterdam. After WWII she became a survey vessel and was the last of this class in naval service. Saved from the scrapyard in 1968 by private owners, she was passed to the Medusa Trust which stated that "Without this grant this would have been our last year at sea."CARIBBEAN PRINCESS Slowed
July 30: Pasengers report that Princess Cruises' CARIBBEAN PRINCESS was experiencing a propulsion problem after calling at St. Maarten. The ship was moving at a reduced speed until repairs were completed. Her engineers were working to correct the problem, but her arrival in Ft. Lauderdale was expected on time.QM2 Turbine Swap
July 29: During an extended call in Oslo, Norway, Cunard Line's QUEEN MARY 2 had one of her two gas turbines replaced. The ship sailed about five hours later than originally scheduled but Cunard announced that the maintenance would not affect the ship's itinerary. The two turbines, situated beneath the funnel, are used to provide the ship with higher speeds, while her four diesel engines handle the bulk of the ship's power needs.65 Years Ago Today
July 27: United States Line's brilliant SS AMERICA entered service on July 27, 1940. On June 17 of this year, in large part due to the efforts of Bill Lee, a library named for the AMERICA was dedicated on board NCL America's brand new PRIDE OF AMERICA. Susan Gibbs, granddaughter of William Francis Gibbs, the designer of the SS AMERICA and her larger, faster consort, SS UNITED STATES (among other famous liners) was on hand to unveil the library's centerpiece. Many artifacts and photos of the ship during her long and varied career (SS AMERICA, USS WESTPOINT, SS AUSTRALIS, SS ITALIS) are on display. The veteran liner was lost while under tow as the AMERICAN STAR in January of 1994 enroute from Greece to Thailand for preservation. Her remains are just off the rocky shore of Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands.CITY OF WACO Wreck Rediscovered
July 27: The Texas Historical Commission is focusing new attention on the wreck of the CITY OF WACO as professional and amateur marine archaeologists team up to document vessel. Sonar readings of and preliminary dives to the recently rediscovered wreckage 40 feet below the Gulf of Mexico surface have determined that the remarkably well-preserved hull is indeed that of the lost Mallory Lines vessel.CITY OF WACO, a 242-foot-long single-screw iron-hulled steamer built in Philadelphia by the John Roach shipyard, entered service in late 1873 and made 20 round trips between New York City and Galveston before it burned and sank. Crews on a dozen ships anchored near the doomed vessel (about a mile off Galveston's south jetty) on November 8, 1875, first heard an explosion, then saw the ship, which had arrived from New York City that afternoon, burst into flames. Over the howl of gale-force winds, the passengers' cries for help were heard. 56 people died in what was the state's worst maritime disaster.
The cause of the initial fire remains a mystery (some speculate a lightning strike), but once the flames had reached the 200 cases of lamp oil (called Aster Oil) stored illegally on deck, there was no hope. Additional dives are planned for later this year. Excavation of the site is being considered if funding can be secured. Texas A&M University at Galveston has expressed interest in conducting a magnetometer survey of the sea floor (an effort that could locate anchors or portions of the ship that have migrated from the main wreck site). Only three bodies were ever recovered and the ship's dog may have been the only living thing to make it ashore.
7-passenger Ship Planned
July 27: A new entity, The Spaceship Company, owned by British entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson and aerospace designer, Burt Rutan of Scaled Composites, will build a fleet of commercial suborbital spaceships and launch aircraft. Clients will include launch customer, Virgin Galactic (formed by Branson to handle space tourist flights). Research, development, testing and certification is set to begin for a 9-person SpaceShipTwo, and a White Knight Two mothership to be called EVE. Both of the new vehicles are to be twice the size of their earlier designs. Branson, addressing a crowd gathered for the announcement, said that the commercial spaceship will carry 7 paying passengers along with a two-person flight crew and should be in experimental test phase by the end of 2007.Good News For SS ROTTERDAM
July 22: Steamship Rotterdam Foundation report that the new owners of the SS ROTTERDAM have made public that on July 15 the actual management of the ship was taken over from Port of Rotterdam. Vuyk Engineering of Rotterdam is supervising the refurbishment. Plans for the hotel and restaurants, congress-organization, tourism and entertainment will be reviewed. Albeda College will begin developing an organization for working and teaching on the ship.CASTLE In The Sand
July 21: RITA, (ex WINDSOR CASTLE, MARGARITA L) was beached yesterday. She sits relatively close to shore in Alang's now calm brown waters, bow searchlight still shining forth in a misty rain. The end of the former Union Castle Line flagship has finally come.LAGAN VIKING Maiden Voyage
July 20: LAGAN VIKING, the first of two new NorseMerchant ferries built by Cantiere Navale Visentini Shipyard at Donada (near Venice) for Birkenhead-based service, made her maiden commercial voyage today. The 26,500 gt vessel can carry 970 passengers and her five vehicle decks can accommodate about 150 commercial vehicles and 140 cars at a service speed of 23 knots. She will be joined on the route by sister vessel MERSEY VIKING later in the year. The previous two ships of the same names have now become LIVERPOOL VIKING and DUBLIN VIKING and will shift to the Liverpool -- Belfast service and the Birkenhead -- Dublin route, respectively.Anticipating RITA
July 20: RITA (ex WINDSOR CASTLE, MARGARITA L) has finally anchored off Alang. The historic liner will be beached for demolition some time today at full speed, which, in her condition, means about 2 knots, maximum.PRIDE OF AMERICA, Home To Hawaii
July 18: NCL's, 2,146-passenger, PRIDE OF AMERICA sailed into Hawaiian waters late Sunday and docked at Hilo today. The 920-foot cruise liner, the first purpose built American-flagged cruise ship since the Grace Line combiliner SANTA MAGDALENA quartet of 1963/4, arrives at Honolulu July 19, and is scheduled to begin regular interisland cruise service in a week from Honolulu. The new ship joins the PRIDE OF ALOHA (ex NORWEGIAN SKY) which has been sailing in Hawaiian interisland service for the past year.Carnival Takes LIBERTY
July 15: Carnival Cruise Lines took delivery of the 2,974-passenger CARNIVAL LIBERTY at a ceremony in Monfalcone, Italy today. The 110,000 gt vessel will sail on a three-day inaugural cruise July 16-19, followed by a pierside overnight gala at Civitavecchia, Italy, July 19 where the ship will be officially named by U.S. actress Mira Sorvino. LIBERTY follows sisters VALOR and CONQUEST and represents the 21st ship in the Carnival brand. She will be followed by CARNIVAL FREEDOM in February 2007. CARNIVAL LIBERTY will operate a 12-day Mediterranean cruise program with round trips from Civitavecchia to Naples, Italy; Dubrovnik, Croatia; Venice, Italy; Messina, Sicily; Barcelona, Spain; Cannes, France; and Livorno, Italy until October when the ship sails for Florida.CARINTHIA At Final Crossroads
July 15: The 1956-built CHINA SEA DISCOVERY (ex CARINTHIA, FAIRLAND, FAIRSEA, FAIR PRINCESS), currently listing, forlorn, and under arrest at Kaohsiung, will be auctioned off on July 28. The John Brown-built former Cunarder (the last surviving member of the SAXONIA quartet built for Liverpool to Canada service and later rebuilt for Sitmar as the dynamic and popular FAIRSEA) will likely find her way to a Chinese or Indian scrap yard. The 25,000 gt vessel was purchased by last operators, China Sea Cruises, in 2000 and sailed briefly on overnight cruises from Hong Kong and Kaohsiung but was soon laid up after her owners abandoned the money-losing venture.Bytes From The Beach
July 15: A decision from the Indian supreme court has given the go ahead for RIKY (ex KONG FREDERICK IX) to be scrapped at Alang despite protests from the Danish Government and Greenpeace who have claimed the ship was not authorized to leave Denmark for scrapping due to toxins onboard. The ship has sat precariously on the beach, driven partially sideways by raging seas and strong monsoon-fed currents, under guard and intact as litigants sought to have her sent back to Denmark for removal of asbestos and other environmentally unfriendly fittings. Meanwhile, Alang and the neighboring region of Gujarat have been flooded out by unusually strong monsoons, putting added stress on an industry that has been hit hard by low steel prices and a shortage of unwanted tonnage. The last quarter sections of PRINCES (ex PRINSESSE MARGRETHE, PRINCESA CYPRIA, etc.) and ARBOREA are now all that is left as cutting on EXPLORER (ex GENERAL W. P. RICHARDSON, PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT, EMERALD SEAS, etc.) has left a virtually unrecognizable hulk. Last month's high tide enabled her breakers to winch the stubborn, deep hull from a rocky plateau to the waters' edge, accelerating her demolition. The fully intact BIG RED BOAT II is still far from shore as efforts to winch her closer are undertaken when tidal conditions permit. RITA (ex WINDSOR CASTLE, MARGARITA L) is finally due after stalling and going adrift in the Indian Ocean last month. The tug sent to retrieve her broke down, as well, but regained power in the past few days and was last reported close to the anchorage with its famous former flagship in tow.Post Panamax Celebration!
July 13: Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. owned Celebrity Cruises have announced the launch of a new class of ships that will measure 117,000 gt with a length of 1,033 feet. Their beam of 121 feet will preclude them from being able to transit the Panama Canal. There will be 1425 staterooms with an average 215 foot square footage, with 90% outside and 90% of those having balconies. German shipbuilder Meyer Werft has been contracted to build the first ship with a an option for the second on the table. They will carry 2,850 guests (double occupancy) and 1,250 crew. The ship should be delivered in the Fall of 2008. It is hoped that Celebrity will continue its exciting theme of incorporating fittings from famous ships of the past in its newbuilds.On The Road To Alang
Maritime Matters exclusive: On The Road To Alang, a new feature and video by Peter Knego.AIDA To Get Middle Sister
July 13: Carnival Corporation has ordered a 68,500 gt cruise ship scheduled to enter service in April 2008 for its German AIDA Cruises brand from the Meyer Werft shipyard. It will be a third sister to AIDA's two previously announced 68,500-ton ships which will also be built at Meyer Werft and are due in April 2007 and April 2009.ENCHANTMENT Plus
July 10: On July 7, Royal Caribbean International's ENCHANTMENT OF THE SEAS re-entered service after the addition of a new 73-foot midsection and dramatic refitting at the Keppel Verolme yard in Rotterdam, Holland. The 73-foot mid-section was constructed in Turku, Finland at Aker Finnyards, and measures 73 by 106 by 144 feet. The section was placed on an enormous barge and floated 1,220 miles through the Baltic and North seas to Rotterdam. Lifted from the barge with a hydraulic jacking tower, the section was moved next to the awaiting ENCHANTMENT OF THE SEAS after the dock was drained of water. The US$60 million project increased the ship's capacity by 300 passengers and deck space was enlarged by 50%. The ship returns at 81,500 tons and 989 feet in length with a passenger capacity of 2,730. The refit added 151 staterooms and some unique features such as two suspension bridges that run along both sides of the top deck, a Splash Deck for kids and bungee trampolines. The bridges cross over two new areas of the Pool Deck that extend out over the water. On the port side, the overhanging platform features a new island bar, while the starboard side provides extra room around the pool area. ENCHANTMENT OF THE SEAS sailed on two preview cruises for travel agents before officially re-entering service on July 7, 2005, with a four-night cruise to Halifax, Nova Scotia.Interisland Ferry Burns
July 9: 238 passengers and crew, including 6 sea marshals, were rescued yesterday from MV PRINCESS OF THE WORLD, which caught fire 53 nautical miles west of Dulungin Point, near Siocon, Zamboanga City, Philippines. The 10,000-ton Sulpicio Lines ship caught fire at 12:05 p.m. yesterday on a voyage from Manila and the fire raged on today. There were no reports of injuries and all onboard were accounted for. The Coast Guard reported that the BRP DAVAO DEL NORTE and the burning ship's sister M/V PRINCE OF THE CARRIBEAN, both came to the rescue. The cause of the blaze is unknown, but officials did not rule out the possibility the ferry had been attacked. There are unverified reports that an explosion was heard in the engine room before the ship caught fire.Reluctant RITA Resists Rescue
July 7: RITA, ex WINDSOR CASTLE, MARGARITA L is uncannily avoiding the sands of Alang. After a long voyage from her anchorage at Petrola and lying in wait in the Indian Ocean for metal prices to rebound, she broke down off Dwarka on the final leg of her delivery voyage to the breakers after her fuel line burst. Now the tug sent to retrieve historic liner, until recently a candidate for preservation as a museum in the UK, has broken down and both vessels are adrift. Meanwhile, torrential monsoonal rains have brought work at the already under quota scrapping yards to a standstill. Alang is now at only a fraction of its capacity and this is beginning to have a severe economic effect on the infrastructure of the region.There's a BUTE!
July 3: BUTE, the lastest Wemyss Bay-Rothesay ferry was named today in Rothesay. The Polish built 60-car ferry is the seventh to carry the name and the newest ship to be introduced on the Upper Clyde in 30 years. The 2612-tonne BUTE, which goes into service next week, can carry up to 450 passengers and replaces the current vessels, some of which have been in service since the 1970s. A sister ship is expected next year.New Palk Strait channel Proposed
July 2: July 2: The Indian prime minister, Manmohan Singh, has initiated a US$540m deep sea dredging project in Palk Strait between India and Sri Lanka running between the Gulf of Mannar in the south out to the Bay of Bengal. The new channel, called the Sethusamudhram Shipping Channel Project, would have a depth of 12 metres and a width of 300 metres for 167kms (104 mile) allowing for two-way traffic. When completed it would allow local and international shiping to save up to 36 hours sailing time and cut nearly 400 nautical miles spent navigting around Ski Lanka. The project has been criticised by campaigners who say it will damage the marine ecosystem but Mr Singh answered that efforts would be made to preserve the marine life and preserve the livelihood of local fishermen. Officials say that Tuticorin Port, located on the southern tip of India, could become a leading container destination. The port has the advantage of being located centrally on the international trade route connecting Europe and the Middle East on one side and the Asia-Pacific region on the other.Ferry QUEEN OF OAK BAY Ploughs Into Marina
July 2: The BC Ferries-operated 1981-built QUEEN OF OAK BAY was arriving at Horseshoe Bay harbour northwest of Vancouver, Canada at about 10AM today when her 550 passengers heard the announcement, "Brace for impact!", shortly before the ship crashed in to about 24 small moored boats in a marina and ran aground on top of several of them. Passengers and vehicles were able disembark at about 5pm, some cheering after being stuck on the 140-metre-long vessel for nine hours. Rescue workers had to wait for a high tide before the 7000-ton ship could be towed free by tugs. Coast Guard officials said a steering problem may have played a role in the crash. The QUEEN OF OAK BAY was recently refurbished at a cost of C$35 million and can carry 362 cars and 1500 passengers and crew.Saving the SS ROTTERDAM
June 30: The Steamship Rotterdam Foundation announced that the 1959-built SS ROTTERDAM has been sold by the now bankrupt "S.S. Rotterdam Ltd." to new owners, "De Rotterdam", a consortium of Woonbron (a housing company) and Eurobalance (investor), who intend to use the ship for of housing, working and learning in the port of Rotterdam, with Albeda College contracted as the educational sponsor. Initially the ship will be dry-docked for asbestos removal and will be ready for use in 2006. A letter of intent has been signed which reads: "De Rotterdam and the Steamship Rotterdam Foundation agree that the SS ROTTERDAM must be conserved as a unique cultural, industrial and maritime heritage, and intend to work together in a sustainable relationship with the aim to do all that is necessary to reach the objectives of the Steamship Rotterdam Foundation." Among other things, the foundation will advise the new company about the technical and museum functions on board. The ship currently remains tied up at Gibraltar.ROYAL PACIFIC Burns and Sinks
June 30: ROYAL PACIFIC (ex LAS PALMAS DE GRAN CANARIA, CROWN DEL MAR, D. JUAN, RIVIERA I) burned and capsized while refitting in Kaohsiung Harbor, Taiwan. The fire broke out at 13:00 on June 29 at pier 54, where the ship had arrived June 21. Firefighters battled the blaze, which was so fierce that they could not get on board. The weight of water poured into the fire eventually caused the ROYAL PACIFIC to roll over at 21:00. In daylight, the vessel could be seen on her side at the berth with her funnel touching the dock and the hull encircled with oil booms. The 1967-built passenger ship was originally a Spanish car ferry and later rebulit for for Crown Cruise Lines. There was no loss of life, with all 214 crew accounted for.QEII and QE2 At Trafalgar Celebration
June 28: HM Queen Elizabeth II, on board ice patrol ship ENDURANCE, will review the fleet in the Solent as 112 warships from around the world gather for the biggest British naval review in four decades. Celebrating the 200th anniversary of the battle of Trafalgar, the liner QUEEN ELIZABETH 2 is also on hand. More than 30,000 sailors from 43 countries are participating and this will be the final appearance of two Falklands veterans, the carrier INVINCIBLE and destroyer CARDIFF, before they are decommissioned.In a new battle, passengers on the QE2 who expected grandstand views of the Trafalgar 200 celebrations were livid that she was anchoring some thousand yards farther from the fleet than originally planned. Cunard Line announced that the Captain decided to anchor in deeper water. Unhappy passengers reportely signed a petition to the captain after they were told the ship would now be almost three miles from the review.
Other non-naval ships attending the review are: TS KALIAKRA, MV BALMORAL, TS SCHOONER, MV SHIELDHALL, TS SCHOONER, LA RECOUVRANCE, MV JOHN JERWOOD (SCC), MV LEOPARDESS, MV PRINCESS CAROLINE, TS ASGARD II, MV SAND HARRIER, TS MERCEDES, MV RED JET 4, TS EUROPA, MV RED EAGLE, MV SEVERN CLASS, MV PATRICIA, TS SORLANDET, MV LEANDER, TS MLODZIEZY, MV POLESTAR, MV PHAROS, TS POGORIA, TS MIR, MV SILVER CLOUD, TS PRIDE OF BALTIMORE, MV BRITISH MERLIN, TS GRAND TURK, CS SOVEREIGN, SLOOP PICKLE, MV CUSTOMS LAUNCH, TS BESSIE ELLEN, TS ROYALIST, HMS MEDUSA, TS LORD NELSON, TUG CHALLENGE, TS TENACIOUS, MV RESEARCH VESSEL, TS PRINCE WILLIAM, FPV NORNA, TS MATTHEW, MV JC ROSS, TS EARL OF PEMBROKE, ST CATHERINE, TS KASKELOT, ST CLARE, TS PHOENIX, ST FAITH, TS IRIS, TS WILL.
NORWAY Reaches Cape Town
June 28: SS NORWAY was observed in Cape Town today as her tug DE DA refueled for the continuing voyage from Bremerhaven to Port Klang, Malaysia. Maritime Matters thanks Jan-Olav Storli, Chief Officer Safety & SSO of CRYSTAL SYMPHONY, for the update.Bristol Fashion
June 25: Isambard Kingdom Brunel's SS GREAT BRITAIN is reaching the last stages of an £11.3 million restoration which will save her from becoming a rusting hulk and transform her into a lasting monument to Victorian engineering. The campaign to save the ship began with a letter to The London Times in 1967. GREAT BRITAIN, launched in 1843 by Prince Albert, had been languishing in a dry dock in Bristol, England since being famously recovered from a beach in the Falkland Islands in 1970. Rust was destroying her wrought-iron hull, and without radical treatment, the rust could weaken the ship to the point of collapse. Scientists at Cardiff University developed a way to dry her out with giant dehumidifiers. The rest of the vessel, including the cabins and the grand salon, has been restored during the five-year project. The source of much of the moisture was the visiting public. Perspiration was condensing on the hull and reacting with the salt absorbed over years by the iron plates. Scraping and repainting the hull had left it dangerously thin in places, but by removing nearly all of the moisture from the air, the process of corrosion could be halted. The SS Great Britain Trust chose July 19, the date of her original launch and her return, as the date of her relaunch.Visit ss-great-britain.comBERLIN To Saga
June 24: Peter Deilmann's 1980-built BERLIN (ex PRINCESS MAHSURI, BERLIN) is to be renamed SPIRIT OF ADVENTURE when she passes to Saga Cruises, the new owners confirm. In 1986 the ship was lengthened by 65 feet to her current 452 feet. The 9,570 gt BERLIN was featured in the German television series "Das Traumschiff" a version of US TVs "the Love Boat".Reluctant RITA
June 22: RITA, (ex WINDSOR CASTLE, MARGARITA L) missing from the line up at Alang, apparently broke down off the Indian coast near Dwarka, some 300 miles from her destination. If her fuel line can be reattached, she will proceed under her own power; if not, she will be towed to the beach within days.KRONPRINS HARALD Scrapped
June 20: MEDOUSA, the 1961-built former KRONPRINS HARALD, has gone to be scrapped in Turkey. The stylish ferry was sold to Vietnam in 1974 and later renamed HA LONG. In 1979 she was renamed THONG NHAT, and in 1991 she was sold to a company in Valetta (Malta) and renamed PANAGIA, in 1996 she was renamed AL SAFA and in 1997 she took her final name, MEDOUSA. In 2003, the ship was arrested and ended her days at the breakers yard in Aliaga, arrving on May 24, 2005.JEWEL Out Of The Box
June 12: NCL's NORWEGIAN JEWEL was backed out of the gargantuan covered shipbuilding dock at Meyerwerft on the River Ems this morning in Germany. Her delivery date is in August, and after a series of Caribbean voyages she will return to the Mediterranean sailing on 7- and 12-night cruises from Barcelona, Istanbul and Piraeus. The NORWEGIAN DREAM will also be based in Europe.Semester At Sea
June 11: According to their website, the Institute for Shipboard Education and the University of Pittsburgh reached an agreement under which the University will continue to certify academic credit for participation in Semester at Sea until the spring 2006 semester. This agreement will mean that all upcoming voyages will continue as scheduled. A statement on their website reagarding recent news reports stated:"The MV EXPLORER is our current floating campus for Semester at Sea. ISE acquired this vessel in June of 2004 to replace the 48 year-old S.S. Universe Explorer. While the S.S. Universe Explorer served Semester at Sea well since 1996, it was reaching the end of its useful life and has since been sold for scrap. The MV Explorer was built in 2002 by Blohm and Voss (www.blohmvoss.com), a well respected German shipbuilding company. It is equipped with the latest technology related to navigation, fire safety, speed and many other attributes, which make it an exceptional vessel for shipboard education. The vessel is currently managed by V.Ships (www.vships.com), one of the largest and widely recognized fleet management companies in the world. The technical quality and safety specifications of the MV Explorer are certified by Germanischer Lloyd (www.gl-group.com), an independent and impartial classification society established in 1867. Additionally, the ship is subject to regular, required inspections by the U.S. Coast Guard and its flag state authority".
"This past January, the MV EXPLORER encountered severe weather in the North Pacific Ocean during our spring 2005 semester. The ship was damaged when a wave impacted the navigational bridge, breaking a window and causing disruption to the ship's navigational equipment. Due to the damage that was sustained and the on-going severity of the weather, the MV EXPLORER diverted to Hawaii for repairs. Upon completion of repairs and required inspections and certifications, the program continued successfully on its around the world voyage".
In light of this incident, ISE retained the services of Det Norske Veritas (www.dnv.com), a renowned Norwegian company with an impeccable reputation in the shipping industry, to inspect the ship and conduct a full evaluation of the circumstances around the incident. In their final assessment, DNV reported that the MV EXPLORER, "in light of the severity of the weather it encountered, performed better than any ship of her class." Based on their recommendations, modifications have been made to the ship that include, among others, reinforcement of the metal framing and windows on the navigational bridge. The improvements further enhance the MV Explorer's seaworthiness and suitability as our shipboard campus for many years to come".
Safety also plays an integral part in the planning of our itineraries and the in-country experiential field programs that we offer. Our decision to visit any country is based on a comprehensive risk analysis that includes regular consultation with the U.S. State Department and their regional security officers. We also rely on the risk assessment services of iJET (www.ijet.com), a well established global risk management consulting firm, as well as information from local agents with whom we have long-standing relationships. Based on current information from these sources, we are prepared at any time to alter our itinerary if the need arises".
The Institute for Shipboard Education will seek to establish a relationship with a new academic partner.
QUEEN MARY Fireworks Cancelled
June 11: The traditional Fourth of July fireworks show at the QUEEN MARY in Long Beach, CA has been canceled after 21 years. The display was called off because the City of Long Beach has demanded that the QUEEN MARY pay US$70,000 up front for fire department and police to handle crowds who watch the show from the beach. Joseph Prevratil, president of the RMS Foundation and Queen's Seaport Development Inc. said, "I can see paying for fire protection for our area, but I could not see why I have to pay for fire and police along the beach," The show draws traditionally brings thousands of residents and visitors to the beaches, Bluff Park and other vantage points. Previously the city and QUEEN MARY split cost of the fireworks show. The Fourth of July is the QUEEN MARY's second-busiest holiday, second only to the haunted ship attractions at Halloween.More Than Repainting For BLACK WATCH
June 11: Fred Olsen's 1971-built BLACK WATCH (ex ROYAL VIKING STAR, WESTWARD, STAR ODYSSEY) is undergoing a major refit at the German shipyard of Blohm and Voss in Hamburg. The ship is being re-engined with a total of four new engines, four exhaust boilers and two gearboxes. New control systems and propeller blades designed to reduce noise and vibration have also been fitted along with two auxiliary engines. Additionally, 14 suites with balconies, are being created while existing cabins will be upgraded some with new balconies. BLACK WATCH is due to return to service on June 23 with a short cruise to Guernsey and Amsterdam.Pitt. Stops Sponsoring Semester At Sea
June 8: Five months after a rogue wave struck the MV EXPLORER in northern Pacific waters, rattling 700 students and disabling the ship, the University of Pittsburgh has decided to end its over twenty year sponsorship of the Semester at Sea program. In addition to concern over the use of the EXPLORER (ex OLYMPIC EXPLORER, OLYMPIA EXPLORER) which has not proven to be a comfortable sea boat in severe weather conditions, a scheduled port call in Kenya despite US State Department warnings helped prompt the University of Pittsburgh's withdrawal.PRIDE OF AMERICA Delivered
June 7: NCL America took delivery of its U.S.-flagged flagship, the 81,000 gt PRIDE OF AMERICA today. The POA sailed from the Lloyd Werft shipyard in Bremerhaven, where it had sunk at its berth in January 2004, necessitating lengthy repairs. The 2,138-passenger PRIDE OF AMERICA is expected in New York for a June 17 naming ceremony, skipping an earlier planned stop in Dover. The reason for dropping the call at Dover was cited as lack of "ship readiness" rather than "crew tiredness" as had delayed NCL America's PRIDE OF ALOHA introduction in San Francisco in June 2004. After the debue in New York the ship will continue to Hawaii.R.I.P. RED and RITA
June 7: RED BOAT (ex EUGENIO C, EUGENIO COSTA, EDINBURGH CASTLE, SS THE BIG RED BOAT II) finally arrived at the Alang shipbreaking anchorage after a long, troubled voyage from Freeport via the Suez Canal on Friday, 3 June. RITA (ex WINDSOR CASTLE, MARGARITA L) is nearing the beach after a slow voyage from Eleusis via the Suez Canal. Both ships will likely be beached by month's end when the high tides return to Alang.Court Ruling On ADA
June 6: The U.S. Supreme Court, settling conflicting opinions from lower courts, has narrowly ruled that foreign flag cruise ships must abide by Title III of the "Americans with Disabilities Act" when plying U.S. waters. The court indicated that modifications for disabled passengers could be made where barrier removal is "readily achievable". The ruling involves a class action suit filed against Norwegian Cruise Line in 2000. A lawyer for NCL said the court had issued a "very favourable ruling that will ensure it is not going to have to retrofit ships, which is the thing that most concerned the industry."PRIDE OF AMERICA Delivered
June 7: NCL America took delivery of its U.S.-flagged flagship, the 81,000 gt PRIDE OF AMERICA. The POA will soon leave the Lloyd Werft shipyard in Bremerhaven, where it had sunk at its berth in January 2004, necessitating lengthy repairs. The 2,138-passenger PRIDE OF AMERICA is expected in New York for a June 17 naming ceremony, skipping an earlier planned stop in Dover. The reason for dropping the call at Dover was cited as lack of "ship readiness" rather than "crew tiredness" as had delayed NCL America's PRIDE OF ALOHA introduction in San Francisco in June 2004.Balconies of the CENTURY
June 4: When Celebrity's CENTURY goes in to drydock in spring 2006, she will have 314 new balconies clamped to the ship's sides at a cost of about $55 million. The goal is to bring the ship in line with Celebrity's newest builds, the Millennium-class ships. Other internal changes will also update the vessel.Princesses Sail South
June 3: Princess Cruises will send two ships, the GOLDEN PRINCESS and the PACIFIC PRINCESS, to South America late next year for the 2006-2007 winter season in a first two-ship South America program.The Liner Is Lingering
June 2: Reports from United Arab Emirates inform us RITA (ex WINDSOR CASTLE, MARGARITA L) has been lying off Kalba on the Gulf of Oman in the Arabian Sea for two to three weeks, stirring up interest amongst British expats who recognize the ship from her heyday as the Union-Castle flagship. RITA, enroute to India for demolition, awaits an upturn in steel prices in a depressed scrap market. All indications are that scrap prices will remain low or possibly drop even further for the immediate future.RICKY's Rejection?
June 2: The Indian Supreme Court has recommended that the former Danish train ferry KONG FREDERICK IX be "driven out" of Indian waters and that an investigation to identify those responsible for the ship's illegal delivery be conducted. Meanwhile, permission to beach the ship at Alang was given, so she will have to be dragged back out to sea, repaired and sent back to Denmark for removal of onboard toxins.Phoenix POLARIS To Sail Again?
June 1: In what seems to be astoundingly ambitious news, word from Japan is that the MS SCANDINAVIA, the 1927-built yacht-like former deluxe cruise ship STELLA POLARIS, is to proceed to Shanghai for a refurbishment and return to active Caribbean cruise service. Her new owners, Ranty, a British Virgin Islands based company, have not given further details as to what type of refit is to be done, how the ship will comply with new SOLAS regulations, and what type of new engines she will sport. Their first challenge will be to get the dowager liner out of her Izu, Japan, moorings and safely to Shanghai. Plans are to have her towed as early as July 2005. Of the four other bidders, one Norwegian concern that had hoped to bring the ship back to Norway for preservation, had intended to transport the ship via barge, taking into account that the former STELLA POLARIS has not been dry-docked in over 35 years and knowing that bringing her in direct contact with the high seas would be extremely risky.Future For MV XANADU 2?
June 1: News from California indicates the XANADU 2 (ex WAPPEN VON HAMBURG, DELOS, POLAR STAR, PACIFIC STAR, XANADU, FAITHFUL) has been sold to an England-based Saudi doctor who intends to refurbish her as a private yacht. If, indeed, this comes to pass, she will make a magnificent yacht and we wish her new owners well with this new venture. For a history and tour of the ship, click here.Click here for SHIPPING NEWS from January - May 2005
