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SHIPPING NEWS 2007 September - November

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The compiler of the shipping news disclaim all liability for any loss, damage or expense however caused, arising from the reading, sending, receipt, or use of this website communication and on any reliance placed upon the information provided through this free service and does not guarantee the completeness or accuracy of the information. Maritime Matters, Martin Cox or Peter Knego cannot be held responsible for its accuracy or for any action taken as a result of content or any other web page or email communication herein.

Alang Update
November 30: Reports from Alang indicate the following: BLUE LADY has been purged of many of her removable fittings, and, in typical breaking tradition, the very point of her marvelous bow has been snipped off, even though the ship remains in basically the same position she was last September and no other structural demolition has begun; ANASTASIS is missing her long, graceful bow, largely stripped, and cutting will soon begin on her superstructure; clearance is being awaited for EGNATIA III's scrapping; and, new controversy has arrived with the recently beached ferry AL ARABIA (ex AQUABA EXPRESS) which left Spain under false pretenses of being refurbished in Romania, and is reportedly full of toxic substances not permitted for disposal outside of the EU in disregard of Basel Convention regulations.

NTSB Update
November 30: The National Transport Safety Board has uploaded a detailed and illustrated Marine Accident Brief entitiled; Boiler Rupture on Bahamian Cruise Ship S/S NORWAY Port of Miami, Florida.

EXPLORER Clean Up
November 29: While are no obvious answers about who is responsible for dealing with the environmental damage, the Chilean Navy has sent an icebreaker to disperse the slick left by the Liberian registered, Canadian owned MV EXPLORER that sank in the Antarctic Ocean. The EXPLORER sank after striking an iceberg in some 1,500 meters of water (4,921 feet). All passengers and crew were rescued and it is estimated that her tanks are holding 48,000 gallons of marine diesel fuel.

DAWN Under
November 24: With cruise growth in Australia at an all-time high, Princess Cruises has announced the deployment of the 77,000 gt MV DAWN PRINCESS to join her twin sister, SUN PRINCESS, year round. Originally, the DAWN was to spend five months based in Sydney from November 2008, returning to the U.S. in April of 2009. Now the ship will stay in the region full time, including a 103 day cruise around the world, reportedly the longest round trip voyage ever undertaken from Australia.

QUEEN VICTORIA Visited
Vice President / Chief Naval Architect, Carnival Corporate Shipbuilding (and chief designer of QM2), Mr Stephen Payne, OBE, quoted at the delivery of QUEEN VICTORIA, told Maritimematters, "Although I never had the privilege of seeing or even sailing on Cunard's legendary green goddess CARONIA (1949), I can only imagine that the magnificence of the new QUEEN VICTORIA makes her a worthy successor, well placed to perpetuate the grand style of ocean voyaging".

An interior photograph by Mr. Payne can be found on the SHIPPING NEWS photos page.

Moving MILWAUKEE CLIPPER -- Donations Needed
November 25: One of just a handful of recent preservation success stories needs a little bit of help to commence her next stage of existence. Since December 3, 1997, the 1904-built, 361 foot SS MILWAUKEE CLIPPER (ex JUNIATA, MILWAUKEE CLIPPER, CLIPPER) has been at Muskegon, Michigan, undergoing a lengthy refurbishment and return to her former glory after years of layup and neglect. Saved from the scrappers by the Milwaukee Clipper Preservation, Inc and manned by a volunteer crew at the ship's current resting place, Andrie Dock, the MILWAUKEE CLIPPER is now ready to be transferred to her future home (and former berth during her many years of service crossing from Muskegon to Milwaukee). $200,000.00 USD is needed to hook up proper water, sewage and power lines to the ship as well as build ramps to meet city codes. Then, the ship can open officially as a museum and venue for receptions, dances, and other events. For more information, please go to www.milwaukeeclipper.com (SS MILWAUKEE CLIPPER Preservation, Inc., P.O. Box 1370, Muskegon, MI 49443-1370). All donations are tax deductible.

Delivering The Newest QUEEN
November 24: A high profile handover ceremony accompanied today's delivery of Cunard's new QUEEN VICTORIA at Fincantieri's Marghera yard near Venice, Italy. The event was attended by the Italian Prime Minister, Romano Prodi and the Under Secretary of State for the UK Department of Transport, Jim Fitzpatrick, MP. An invited audience was treated to an all day performance of the Band of the Scots Guards on board.

The QUEEN VICTORIA will sail for Southampton on November 30, arriving at 9:30 AM December 7. After introductory festivities in Southampton, the ship will be named by HRH The Duchess of Cornwall (who will be accompanied by HRH The Prince Of Wales) on Monday, December 10. At 5:00 PM, the newest (and second largest ever) Cunarder will depart under a spectacular fireworks display on Tuesday, December 11.

MAXIM-ized?
November 24: In extremely sad news, Phoenix Seereisen has confirmed that the 1969-built, 25,000 gt MAXIM GORKIY (ex HAMBURG, HANSEATIC) will be withdrawn from service on November 30, 2008. The rest of the turbine steamship's scheduled program, including a world cruise in 2009, has been cancelled. MAXIM GORKIY is reportedly just too expensive to operate with fuel prices at an all-time high. It is not yet known if another charterer will be sought or if the ship is to be sold by her current owners, Sovcomflot.

MV EXPLORER Sunk
November 23: MV EXPLORER (ex LINDBLAD EXPLORER, SOCIETY EXPLORER) has now sunk, twenty hours after striking submerged ice in the Antarctic Ocean. All passengers and crew transferred to another vessel. (See below).

MV EXPLORER at 45 Degrees
November 23: MV EXPLORER (ex LINDBLAD EXPLORER, SOCIETY EXPLORER) is sinking off Argentina's coast in the Antarctic Ocean after striking an iceberg. Radio reports give the ship little chance of surviving. All persons are on board nearby NORDNORGE. See below.

Passenger Ship Strikes Iceberg, All Saved - Updated
November 23: At approximately 1:48AM (local time) a distress call was made by 1969-built, expedition ship MV EXPLORER (ex LINDBLAD EXPLORER, SOCIETY EXPLORER) sinking in the Antarctic Ocean in Bransfield Strait off King George Island, after striking an iceberg. Passengers and crew we put in to the boats while the captain and an officer stayed on board to man the pumps. After a few hours of freezing temperatures the 11,386 gt NORDNORGE arrived and eventually all 154 passengers and crew (inclucing those who had stayed behind) were safely taken on board. Lindblad Expeditions 1966-built NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC ENDEAVOUR (ex CALEDONIA STAR) also arrived at the scene at the same time as NORDNORGE. By then, the 2,393 gt MV EXPLORER had taken on a 30 degree list to starboard. Passengers had embarked at Ushuaia, on Argentina's southern tip, on November 11 for a 19-day "Spirit of Shackleton" cruise through the Drake Passage. A representative for Gap Adventures, said: "The hull has a hole the size of a fist and the outlook is not so positive for the ship at the moment." The 246-foot passenger vessel was the first to navigate the North West passage in 1984.

RAZZ Out
November 22: It appears as though the startup of RAZZMATAZZ (ex BREMERHAVEN, STELLA MARIS II, VIKING BORDEAUX, MADAGASCAR) has been shelved completely. Apparently, a sale to Razzmatazz Ocean Cruises by the ship's owners could not be concluded, forcing the cancellation of a previously-announced season of cruises from Durban.

Restless In Rhodos?
November 19: Caspi Cruise Line's arrested DREAM (ex SONG OF NORWAY) came loose from her moorings and went adrift in Rhodes harbor yesterday. Quick intervention by the coast guard and three tugs averted collision with other ships in port. The DREAM is currently manned by a skeleton crew as reports of the ship's possible sale to another operator have begun to circulate. The DREAM was detained in Rhodes after 3000 tons of waste accumulated in the ship's tanks, causing her to take on a 10 degree list. The cruise was aborted and her passengers were eventually flown back to Israel.

NORWAY Investigation Remains Unfinished
November 19: The Northern County Gazette, serving New York State reports on the fact that it is 4 1/2 years after the tragic boiler explosion on SS NORWAY (ex FRANCE) and there is still no conclusion from the NTSB.

A little before 7AM on May 25, 2003, NORWAY's boiler number 23 exploded while the ship was berthed in the port of Miami-Dade, Florida. Eight crew were killed and a further seventeen were injured. The National Transportation Safety Board launched an investigation. In 2005 during an annual report to the US Congress, the NTSB reported that the investigation "was ongoing" with a focus on "adequacy of the maintenance, repair, and inspection of the boilers". This was reportedly the last public mention of the NORWAY investigation and no final report has been issued. For detailed Northern Gazette article please go to www.northcountrygazette.org/news/2007/11/25/norway_report. Click here for SS NORWAY on Maritime Matters.

Newest Darling Of The Depths
November 17: At 12:35 PM CST, with distinctive cigar-shaped funnel removed and holes cut into her chocolate-colored hull, the USTS TEXAS CLIPPER (ex USS QUEENS, EXCAMBION) was reefed 17 miles off South Padre Island, Texas. The ship was moved into position late yesterday afternoon from her Brownsville berth after a weather front incurred a two day delay from the scheduled date of 15 November. As early as Monday, divers are expected to begin their visits to this new undersea attraction, which will eventually become a home to sea life. Click here for photos of her sinking by Earl Nottingham, from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

CROWN Stretched To BALMORAL
November 17: Fred. Olsen took delivery of the 1988-built NORWEGIAN CROWN (ex CROWN ODYSSEY) on November 5 in New York. The ship is being cut in half today at Blohm + Voss Repair GmbH, in Hamburg, Germany, prior to inserting a new 100-foot midsection, adding 350 berths. After her refurbishment is completed, she will enter service on January 30, 2008 as BALMORAL of Fred. Olsen Line. Her first cruise, a 14-night Canary Islands voyage, will depart Dover, UK. The ship will then reposition to Miami, FL, becoming the first Fred. Olsen vessel homeported in the US. At 43,000 gt BALMORAL will be the largest ship in the Fred. Olsen fleet, accommodating 1,348 passengers.

Green Light for HAWAII SUPERFERRY
November 17: A judge in Hawaii says he is bound by legislation to reverse his earlier injunction against the inter-island Superferry's operators. The ferry service was suspended last August after the Coast Guard could not guarantee a safe passage for the 350-foot HAWAII SUPERFERRY in and out of Nawiliwili Harbor on Kauai. Environmental protesters on surf boards blocked the vessel from docking over the operator's failure to obtain an environmental impact report before launching the service. The environmental assessment is now complete and HAWAII SUPERFERRY could soon offer car and passenger service linking Oahu, Maui and Kauai. Superferry CEO John Garibaldi says the service should resume in a couple of weeks.

Submerged Object Raised, Ship Renamed - Updated
November 17: The Army Corps of Engineers have removed a 40-foot long 14-foot wide obstruction from the Intracoastal Waterway in Virginia, which had ripped a long hole in the hull of the 102-passenger SPIRIT OF NANTUCKET on November 8. The unidentified wooden object was 8-feet below the surface and its removal has allowed the channel to reopen to traffic. Officials are investigating the identity and origin of the 40-ton barge-like objectÊ(it has also been descibed as a "a whale-shaped bundle of wood of great age") which may have only been at that location for less than a week before the accident, . Meanwhile, SPIRIT OF NANTUCKET has been moved to Colonna's Shipyard in Norfolk for repair. After repair, the ship will relocate to Seatlle, WA for the 2008 season and will be renamed SPIRIT OF GLACIER BAY.

BUSAN Spill Website
November 16: A website covering aspects of the oil spill from COSCO BUSAN in San Francisco Bay has been set up a www.coscobusanincident.com

Afloat Another Day
November 16: Due to a cold front generating 11 foot seas, the sinking of the CLIPPER has been postponed yet again. No set date or time has been announced. For constant updates, please call: 1-800-792-1112, (in the US) then 9, then 8830# to hear the Texas Clipper Sinking Information line recorded message for updates as more information becomes available. This line will remain operational until the ship is on the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico.

MAURETANIA Anniversary
November 16: 7:30PM GMT today will mark the 100 year anniversary of Cunard Line's MAURETANIA sailing from Liverpool on her maiden voyage, bound for New York.

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Tanker Captured By Pirates, Crew Member Escapes
November 15: A crew member from the Japanese owned, Panama-registered chemical tanker GOLDEN NORI that was hijacked by pirates off the Somali coast on October 28 apparently escaped and was rescued after spending two days at sea. The 1996-built vessel was hijacked with 23 crew members on board. The USS PORTER had been in pursuit, opening fire and sinking the pirate skiffs tied to the stern of the tanker, then the guided-missile destroyer USS ARLEIGH BURKE took over shadowing the hijacked vessel. After the shots were fired it was then discovered that the GOLDEN NORI was carrying with highly flammable benzene. The International Maritime Bureau has urged all freighters to stay away from the lengthy Somalia coastline.

RAZZMATAZZ Hullabaloo
November 15: Disappointing news from Durban indicates the MV RAZZMATAZZ is still entangled in legal snafus even after the previously announced delay of her planned startup from August 31 to November 2. The ex BREMERHAVEN, STELLA MARIS II, VIKING BORDEAUX, MADAGASCAR remains technically under arrest at Durban and unable to commence her cruising program. Full refunds have been promised to passengers on cancelled sailings.

CLIPPER Sinking Delayed A Day
November 15: The scheduled sinking of the SS CLIPPER (ex USS QUEENS, EXCAMBION, TEXAS CLIPPER) has been delayed a day until November 16 due to severe weather.

REGAL EMPRESS Scores 98!
November 15: A recent USPH inspection rated the 1953-built REGAL EMPRESS (ex OLYMPIA, CARIBE, CARIBE I) an excellent score of 98 and the following quote from Imperial Majesty Cruise Line's president, Martin Salzedo, "The inspector noted that a rating of 98 on a 52 year old ship is like 100 on a new ship."

Additionally, sources at Imperial Majesty claim the company's new website, (Imperial Majesty Cruises) has received more hits than NCL, Holland America and Celebrity Cruises, resulting in a 70 percent increase in retail cabin bookings.

MONARCH To PRINCESS
November 13: The sturdy, handsome, 1955-built MV OCEAN MONARCH (ex PORT SYDNEY, AKROTIRI EXPRESS, DAPHNE, SWITZERLAND) has been sold by Majestic Cruise Lines to Portuguese-based Classic International Cruises. The low density, 432-berth ship will be renamed PRINCESS DAPHNE and will be reunited with her former sister PRINCESS DANAE (ex PORT MELBOURNE, DANAE, etc.), which is currently sailing for Classic International Cruises. In 2008, the OCEAN MONARCH was scheduled to sail for German operator Hansa Kreuzfahrten. The charter is still "on" but it remains to be seen what name the ship will operate under as preliminary advertisements show her sailing as OCEAN MONARCH.

Dake's List updated
November 12: Dake's List: New cruise ships on order, has been updated today, please click here.

CopperDAM Blog, Part Two:
November 12: Click here for Part two of Peter Knego's Cruising With Uncommon Journeys from Mazatlan to San Diego Via Holland America Line's MV OOSTERDAM.

REGAL DAWNs in the PACIFIC
November 9: Princess Cruises' former REGAL PRINCESS was renamed in a lavish ceremony at Circular Quay in Sydney, Australia. Cathy Freeman, a former Olympic Gold Medalist, broke the traditional bottle of champagne and renamed the 70,000 gt ship, PACIFIC DAWN. A giant light projection show on the hull was a highlight of the event. Under the banner of P&O Cruises Australia, the vessel left on it's maiden voyage the following day. PACIFIC DAWN is being billed as Australia's first SuperLiner. P&O is celebrating 75 years of cruising, noting that 2 million Australian passengers have embarked in that time. The Australian cruising market has grown with over 100,000 sailing in 2007 alone.

SPIRIT OF NANTUCKET Aground
November 8: Cruise West's 102-passenger SPIRIT OF NANTUCKET was deliberately run aground this morning by her captain after she began taking on water in the Intracoastal Waterway off Virginia. The US Coast Guard and police and fire units began transferring the 66 passengers and crew to Coast Guard boats. SPIRIT OF NANTUCKET was on a 10-day cruise from Alexandria, Virginia, to Charleston, South Carolina, when she collided with a submerged object. No injuries have been reported.

Rare Collision between Container Ship and SF-Oakland Bay Bridge
November 7: In unusually heavy morning fog, the 810-foot-long, 2001-built container ship COSCO BUSAN ran into the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, spilling 58,000 gallons of fuel. The ship had a pilot on board outbound from Oakland to South Korea. The slick caused the closure of several beaches and has threatened shorebirds, seals and other marine mammals. The US Coast Guard said eight oil-skimming boats were on site cleaning up the slick, which has spread past the Golden Gate. Hanjin Shipping's 65,131-ton COSCO BUSAN collided with a steel and concrete barrier that protects the suspension bridge's second tower west of Yerba Buena Island about 8:30AM and tore a 160 foot long gash about 10 feet above the water line on the port side. Authorities reported that the bridge piling was not damaged. .

The fuel-oil slick has reached eight beaches and parks: Muir Beach, Kirby Cove, Rodeo Beach, Black Sand Beach, Baker Beach, Crissy Field, China Beach and Fort Point. The last major oil spill in the San Francisco Bay occurred in 1996, when 10,000 gallons spilled from a ship in a repair facility.

SEA DIAMOND Sinking Investigation
November 5: Press reports were circulating today that Louis Hellenic Cruise Line, operators of the SEA DIAMOND (ex BIRKA PRINCESS) that sank in April killing two passengers, now blames an error in the official maps of the region. The 142-meter SEA DIAMOND hit a volcanic reef near Santorini on April 5 and sank hours later. Two French passengers we lost while the rest of the 1,154 passengers (mostly Americans) and 391 crew were saved in a three-hour rescue operation.

Louis Hellenic commissioned a survey of the seabed in the area of the tragedy and found rocks that the pierced the ship's hull were not on official charts. The rocks appear to have been 57 meters closer to the ship than the charts indicated.

In June, Greece fined the Cypriot-owned operator the equivalent of US$1.58 million for polluting the Aegean Sea.

CopperDAM Blog, Part One: El Paso to Mazatlan
November 5: Click here for Part one of Peter Knego's Uncommon Journey's Train Ride Through The Copper Canyon, Mexico, with return via Holland America Line's MV OOSTERDAM..

Alang Update:
October 30: Sadly, but not unexpectedly, cutting of ANASTASIS (ex VICTORIA) has begun. After being stripped of her fittings and being dragged closer to shore, the ANASTASIS is now missing a portion of her bow. BLUE LADY (ex NORWAY) continues to be stripped of her removable furnishings only. The actual breaking process has not begun. The Knud E. Hansen-designed former HML ferry EGNATIA III has also now arrived at Alang/Sosiya.

MAL-Adjusting?
October 30: Seattle-based Majestic America Line (MAL) is experiencing a number of challenges with the resignation of president David Giersdorf (effective December 31), the cancellation of nine cruises on the EMPRESS OF THE NORTH (to repair the vessel's propulsion system), and the protracted refurbishment of the MISSISSIPPI QUEEN (which has been gutted and is laying at a shipyard awaiting renovation).

Giersdorf will be replaced by Joe Ueberroth, currently chairman and CEO of Ambassadors, Majestic's parent company. Meanwhile, the QUEEN OF THE WEST will return from seasonal lay up to assume the larger EMPRESS' program.

Additionally, a grass roots effort to keep the DELTA QUEEN in service beyond her previously announced retirement date in 2008 has begun.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC EXPLORER
October 20: Lynblad Expeditions has announced its acquisition of a seventh ship, the former Hurtigrute vessel LYNGEN (1983/6,100 gt), which will be extensively refitted and renamed NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC EXPLORER. The ice-class polar expedition ship will feature multiple dining venues, a spa and special lounge with facilities for educational presentations.

Movement To Save The DELTA QUEEN Underway!
October 20: A new movement has commenced to persuade Congress to continue the historic steamboat DELTA QUEEN's exemption from current SOLAS regulations for ten more years. Ohio Congressman Steve Chabot has introduced a stand alone bill, H.R. 3852, co-sponsored by a number of representatives from the boat's heartland (MO, TN, LA, OH, KY, WI). For more information, please go to www.save-the-delta-queen.org

Putting The RAZZ Back In The MATAZZ?
October 20: Word from South Africa is that Ian Powell, owner of Razzmatazz Ocean Cruises, is close to finishing his acquisition of the MV MADAGASCAR (ex BREMERHAVEN, STELLA MARIS II) which he plans to operate as the RAZZMATAZZ. The ship's debut was pushed back from this past August to November. Although our attempts to reach Mr. Powell have gone unanswered, we wish him much success with this last surviving ship of the celebrated Sun Line and hope that he will reconsider gutting her classic Nino Zoncada-designed Midcentury Modern interiors (which are now more in "fashion" than ever).

BLUE LADY And ANASTASIS Stripping
October 20: The BLUE LADY (ex FRANCE, NORWAY) is, indeed, being stripped of her removable fittings and furnishings, following the Indian Supreme Court's ruling that the breaking process can commence. Cutting has not commenced and will not likely be possible until the ship is lightened and moved closer to her demolition plot at Sosiya/Alang.

Meanwhile, ANASTASIS (ex VICTORIA) has been dragged closer to shore and removal of her fittings and furniture is well underway. Cutting is imminent.

More And More Costa!
October 20: The Carnival empire continues to expand with its Costa Crociere division, the biggest cruise line in Italy and Europe, with a 1 billion euro order for two new 114,200-gt, 3,780 passenger ships (based on the CONCORDIA blueprint, part of the common platform Carnival CONQUEST series) to be built at Fincantieri's Marghera (Venice) and Sestri Ponente (Genova) yards to delivered in 2011 and 2012. Costa currently has three ships under construction and a fleet of twelve ships currently in service.

EURODAM Blog and QUEEN VICTORIA Progress
October 20: Fincantieri's enhanced Carnival-owned Vista-class common platform newbuildings are well underway. Cunard's QUEEN VICTORIA and her near cousin, Holland America's EURODAM are fitting out at the Marghera and Maestre yards near Venice. The QUEEN VICTORIA completed her sea trials in late September. Her Southampton christening is scheduled for December 10 while the EURODAM is scheduled for completion in June of 2008. Both ships are evolved and expanded versions of Holland America's Vista class blueprint. For the latest news and to see photos of the EURODAM in progress, please go to: http://www.eurodamnews.com/category/news/

Broken Blog, Part Two
October 18: Click here to read part two of Peter Knego's latest blog about his recent trip to the shipbreaking yards of Alang, India to document the ANASTASIS (ex VICTORIA). Click here for ANASTASIS At Alang, Part Two

Broken Blog, Part One
October 16: Click here to read part one of Peter Knego's latest blog about his recent trip to the shipbreaking yards of Alang, India to document the ANASTASIS (ex VICTORIA). Click here for ANASTASIS At Alang, Part One

TEXAS CLIPPER Reefing Date Set
October 15: The following update has now been released regarding the reefing of the TEXAS CLIPPER: "On November 15 2007, the USTS TEXAS CLIPPER will be reefed 17 nautical miles off Port Isabel / South Padre Island, Texas. Weather permitting, the ship will be towed to the reef site on November 14 and reefed mid-morning on the 15th. TPWD and Resolve Marine Services, Inc. will make a determination to proceed based on weather several days before the 14th. If the weather is not suitable for conducting the reefing on the 15th, we will wait with the ship in Brownsville, Texas until the weather calms. Reefing would then occur on the next suitable day after the 15th. Anyone who wants to view the sinking must understand that a last minute notice for reefing may be issued in the case of a weather delay. Weather forecast must meet the following contractor's rule of thumb to allow for the tow of the ship to the reef site: sea state less than 4ft and winds no greater than 10-15 knots."

Sayonara, SOVEREIGN and Move Over, MONARCH!
October 12: Although it had been known for several days via Pullmantur's recently divulged schedule for 2008, Royal Caribbean International have now announced the transfer of the 1988-built, 73,192 gt SOVEREIGN OF THE SEAS to RCI's Spanish-based Pullmantur Cruises division following her final voyage for RCI on October 31, 2008 (the November 3 and November 7 cruises have been cancelled). Meanwhile, her near sister, the 1990 built 73,937 gt MONARCH OF THE SEAS will reposition from Los Angeles to Port Canaveral to take over SOVEREIGN's three and four night schedule from November 10 onwards, following a transcanal cruise that departs Los Angeles on October 13 and a week's dry docking. No new name has been announced for the SOVEREIGN and no replacement (if there will be one) for the MONARCH has been divulged.

Shipping News Photos Added
October 12: Images of QE2, INDEPENDENCE and ROTTERDAM added to Maritimematters Shipping News Photos page.

CLIPPER Still Awaits Reefing Date
October 11: Work on preparing the 1944-built CLIPPER (ex USS QUEENS, EXCAMBION, TEXAS CLIPPER) has been complete since September 5 and now the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is awaiting clearance from the EPA in order to announce a sinking date. The ship will be sunk in an upright position to become an artificial reef 17 miles off the South Texas coast. All hazardous materials (asbestos and other toxins) have been removed from the vessel, currently at a scrap yard in Brownsville, TX. To enable 50 feet of clearance, her masts and famous cigar-shaped funnel have been cut down.

The Houston Chronicle recently reported that a mural by the late Saul Steinberg was safely recovered from the ship but is now in need of restoration. Steinberg was well-known for his artwork in the New Yorker magazine. The mural, depicting life at sea, was located in the aft bar when the ship was American Export Line's EXCAMBION but was covered up under a mirror and wall paper in 1976 when she was operating as the training ship TEXAS CLIPPER. Its counterparts aboard the other three "Aces" (EXCALIBUR, EXETER, and EXOCHORDA) were destroyed when those ships were demolished in the 1970s and 1980s.

The Steinberg panel was removed via crane and is now in an Austin, Texas warehouse awaiting restoration (with thanks to Dave Dube for the Houston Chronicle mention).

ROTTERDAM Debut Delayed
October 11: The opening of the SS ROTTERDAM as a hotel ship at Rotterdam has been pushed back from March to mid-May of 2008 to allow more time to properly prepare the ship for her new future. The 1959-built liner is undergoing a complete refit at Wilhelmshaven, Germany which has thus far included the coupling of former tourist class cabins into larger units, a great deal of steel work restoration, and stripping to the bare framework of most of her public rooms to allow for new wiring and plumbing as well as removal of asbestos prior to reinstallation of all of her notable vintage features.

Her Keel Shines!
October 10: The keel of Costa Cruise's ship newest ship was laid this week at Fincantieri's Marghera shipyard. To be named COSTA LUMINOSA, the 92,700 gt ship will be delivered in Spring 2009. At 292 meters long, this thirteenth vessel in the Costa fleet will accommodate 2,260 passengers.

QE3!
October 10: Following months of rumors suggesting a third new Cunard "QUEEN" was in the works, Cunard Line announced today that is has ordered a 92,000 gt ship to be named QUEEN ELIZABETH, to be delivered in late 2010. The vessel will be constructed by the Monfalcone, Italy yard of Fincantieri at a cost of approximately $700 million and will be the second largest Cunarder ever built. Her Majesty The Queen (Elizabeth) has already given her blessing to the name of the ship, which will be home-ported in Southampton. Design details will follow shortly, but it is expected that she will be a modified version of near-Vista class cousin, QUEEN VICTORIA.

Hip "It" Ship!
October 4: NCL is holding a contest with its Latitudes (past passengers club) members to determine the Godmother of its newly-completed NORWEGIAN GEM, also dubbed "The It Girl". Members are urged to submit a video to gemitgirl.com. Five finalists will be revealed on November 15, 2007 and the grand prize winner will be announced during the ship's christening ceremony on December 18, 2007 in New York City. In addition to being named Godmother of the GEM, the grand prize winner will also receive a seven day cruise in a Garden Villa suite for her and five guests. The contest will run from October 8 through November 12, 2007.

Windjammer In A Jam
October 4: A Miami man is suing Windjammer Barefoot Cruises for reneging on a deal to give him controlling interest in the company, which is owned by the Burke Family Trust. Jerry Ceder alleges that he advanced $273,000 to Windjammer in July to prevent the company's four sailing ships from being seized by creditors. A month later, Windjammer had reportedly not paid crew members, the ships were in need of maintenance, and provisions were not stocked for crew and passengers. Ceder infused an additional $100,000 in September and is now suing after discovering Windjammer was reportedly negotiating with other parties for an equity interest in the company. In the meantime, the company's vessels are laid up in the Caribbean and Central America with all sailings this week cancelled.

Aliaga-RAMA
October 4: The long saga of the AQUARAMA (ex MARINE STAR) has finally come to an end with reports of the ship's arrival at Aliaga, Turkey for scrapping following a long tow from Buffalo, NY through the St. Lawrence Seaway and into the Atlantic.

ISLAND STAR Evacuated
September 30: All passengers aboard ISLAND STAR (ex HORIZON, CELEBRITY HORIZON) were reportedly evacuated in lifeboats during a storm after a mechanical failure plunged the ship into darkness. The captain decided to end the cruise off the south coast of France, near Nice. Passengers were loaded into tenders during heavy rain with all their luggage left on board the ship. It was reported that the ship first experienced power loss as she sailed from Genoa. During the second power failure, technicians were reportedly flown to the ship, and ISLAND STAR continued on towards Nice. However, the power failed again and the captain called for an emergency evacuation.

Silversea Buys WORLD DISCOVERER
September 25: Silversea Cruises has acquired the 1989-built expedition ship WORLD DISCOVERER (ex SALLY CLIPPER, BALTIC CLIPPER, DELFIN STAR, DREAM 21). Silversea said the ship would undergo a multimillion-dollar refit before entering service in spring 2008. Currently the 6,072-gt ice-strengthened ship holds 175 passengers, however, under Silversea's operation, the vessel will carry 140 passengers in luxury accommodation on Antarctic itineraries.

Restored Ferry Service
September 24: Ferry service was restored between the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and Syria after 29 years. Today, a promotional voyage was operated prior to regularly scheduled services between the port of Gazimagusa (Famagusta) and Latikia in Syria with government officials, businessmen, press, tourism agencies and university students.

ROTTERDAM Report
September 22: As the stately SS ROTTERDAM moves towards her now role in the port of Rotterdam, her owner's website notes that 289 four star staterooms will be available in March 2008. Inside cabins (original, Manhattan and Bahama) start at Euro 95 per room/per night while Luxury Cabins (original) start at Euro 210 per room/per night, some of which are situated on Boat deck and Sun deck and are the former officers cabins. On-line booking is not yet available.

QE2 OPENS TERMINAL ON HER 40TH -- Update (2)
September 21: QUEEN ELIZABETH 2 arrived at LiverpoolÊon her 40th birthday round-UK cruise to officially open the new cruise terminal at Pier Head. The formal ceremony, in the presence of HRH the Duke of Kent, was also attended by UK government ministers, representatives of the developers, Carol Marlow (president & managing director of Cunard Line) and several former captains of QE2 (who were on board as passengers) as well as her present and youngest ever commander, Capt. Ian McNaught.

The terminal, costing £19 million and replacing the famous Princes Stage, which was demolished several decades ago, will enable cruise vessels of up to 350 metres and in excess of 100,000 gt, to berth alongside, rather than anchor in mid-river and use tenders. Liverpool becomes one of the few cities in the world to have such a terminal in its centre. The main bridge to the terminal will be named Cunard Way to commemorate the historic links with the company, dating back to the BRITANNIA of 1840. Although over 30 cruise ship calls are already scheduled for 2008, the terminal does not currently include voyage embarkation facilities.

Other commemorative events during the day included a reception aboard QE2 for local dignitaries and travel industry guests, a spectacular concert at Liverpool Cathedral featuring popular British soprano Lesley Garrett, Scottish tenor Nicky Spence, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and the band of the Royal Scots Guards and a mid-river firework display before QE2 sailed for Southampton in the early hours.

QE2 was not the first cruise ship to use the new stage, that honour going to SEVEN SEAS VOYAGER, which berthed alongside on 9 September, followed by DEUTSCHLAND the next day. (Many thanks to John Williams, WSS, Merseyside Branch for this update)

DREAM Evacuated
September 21: Over 900 passengers were evacuated from the 1970-built DREAM (ex SONG OF NORWAY, SUNDREAM, DREAM PRINCESS) after the 23,000 gt, Bahamas-flagged cruise ship developed a ten-degree list at Rhodes in the Aegean Sea. It was reported that a failed pump caused the ballasting problem, which lead to the extreme list. The list was corrected but the local port authority said the ship will not be allowed to sail until her seaworthiness is established. Her passengers were all given local hotel accommodations.

Record Breaking Passenger Sailing Ship Proposed
September 18: Star Clippers have announced discussions with shipyards for the construction a new 7,400 gt, five-masted vessel (the largest and most expensive sailing ship ever built). The new ship will be modeled on the FRANCE II, which at 5,000 tons was the world's largest sailing ship. The new vessel is proposed at 518 feet long with a 61 foot beam with rigging extending 217 feet above the water. Passenger capacity (double-occupancy) will be 296 with a crew complement of 140. Delivery is expected in 2010.

Court Decides NORWAY's Fate
September 14: After months of delays and speculation the Indian Supreme Court in New Delhi ruled that the 1961-built BLUE LADY (ex SS FRANCE, NORWAY) can be scrapped. The high court rejected claims by environmental groups over asbestos and other hazardous substances within the ship. Click here for recent photograph of NORWAY from passing ship on the SHIPPING NEWS photos page

New French Line
September 13: Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd anounced its expansion in Europe with the launch of a new cruise brand, CDF Croisieres de France, tailored to the French market. The first ship, BLEU DE FRANCE (ex EUROPA, SUPERSTAR AIRES, HOLIDAY DREAM) will begin sailing in May 2008, following a 30 million Euro refit. BLEU DE FRANCE will operate on cruises to the Mediterranean from Marseille. Her winter homeport will be La Romana, Dominican Republic.

EASY Adds Ship
September 11: Easy Cruise announced it will add a second seagoing cruise ship to its operation in 2008. The 460-passenger EASY CRUISE LIFE was built in Poland in 1981 and is currently sailing as the 12,711 gt THE JASMINE (ex LEV TOLSTOY, NATASHA, PALMIRA) for Mano Cruises. EASY CRUISE LIFE will begin a series of cruises in April, sailing to six ports in the Greek islands and including calls in Albania.

QE2 Delayed
September 8: Cunard's QE2 was delayed for 24 hours after she suffered a mechanical fault in the Croatian port of Dubrovnik on September 7. Cunard announced the ship would leave today for Trieste, continuing her two-week cruise from Southampton. QE2 is set to begin her 40th anniversary cruise September 15 from Southampton.

Dubai will be QE2's permanent home as a floating hotel from 2009 at a specially-constructed pier at The Palm Jumeira manmade island.

Spain One, Germany Nil
September 5: Carnival Corporation announced today the launch of a new Spain-based cruise line called Iberocruceros. Carnival will own 75 percent of the new cruise line, which will be based in Madrid. Spain's largest travel company, Orizonia Corpacion, will own the the rest. Carnival's 1,486-passenger CELEBRATION, (based in Jacksonville, FL until April 2008), will be refitted to begin sailing from Spain in mid 2008.

Carnival also announced that it is shelving plans to develop a German cruise brand with another European tour company, citing German regulations too problematic at this time.

MSC Fleet Expansion
September 3: The cutting of the first steel for the MSC MAGNIFICA and the technical float-out of 92,400-ton MSC POESIA occurred at Aker Yards in St. Nazaire, France. The 135,000 gt MSC FANTASIA is also under construction at the yard, delivery date of November 2008.

Northern Blog Added
September 3: Click here for Kaushal's Northern Adventure blog added to MaritimeMatters today.

Twin Funnel Updates
September 1: The latest "final" decision from the Indian Supreme Court regarding the fate of the BLUE LADY (ex FRANCE, NORWAY) at Alang has been postponed from August 30 to September 5. Meanwhile, after her sale by NCL to American or Indian interests (different inside sources vary on this), the OCEANIC (ex INDEPENDENCE) is being prepared for a long overseas tow. There have been reports of activity at her layup berth in China Basin, San Francisco, CA, which means her departure could be very soon. Meanwhile, sources at NCL claim there is no change in status for the laid up SS UNITED STATES, although plans for her conversion to an active cruise ship for the NCLA fleet seem highly unlikely in the current marketplace.

Click here for previous SHIPPING NEWS June - August 2007

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