Vow's subsidiary Scanship secures Euro 3.7 million order for advanced wastewater purification systems

Vow ASA (VOW) has announced that its subsidiary, Scanship, has received a significant order worth Euro 3.7 million. The order entails the delivery of advanced wastewater purification systems for two cruise newbuilds.

This contract represents the exercise of an option for a larger newbuild series at a prominent European shipyard on behalf of a major shipowner. Scanship will be responsible for supplying its cutting-edge wastewater purification system for two ships, ensuring the processing of all grey and black water in compliance with the highest environmental standards set by the industry. The systems will adhere to the effluent standards of the Baltic Sea and Alaska.

The delivery of major equipment supplies is scheduled for 2025 and 2026, respectively.

Further details regarding the shipyard and shipowner involved in this contract will be disclosed at a later stage.

Latest Wärtsilä engine to make its debut powering new French luxury cruise ships

Technology group Wärtsilä will supply its recently introduced Wärtsilä 25DF dual-fuel (LNG) engine for two new sail-assisted luxury cruise ships. The vessels are being built at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique (CdA) shipyard in France for Orient Express Silenseas, part of French hospitality group, Accor. There is an option for an additional two vessels. The order was booked by Wärtsilä in May 2023.

The Wärtsilä 25DF engine is the most efficient and most environmentally friendly marine engine in its power range. It features a two stage turbocharging system, common rail fuel injection, and cylinder wise combustion control. This enables unparalleled power density and efficiency across the full operating range, delivering low fuel consumption and reduced emissions.

“These will be very special cruise vessels and have been designed to operate with a high level of environmental sustainability. For this reason, the Wärtsilä 25DF engine was selected. It is silent, compact in size yet powerful in performance, so it was the perfect choice for these ships,” said Yann Penduff, Chantiers de l’Atlantique Project Manager.

“The Wärtsilä 25DF is an engine that supports the shipping industry’s transition to greater fuel efficiency and a much-reduced carbon footprint. It marks the beginning of a new era of future-proof medium speed, small-bore engines, and comes as an important step towards the maritime industry meeting its decarbonisation goals. We are delighted that it has been selected for these very advanced cruise vessels,” commented Stefan Nysjö, Vice President, Power Supply, Wärtsilä Marine Power.

The full Wärtsilä scope includes for each vessel four Wärtsilä 25DF engines, each developing 2070 kW at 1000 rpm, four gas valve units (GVUs), and four Wärtsilä NOx Reducer (NOR) emission after-treatment systems. The equipment is scheduled for delivery to the shipyard commencing in autumn 2024.

The first of the 220 metre-long vessels will be named the ‘Orient Express Silenseas’. The ships are designed to accommodate approximately 116 passengers.

Icon of the Seas to have 14 brand new Gebr. Heinemann Travel Retail shops onboard

Icon of the Seas, the first ship of the Icon-class will debut in Miami starting from January 2024. Gebr. Heinemann, through its 100% subsidiary Heinemann Americas, Inc., has partnered to operate 14 onboard Travel Retail venues. "Guests aboard Icon will be offered a customized one-of-a-kind retail experience designed for the uniqueness of Icon of the Seas. This introduction of new elements to the cruise retail space, situated across four decks, with customized displays and installations will elevate the high-quality and innovative shopping experience, bringing to life the spectacular assortments comprised of perfume & cosmetics, liquor, tobacco & confectionery, watches & jewelry, fashion apparel, accessories and more," the company said in a statement.

Nicolas Hoeborn, Managing Director of Heinemann Americas, Inc., said: "We are delighted that we can continually extend our trusting partnership with Royal Caribbean, and we look forward to making Icon of the Seas a further flagship of our retail activities. We bring more than 140 years of logistics and retail management experience to the American cruise market and we are dedicated to inspire passengers on the world’s largest luxury liner with our spectacular assortment and an unforgettable shopping experience.”

Fourth Royal Caribbean ship with Gebr. Heinemann on board

As a result of a 2019 tender, this will be the fourth Royal Caribbean ship awarded to the travel retailer, currently operating aboard Wonder of the Seas, Odyssey of the Seas and Independence of the Seas.

Gebr. Heinemann is broadly positioned in the Cruise & Ferries area. As a wholesaler, the company supplies 16 ferry companies with a focus on northern Europe. Worldwide it is a retailer on board 19 cruise ships and supplies 240 cruise ships and ferries.

SES introduces cruise industry’s first integrated MEO-LEO service with Starlink

For the first time ever, cruise operators can now depend on a single managed solution to reap the benefits of low-latency, high-throughput satellite connectivity services that are enabled by integrating Starlink’s low-earth orbit (LEO) and SES’s medium earth orbit (MEO) services, both companies announced this week. The joint offering – SES Cruise mPOWERED + Starlink – seamlessly integrated, sold and delivered by SES – will combine the best of both MEO and LEO orbits to provide high-speed and secure connectivity 24/7 to cruise ships and their guests, regardless of their route and location.

Cruise operators will be able to enjoy SES's new offering that combines the truly global, high- throughput service of Starlink’s LEO system with SES’s unmatched performance MEO constellation to deliver a unique guest and crew experience by expanding existing capacity and reach. The solutions are available in either Premium tier (3Gbps/ship) – for the leading ships who wish to deliver the highest throughput in the industry or Pro tier (1.5Gbps/ship) – for the operators who wish to manage user experience by matching the right application to the right orbit.

As a managed service provider that pioneered multi-orbit geostationary (GEO) and MEO-enabled networks and delivered connectivity services directly to cruise operators for the last 10 years, SES’s partnership with SpaceX’s Starlink to add LEO-based service into its cruise offering, demonstrates a joint commitment to delivering the best customer experience to cruise operators and guests.

Investment in the cruise experience has reached new heights since the COVID-19 pandemic. Cruise operators are pushing technological and innovative boundaries, many of which are reliant on always-on, high-performance connectivity. This need is compounded by the growing expectations of cruise passengers and stakeholders alike to address the sector’s carbon emissions and comply with new maritime regulations, including CII and EEXI.

“At SES, we strive to provide a world-class connectivity experience for our cruise customers and deliver the same level of service they would enjoy on land,” said John-Paul Hemingway, Chief Strategy Officer at SES. “By being the only one in the cruise industry to expand our unique multi- orbit GEO and MEO network to utilise LEO, we believe it opens new opportunities for us to meet the needs of cruise guests and crew members, and the operational requirements of cruise operators to accelerate their digital transformations – wherever they may be.”

“We are excited to collaborate with SES on a joint solution that combines the reach and capacity of both satellite constellations to offer a solution unlike any other in the market,” said Chad Gibbs, SpaceX’s Vice President of Starlink Business Operations.

Available Q4 2023, SES Cruise mPOWERED + Starlink will fulfill the growing demands of cruise lines to deliver a superior guest experience, optimise smart ship operations, and attract and retain the best crew. With its fully managed end-to-end, best-in-industry bandwidth and low-latency performance, the solution will set an entirely new standard for ship connectivity worldwide and minimise upfront capital costs and ongoing operational expenditure.

MJM Marine and De Wave Group partner with Aroya Cruises for outfitting project

A landmark deal has been secured with Aroya Cruises, which will bring together two of the world’s leading outfitting companies. Teams from MJM Marine and De Wave Group, will set about one of the largest cruise ship refurbishment projects to be undertaken within the marine industry in the coming weeks.

MJM Marine's scope of works includes upgrades to all existing cabins and suites and the creation of multiple culinary, retail and relaxation venues onboard the Manara.

"This milestone deal with Aroya Cruises is a testament to the exceptional capabilities of MJM Marine," said Gary Annett, MJM CEO "We are pioneering a fresh era in cruise ship outfitting in which our collaboration will redefine the boundaries of what is possible. Working alongside De Wave Group on this landmark project has allowed two leading industry outfitters to work together for the first time”.

De Wave Group will outfit Manara’s upper deck areas, including new super suites, public areas, and catering areas.

Riccardo Pompili, CEO of De Wave Group, said: “We are excited to face this challenge together with MJM Marine. After the expansion of De Wave Group in established markets such as USA, North Europe and Asia, the Gulf represents the first step in a new market with an enormous development potential for the whole cruise sector. Our groups have been chosen to ensure the attention for details, innovation and high-quality standards that this new market wants to achieve.

Together, both MJM Marine and De Wave Group will refurbish 98% of the guest-facing venues.

The Manara cruise ship, sailing under the Aroya brand, will serve as a melting pot of cultures, presenting an array of venues that reflect the diverse preferences of its guests through a uniquely Arabian experience. From stunning gastronomic adventures to captivating entertainment spaces, the ship will redefine the cruising experience, offering a premium atmosphere unlike any other. The incorporation of efficient technical upgrades will further enhance the ship's performance and sustainability, setting new standards within the industry.