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Telenor Maritime and Quvia expand partnership to deliver AI-driven connectivity for cruise and ferry

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Products & services Products & services

Published: 26 April 2026 26 April 2026

Telenor Maritime and Quvia are expanding their partnership on AI-driven connectivity optimisation, following a successful Proof of Concept (PoC) that delivered measurable improvements in network performance and passenger experience.

Telenor Maritime delivers end-to-end connectivity solutions to the maritime industry, supporting both passenger and crew services on cruise and ferry vessels. Joint solutions between Telenor Maritime and Quvia are already active on cruise vessels, with the collaboration focused on strengthening how connectivity performance is managed and optimised across these environments.

“Telenor Maritime has been at the forefront of delivering robust and future-proof connectivity solutions to our customers for decades,” says Magnus Müller, CEO of Telenor Maritime. “With Quvia, we are exploring how we can further develop our ability to monitor and manage performance in real time. Our focus is to deliver the best possible experience for passengers and crew on board.”

Quvia’s AI-driven platform adds an intelligent optimisation layer on top of existing connectivity, enabling real-time monitoring and dynamic traMic management. The solutions will address performance, stability, and capacity during high-demand periods, delivering improved eMiciency and a more consistent experience for passengers and crew.

“Building on our experience supporting connectivity at scale across cruise environments, we see ferry operations as the next frontier – where fast-moving, high-density conditions leave little room for disruption,” said Kidsan Barnes, SVP, Cruise & Ferry at Quvia. “With Telenor Maritime, we’re strengthening how connectivity is monitored and optimised in real time – bringing greater continuity to every journey. At the same time, we’re enabling a more robust platform for personalised passenger experiences, while maintaining stability and eMiciency for both passengers and crew.”

The expanded collaboration was formalised during Seatrade Cruise Global in Miami and represents an important milestone in the companies’ ongoing partnership.

Merima invests in the future of the Finnish maritime industry with a new office and logistics centre in Turku

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Products & services Products & services

Published: 24 April 2026 24 April 2026

Merima Oy is investing in the future and operational efficiency by building a dedicated logistics centre and office at a new maritime industry business park near the Meyer Turku shipyard.

Blue Industry Park is Europe's leading maritime and manufacturing industry cluster, taking shape on the Turku shipyard site. The area brings together pioneers from their respective fields, with access to first-class logistics connections.

"Turku is an important hub for us, from which we serve customers around the world. Our new 4,000-square-metre facilities will improve our efficiency and further strengthen long-term collaboration with local and international operators in the Turku region," says Merima CEO Mikko Mäkiranta.

Logistics and seamless workflows at the heart of the new space

Merima is a family-owned company with nearly 40 years of experience and an internationally recognised expert on demanding full-scope maritime projects. The company delivers high-quality newbuild and refurbishment projects for cruise vessels globally, with a focus on the most demanding and complex assignments. Smooth logistics and efficient working days are essential to how Merima operates.

"This move strengthens our ability to serve our customers at an even higher level and creates the conditions for sustainable growth. Our own ways of working and processes need to be in order because we support our clients across the full project lifecycle, from the earliest sketches right through to the final finishing touches, and we also provide ongoing support. The new facilities are being designed to make it easy for people to connect and work even more efficiently," says Mäkiranta.

Azamara Cruises names MJM Marine as outfitting partner for Azamara Quest refit

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Products & services Products & services

Published: 15 April 2026 15 April 2026

Azamara Cruises, the small-ship cruise line celebrated for late nights, overnights, and Destination Immersion, has announced a new partnership with MJM Marine, the specialist marine interior outfitter selected to execute the brand’s upcoming Azamara Forward enhancements aboard Azamara Quest. The collaboration builds on a longstanding relationship between the two companies, following MJM Marine’s previous work on the refit of Azamara Pursuit. Known for delivering complex marine interior projects for some of the world’s leading cruise lines, MJM Marine will once again partner with Azamara Cruises to bring the next phase of the brand’s fleet evolution to life.

Azamara Forward represents the cruise line’s largest fleetwide renovation to date. Designed to thoughtfully elevate the onboard experience while honoring the hallmarks that have long defined the brand, the initiative includes a range of ship-wide enhancements – from refreshed staterooms and redesigned public spaces to new dining concepts and reimagined social venues. Debuting exclusively aboard Azamara Quest is an entirely new Penthouse Deck featuring 12 new suites, marking a significant expansion for the ship.

“This partnership with MJM Marine reflects our commitment to thoughtfully evolving the Azamara Cruises experience while delivering the highest-quality enhancements for our guests,” said Dondra Ritzenthaler, CEO of Azamara Cruises. “Their deep understanding of our brand and our standards made them the natural choice to support the Azamara Forward program. Together, we are excited to bring the next phase of our fleet’s transformation to life, creating new spaces that will deepen connection to both the ship and the destinations our guests explore.”

“We are delighted to continue our relationship with Azamara Cruises on this important project for Azamara Quest,” said Gary Annett, CEO of MJM Marine. “Our previous work together on Azamara Pursuit established a strong foundation upon which to build, and this latest collaboration reflects the trust and confidence between both teams. We look forward to delivering a successful outcome and helping bring Azamara Forward to life.”

Azamara Quest marks the first ship in the fleet to undergo the Azamara Forward enhancements, with Azamara Onward slated to follow in 2027 and updates to Azamara Journey and Azamara Pursuit to be announced at a later date.

VIKING Helix shapes simpler, easier ship evacuation at speed

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Products & services Products & services

Published: 15 April 2026 15 April 2026

A new generation marine evacuation system (MES) from VIKING Life-Saving Equipment offers a faster exit for passengers, simpler operation for crew and easier service for cruise and ferry owners.

Developed for passenger ships needing high evacuation capacity, the VIKING Helix MES introduces a new helix-type slide that 4-8 people can use at once, and a unique bowsing system that keeps life rafts on-side with minimal crew involvement.

Enabling the controlled ship evacuation of up to 477 persons within 30 minutes into 153-person life rafts alongside, the multiple occupancy slide accommodates adults of all sizes. It also allows adults and children to evacuate together, while even stretchers carrying injured persons can be brought into the continuous flow.

“The Helix solution has been designed for operational speed and simplicity, technical efficiency, while the controlled descent of evacuees means they need less crew assistance transferring from the slide to the life raft,” said Alex Kristensen, VP Cruise & Ferry, VIKING Life-Saving Equipment.

Certified for use by DNV, the VIKING Helix supports a wide range of vessel configurations and is especially suited to larger ferries and small to mid-size cruise ships. Installed at heights ranging between 5 and 23 meters, the system requires no welding on the ship side, making integration straightforward into newbuild and retrofit projects.

For heights of up to 12 meters, the VIKING Helix features a patent-pending bowsing system which automatically activates cylinders after raft ballast water bags are filled to maintain position manual bowsing. Bowsing line tightening is the failing most frequently reported in evacuation training.

“Automated bowsing allows the Helix MES to work with trim and list in a working range of 4-29 meters, so that fast and safe evacuation goes ahead even in challenging conditions,” said Kristensen. “Users also avoid the service time and cost needed to reinstall bowsing systems every three years when systems are deployed – as required by SOLAS.”

Harbor trials at the VIKING Testing Center, Esbjerg focused on materials, structural integrity and system behavior, with volunteers of different ages and physical conditions moving through the slide and boarding life rafts. Subsequent heavy-weather sea trials in the North Sea verified performance in waters where wind, waves and motions tested the slide’s movement with a vessel and control over evacuee descent in changing trim and list conditions.

Minimized operational disruption is also designed in to a system which requires service at an authorized service station once every 30 months. “One Helix slide and a 153-person life raft are housed in an enclosed GRP frame which fits into the standard height between two decks and is removed as one unit,” said Kristensen. “Switch-out is straightforward, even during short port stays.”