Products & services

Magellan completes maintenance stop at Damen Shiprepair Amsterdam

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 02 June 2015 02 June 2015

The 46,052 GRT cruise ship Magellan has recently completed a five-week scheduled maintenance stopover at Damen Shiprepair Amsterdam. For two of the weeks the 222-metre vessel was positioned in the yard’s 250-metre no.4 dry dock where the hull, rudders and propellers underwent a thorough inspection and cleaning.

Originally built for Carnival Cruise Lines in 1985 and named Holiday, Magellan is now part of the Global Maritime Group Inc. and has recently joined the fleet of the British operator Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV). She accommodates around 1,250 guests in 726 cabins across nine passenger decks, and has a warm and friendly atmosphere that reflects a truly British cruise experience.

Appointed by the Global Maritime Group to undertake the docking, Damen Shiprepair Amsterdam conducted a wide range of maintenance and repair activities. These included removing the 16 lifeboats and taking them ashore for servicing, and the full range of standard docking tasks such as polishing the propellers, surveying the tail shaft, checking rudder clearances, and cleaning the sea chests, anodes and chain lockers. In addition, the eight air conditioning units were overhauled and the complete grey /black water vacuum system with its 700 toilets chemically cleaned. Various pipes were also renewed, including those serving the sea water pumps, ballast tank air vents and suction lines. The stabiliser fins were also serviced and the incinerator refurbished. Finally, significant steel repairs took place in the aft peak tank, and the high elastic friction clutch e-motor was overhauled.

With a full cruise programme for the summer, including a three day trip to Amsterdam and Antwerp departing London on 4 June, timing was critical with no room for delay. Effective and precise project management was a key factor in the success of this project.

"Overall, the project went smoothly due to close cooperation between the vessel’s management, the shipyard and, last but not least, a very cooperative crew," commented Ruud Haneveer of Damen Shiprepair & Conversion. "The timescale was very challenging given the scope of the work required, but the quality of our facilities and the expertise of our workforce ensured that everything was successfully completed on time."

Century Casinos opens three additional casinos on cruise ships

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 01 June 2015 01 June 2015

Century Casinos, Inc.has opened three additional casinos on cruise ships.

The brand new Mein Schiff 4 of TUI Cruises, a joint venture between Royal Caribbean Cruises and German tour operator TUI, has a capacity of 2,500 passengers and will focus on the premium all-inclusive market. The state-of-the-art casino on Mein Schiff 4 features 15 slot machines as well as live and electronic gaming tables.

The Star Legend and Star Breeze are the newest additions to the Windstar Cruises fleet. Both luxurious motor yachts have a capacity of 212 passengers. Each casino features two black jack tables and eleven slot machines.

Wärtsilä completes acquisition of L-3 Marine Systems International

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 30 May 2015 30 May 2015

Wärtsilä Corporation announces that its acquisition of the Germany based L-3 Marine Systems International (MSI) has been finalised and control of the company will be transferred to Wärtsilä with effect from 1st June 2015.

In December 2014, Wärtsilä announced that agreement had been reached to acquire MSI from NYSE-listed L-3 Communications Holdings Inc. using financing from existing cash resources and credit facilities. The transaction is valued at MEUR 285 (enterprise value). After estimated adjustments of cash, working capital, and pension liabilities, the purchase price is estimated to be MEUR 295. The final purchase price will be determined based on closing accounts. The acquisition received Korean merger control clearance in March and EU clearance in April.

Electrical and Automation (E&A) systems are of increasing importance since the operation of ships is becoming ever more sophisticated. Wärtsilä's strong position in the development of technologies that enhance operational efficiency will be further strengthened with the addition of MSI's broad range of capabilities. The company's portfolio comprises several well-known product brands, including SAM Electronics, Valmarine, Lyngsø Marine, Dynamic Positioning & Control Systems, Jovyatlas Euroatlas, ELAC Nautik, FUNA, GA International and APSS.

MSI has extensive experience in supplying automation, navigation and electrical systems, dynamic positioning technology, as well as sonar and underwater communications technology for a variety of vessel types and offshore installations. The MSI organisation, which currently comprises more than 1700 employees working from 38 locations in 14 countries, will be integrated with Wärtsiläs existing E&A business. The acquisition will notably enhance Wärtsilä's E&A offering and market position. In 2014 MSI reported net sales of MEUR 404 and an operating profit of 7%. Wärtsilä foresees that the new unit will be able to capture new market opportunities and improve operational efficiency for its customers, thereby increasing both the sales and profitability of the business. The acquisition is expected to be EPS accretive as of 2015. Further information on the financial impact will be provided once closing accounts have been finalised.

New MTN solutions attract additional cruise customers and renewals

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 01 June 2015 01 June 2015

MTN Communications (MTN) attributes recent new cruise customer wins and renewals to its strategic roll-out of transformative communications and content services on board ships.

New customers American Cruise Lines and Club Med Cruises have signed agreements with MTN for communications services. Four additional customers have renewed with MTN – Crystal Cruises, Moana Cruises, Paul Gauguin Cruises and Phoenix Reisen.

“Our innovation is possible for specific reasons,” said Brent Horwitz, senior vice president and general manager, cruise and ferry services, MTN. “We are technology-agnostic when designing vessel communications systems. Our focus is on customized integration based on individual needs. Our solutions are successful because they deliver significant value by maximizing revenues, minimizing costs, improving operations and ensuring an exceptional experience. Finally, many on our team are former crew or vessel operators with an unprecedented understanding of customer demands. This helps us exceed expectations by serving our customers at multiple levels.”

Today, the global, service-centric MTN team delivers high-speed Internet, voice and media solutions to cruise ships around the world. MTN recently unveiled new transformations in how people stay connected, informed and entertained at sea. The company’s hybrid satellite and terrestrial broadband network changed the game in terms of bandwidth capacity on ships. It is also leading the shift in how passengers and crew consume data on board. With network, access to content via the Internet, and newly-launched MTN-TV high-definition (MTN-TV HD) services, MTN continues to lead the way in “blurring the lines” between land and sea communications.

GAC sets its sights on UK cruise business

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 20 May 2015 20 May 2015

GAC UK is boosting its services for the cruise industry with the appointment of industry veteran Fergus Poole as Cruise Manager.

For nearly two decades, Poole has specialised in the sector and has held a number of managerial and operations posts dedicated to serving cruise and passenger vessels, most recently for services at UK and Irish ports. He joined GAC on 1 May and is based in Sunderland, from where he will coordinate cruise calls at ports nationwide.

Ports in the UK have always been popular as cruise destinations. In particular, Scottish stopovers like Edinburgh, Kirkwall, Invergordon and ports along the western coast have become popular choices for cruise companies seeking an alternative to offer their passengers to more traditional destinations.

Poole says GAC is in a good position to meet the needs of growing cruise activity: “We’re in a great position to grow and enhance our support for the cruise sector, as we already have the port and agent infrastructure well established around the country.

“Furthermore, we have a wide range of frontline expertise available, both in port operations and in niche sectors like bunker fuels, marine leisure and superyachts. We are working those synergies to provide an integrated service package for our cruise customers that frees them of the burden of looking after the details and allows them to focus on delivering a memorable trip for their passengers.”

Poole foresees further development of the GAC cruise portfolio to include shore expeditions and other related services. "Cruise clients of other GAC companies throughout Europe, from northernmost Norway to the southern Mediterranean, have been very appreciative of the added value services on offer, and that's what we want to replicate in the UK," he concludes.