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MV Werften starts production in its new shipbuilding hall complex

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 28 November 2018 28 November 2018

One of the most advanced welding plants in Europe was put into operation at the MV Werften yard in Rostock today. Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania’s Economics Minister Harry Glawe, representatives of Genting Hong Kong, MV Werften, the automation provider Pemamek as well as other project partners were present in the new hall 11 when the plant produced its first weld seam.

“The new plant enables us to make a significant increase in the capacity of our steel prefabrication for the Global cruise ships in Rostock and take a further, important step towards Industry 4.0. It is one of the most innovative laser-hybrid panel lines in Europe and also unique, as it is specially tailored to our processes and the Global Class,” explained Peter Fetten, CEO of MV Werften.

The semi-automatic, highly efficient plant is the heart of the 400-meter long hall area 11.1 and the entire steel prefabrication at the yard. Panels measuring up to 25 x 16 meters will be produced with it. The panel line with all integrated equipment is unique in Germany.

Its features include a one-sided butt welding station with laser-hybrid welding head and additional MAG tandem welding heads with integrated milling, automated profile assembling with two-sided fillet welding of profiles using the laser-hybrid process and programmable robot portals. The highly automated thin panel welding line optimally fits the digitalisation and logistics concept of MV Werften.

Pemamek’s CEO Jaakko Heikonen stated: “It is a great honour to be one of the main production solution providers for MV Werften and part of the company’s success story. Pemamek’s innovative panel line is unique, as we customized it for MV Werften. Its technology is perfectly tailored to meet the production requirements for the Global Class cruise vessels and will provide an important basis for the shipyards’ future growth. During the entire project our collaboration has been great, and we look forward to continuing it in future.”

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania’s Economics Minister Harry Glawe commented: “The acquisition of the shipyards by Genting Hong Kong Limited and their development into specialists for cruise ship construction has given the shipbuilding and indeed entire maritime industry of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania a completely new perspective. Order, capacity utilization and employment levels are continuing to develop positively. The state-of-the-art and innovative panel production line will significantly improve production operations, as well as further sharpening the company’s edge in the fiercely competitive shipbuilding market. Today is another good day for shipbuilding in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.”

The German Federal State of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and the German Federal Government granted six million Euros in support of innovation for the technologically advanced production plant. Several regional companies have contributed to the value added of the project. The prestigious Fraunhofer Institute in Rostock carried out the feasibility study on optimized cycle times, while a Schwerin-based firm supplied the system control for coordinating the cranes and welding portals.

In addition to the panel production in the hall area 11.1, sections are to be produced and fitted out in the area 11.2. Hall 11.3 for profile manufacturing is to be completed in May 2019. The three halls will provide a total of 25 workstations. MV Werften is investing over 100 million Euros in the new shipbuilding hall complex, where up to 150 employees per shift will work in the medium term.

Havila Kystruten names its four newbuilds

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 28 November 2018 28 November 2018

Havila Kystruten, the new Norwegian Coastal Line will from January 2021 sail on the iconic Norwegian coastline between Bergen and Kirkenes, a route that over the last years has been operated only by Hurtigruten.

The Havila Coastal Line ships will be the most environmentally friendly ships in traffic along the Norwegian coast and driven by LNG and huge battery packs, says CEO of the company Arild Myrvoll.

 The ships will set a new standard for environmentally friendly ships and we will be able to sail into the World Heritage Site Geiranger without emission by 2021. This is five years prior to the zero-emission requirements given by the The Norwegian Parliament for sailings into the World Heritage fjords. 

The ships that will continue a proud Norwegian coastline history now got their names. Havila owner Per Sævik announced earlier this year a name contest among his eight grandchildren to find names for the ships.

The frames given were that the name should contain Havila and the name of a star. The involvement among the grandchildren has been great and we are now pleased to present the names: Havila Capella, Havila Castor, Havila Polaris  and Havila Pollux.   Havila Capella and Havila Castor will be built at the Tersan yard in Turkey, while Havila Polaris and Havila Pollux will be built at the Barreras yard in Spain. 

ICS 2018 on managing growth

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 28 November 2018 28 November 2018

Alan Lam reporting from Madrid

The 8th edition of International Cruise Summit (ICS 2018) is currently under way in the Spanish capital city of Madrid. About 260 delegates from various cruise lines, ports and travel agencies are in attendant.

The main focus of this year’s summit is on how to manage the rapid and seemingly interminable growth of the cruise industry.

One of the principal areas under scrutiny is how to manage port and destination developments in the light of the recent congestion issues experienced by many. Stakeholders are urged to intensify the dialogue among them to help ensuring a more proportionate growth.

With the impending arrival of the likes of Virgin Voyages and Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, there are now more players in the market. The industry is therefore urged to properly manage the thorny issue of competition through dialogue, diversification, and cooperation in order to encourage further growth; otherwise competition will only lead to the unpalatable ticket price reductions, which benefits no one.

Sustainability and environmental protection are among other areas where proper management is called for. In these regards, banning the single-use plastics is merely a token gesture; there needs to be more innovations, better operational practices, and technological advancements to facilitate this, especially in anticipation of the incoming IMO sulphur and GHG emissions control regulations.

In addition, proper management is also needed in terms of berth allocation practices and newbuilding size inflations.

Amidst these discussions, the industry is confident that, barring any unforeseen and unfortunate circumstances, the growth will continue for the foreseeable future.

As always, Cruise Business Review is a main media sponsor of this annual event. Our correspondent is among the attendees. A full analytical report will appear in the Spring 2019 issue.

MSC Cruises names first Seaside EVO ship MSC Seashore as first steel is cut at Fincantieri

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 26 November 2018 26 November 2018

MSC Cruises and Fincantieri, heir to the great tradition of Italian shipbuilding and one of the largest shipbuilding groups in the world, today cut the first steel of MSC Seashore, the first of two MSC Cruises Seaside EVO ships currently on order at Fincantieri. At a ceremony held at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy, MSC Cruises’ Executive Chairman Pierfrancesco Vago and Fincantieri’s Chief Executive Officer Giuseppe Bono launched the cutting of the first steel of this new ship.

Coming into service in Spring 2021, the 169,400 gross ton MSC Seashore will be the first in its kind, as an evolution of MSC Cruises’ Seaside Class of ships. New cutting edge features include an additional lounge at the aft of the ship; a further enhanced MSC Yacht Club covering three forward decks; specialty restaurants at the promenade level on deck 8 for dining al fresco close to the sea; more whirlpools across the ship; 200 additional staterooms; and even more generous public spaces. Seaside EVO ships will also be equipped with the latest advanced environmental technology, including a selective catalytic reduction system; exhaust gas cleaning technology; state-of-the-art waste management and recycling systems; advanced water treatment systems; and an advanced energy and heat recovery system, as well as other technology and measures to further increase energy efficiency.

MSC Cruises’ Executive Chairman Pierfrancesco Vago said: “With the Seaside Class, we introduced to the market one of the more innovative cruise ship prototypes all-around – our fifth out of six to-date – thus setting a new industry standard for others to follow. Today, only one year after MSC Seaside entered into service, we are taking this award-winning concept to the next level by starting the construction of a further evolved and even richer ship. MSC Seashore is an example of our commitment to bringing the most innovative and technologically-advanced tonnage to the sea, and will be bestowed with the latest and best maritime and environmental technology available.”

The CEO of Fincantieri, Giuseppe Bono, stated: “The design of this ship is the perfect symbol of what Fincantieri has become and of what the Group today represents on the international market scene and at an overall industrial level. MSC Seashore is designed to impress: first of all due to her size, she will be by far the largest ship ever built in Italy, allowing us to further increase our management standards, but even for her top-class technological level. She is a prototype that we developed based on a one-of-a-kind and hugely successful platform as Seaside is demonstrating to be.” Bono then concluded: “Over and above that, we are very proud to contribute to the growth of MSC Cruises, a company which is emerging as one of the major market players.”

Today’s event marked another milestone in MSC Cruises’ industry-unprecedented 10-year development plan for 17 additional new mega ships, with four new ships currently under construction at the same time. MSC Seashore is the seventh ship to be built under this plan and will become the 19th ship MSC Cruises has built since its inception in 2003. Additionally, the coming into service of the first Seaside EVO ship will take innovation in cruise ship building to yet another level of excellence, much like the introduction of the original Seaside prototype has set a new standard for the industry to follow.

MSC Seashore is inspired by MSC Cruises’ vision for cruising in warm climates in a unique setting. She will follow the bold and innovative design of the Seaside Class, with a wrap-around promenade on Deck 8, offering guests a myriad of choices for outside dining and relaxing. Her name, much like for her predecessors MSC Seaside and MSC Seaview, reflects a new way of enjoying the cruise experience – first introduced on MSC Cruises’ Seaside Class – by bringing guests closer to the sea and helping them enjoy the outdoors.

MSC Cruises’ Seaside EVO ships will have greater dimensions, even more generous public spaces, more staterooms, a larger MSC Yacht Club, and will be able to host a total of up to 5,632 guests (approx. 4,540 double occupancy).

MSC Seashore will be joined just 18 months later by a second Seaside EVO ship in autumn 2022.

American Harmony, second modern riverboat launched four weeks ahead of schedule

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 26 November 2018 26 November 2018

American Cruise Lines announced on November 20 that it successfully launched its second new modern riverboat American Harmony at Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Salisbury, MD, on Saturday, November 17th. American Harmony is the second modern riverboat in the U.S. and the second of five planned ships in American’s revolutionary new series. The first ship in the series, American Song, began cruising a sold out inaugural season on the Mississippi this October 2018 and was the first modern riverboat in U.S. history. American Harmony is four weeks ahead of schedule and was launched exactly one year to the day of its sister ship American Song. Construction has also begun on the third ship in the modern riverboat series.

American Harmony will have the same sophisticated modern design and state-of-the-art technical features of its sister ship American Song, including the very unique opening bow and retractable gangway. The second ship in American’s modern riverboat series will have six decks, huge all-balcony cabins and a gorgeous 5-story glass atrium in the center of the ship.

Immediately after the launch, the ship was positioned in Chesapeake’s East Outfitting Basin where it will receive its upper decks and outfitting. Chesapeake Shipbuilding has a long history of designing and building new ships for American Cruise Lines.

The Inaugural season aboard American Harmony will begin in Summer 2019 on the Mississippi River. Sister ship American Song will reposition out West for 2019 sailing American’s Columbia & Snake River itineraries March through October 2019