Vard wins order for two short haul ferries

Vard Holdings Limited in Norway said it has secured contracts for the construction of two LNG powered car and passenger ferries for Torghatten Nord in Norway. The total contract value amounts to approximately NOK 600 million.

The ferries, which will not have cabin accommodation for passengers, are designed for environmentally friendly operations in the Norwegian fjords, with a total capacity that is able to accommodate up to 180 cars and 550 passengers and crew.

The ferries of Multi Maritime MM 125FD design will measure 130 meters in length with a beam of 20.7 meters, and will have a speed of approximately 18 knots. Vard is controlled y Fincantieri in Italy.

New York seeks VP of Cruise in Asset Management division

The New York City Economic Development Corporation is looking for a Vice President of Cruise in its Asset Management Revenue division. This position has long been part of the corporation’s asset management team and is critical to New York City’s ongoing commitment to growing its cruise industry.

“Specifically, the VP of Cruise will utilise the City’s NYCruise brand to market for and develop new lines of cruise business; negotiate agreements; and manage and modernize the infrastructure and operations of three properties owned by the City of New York: the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, the Manhattan Cruise Terminal and Piers 92/94,” the corporation said in a statement.

 Job Posting: http://jobs.jobvite.com/careers/nycedc/job/ozLx4fwF?__jvst=Job%20Board&__jvsd=general

Star Cruises unveils triple homeport deployment of SuperStar Virgo

Star Cruises, the Asia Pacific focused contemporary market unit in the Genting Hong Kong group, has announced the debut triple homeport deployment of flagship SuperStar Virgo in Hong Kong, Manila and Kaohsiung with the launch of the Jewels of the South China Sea itinerary.

The Hong Kong homeport deployment of Genting Dream, the first ship of Genting Hong Kong’s premium market Dream Cruises, brand has been creating a positive buzz in Hong Kong.

“In response to overwhelming popular demand, Genting Hong Kong, parent company of both Dream Cruises and Star Cruises, announced the return of SuperStar Virgo to homeport in Hong Kong in March 2017, offering Hong Kong travelers a greater variety of high-quality cruising options,” the company said in a statement.

Fred. Olsen to operate 69 night cruise to California early 2019

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, the UK based destinational cruise operator, said it would send its Balmoral on a 69 night cruise to California from Southampton in early 2019.

The cruise includes calls at various ports in the Atlantic and Caribbean islands before proceeding through the Panama Canal to San Diego, Los Angeles and San Francisco. The ship will spend two nights in San Francisco and one night in Funchal, Madeira. The cruise will depart 19 January 2019.

AIDAperla to enter service in July, two months earlier than foreseen

AIDAperla, the second of the two cruise ships AIDA Cruises in Rostock has ordered from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in Japan, will commence operations in the Mediterranean in July, which is two months earlier than anticipated, the company said in a statement. AIDAprima, the first unit of the class, rendered service in 2016. Both vessels are, however, significantly behind their original delivery dates agreed in 2011, when they were ordered.