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Madeira to host Cruise Atlantic Islands Conference 2024

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 22 July 2024 22 July 2024

Madeira, 22 July 2024. PR - Some of the most important voices in the cruise industry will gather on September 27th in Madeira for an international conference: the CAI Conference 2024.

The event, promoted by the Administration of the Ports of Madeira (APRAM, SA), has as its starting point the 30th anniversary of the first meeting of Cruise Atlantic Islands (CAI), at the same time as it aims to focus on the future of this region of Atlântico, in the increasingly competitive global cruise market.

“This conference constitutes an opportunity to reflect on the cruise tourism industry in this Atlantic region and the world, looking for the best answers to the increasingly competitive challenges that CAI faces”, highlighted the president of the Ports of Madeira board of directors, Paula Cabaço, pointing out the focus on sustainability, the decarbonization of ports, the energy transition, the circular economy and technological innovation, as “unavoidable” topics to be addressed. “Always, in a joint strategy.”

CAI began by bringing together the ports of Madeira and the Canary Islands, including Cape Verde from 2006 and, since last year, the Azores. Currently, it represents a market of 3.3 million cruise tourists, representing itself in the global and increasingly competitive cruise industry as a differentiated itinerary product, based on the unique and complementary identities of the Atlantic islands of Macaronesia. As a brand, CAI has participated in the main industry events – Seatrade, MedCruise, International Cuise Summit and Cruise Week Europe.

“We want to celebrate this partnership, which was born from a meeting held on September 19, 1994 in Funchal between the port authorities of Madeira and the Canary Islands, and shipping agents from the two archipelagos”, says Paula Cabaço, considering that this conference is the right moment to talk about the future.

The CAI Conference 2024 will bring together members of CAI Madeira, Canary Islands, Cape Verde and Azores, guests, operators, companies, sector agents, government officials, tourist entertainment companies, national and international journalists. CLIA Europe Vice President Nikos Mertzanidis will co-host the conference.

“It will also be an opportunity to showcase the best of Madeira, and the work that has been developed in the Port of Funchal, which has deserved international recognition, like the two nominations for the World Cruise Awards: Best Cruise Terminal in World in terms of Sustainability; and Best Cruise Destination in Europe.”

It is worth remembering that Madeira won the award for Best Cruise Destination in Europe at the World Cruise Awards in 2022 and 2023.

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Rauma shipyard launches the second passenger-car ferry ordered for Tasmania

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 20 July 2024 20 July 2024

Yesterday, Rauma shipyard celebrated the launch of the Spirit of Tasmania V with traditional ceremonies. The vessel’s godmother is Her Excellency the Horourable Barbara Baker, the 29th Governor of Tasmania. The vessel is the second of two car and passenger ferries ordered from the shipyard for Tasmania. The launch and christening ceremony of the first vessel, Spirit of Tasmania IV, was held last October. The vessels are being built for the Tasmanian TT-Line Company.

The car and passenger ferries built by RMC will operate between Geelong and Devonport on Australia’s Bass Strait, a route known for its challenging sea conditions. The vessels will replace their sister ships built in Finland in the 1990s. The passenger, vehicle, and cargo capacity of the new ships is significantly greater than that of their predecessors.

“The Spirit of Tasmania vessels are specifically designed for this route and its demanding sea conditions. Our shipyard is known for our ability and expertise to customize ships to meet the high standards and quality requirements of our clients. I am extremely proud of the progress in the construction of these vessels. The project we are delivering for TT-Line Company is also nationally significant, as it is one of the largest individual export deals between Australia and Finland,” says Mika Nieminen, CEO and President of RMC.

The first of TT-Line Company’s new vessels, Spirit of Tasmania IV, will be delivered to the client this August. The Spirit of Tasmania V, launched today, will be completed next spring.

The shipyard’s order book is worth over one billion euros

There are currently three vessels being built simultaneously at the Rauma shipyard. Alongside the TT-Line vessels, construction on the first multi-role corvette for the Finnish Navy began last autumn in its dedicated multi-role hall. The combined employment impact of these projects is over 7,000 person-years.

Rauma shipyard is investing and renewing itself. RMC is building a new industrial way of operating, which will strengthen the company’s competitiveness and profitability. In addition to expertise, RMC, together with the strong support of the local community has invested in independent steel production, a new multi-role hall, and a heavy transfer ramp among other improvements at the shipyard.

The total value of the vessels in RMC’s current order book is EUR 1.4 billion and extends all the way to the year to 2028.

This year marks the tenth anniversary since the founding of RMC. During this time, three of the car and passenger ferries delivered by the fully Finnish-owned shipyard have been awarded internationally: Hammershus (Molslinjen) in 2018, Aurora Botnia (Wasaline) in 2021, and MyStar (Tallink) in 2022.

Princess Cruises statement on Sun Princess Park19

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 19 July 2024 19 July 2024

Princess Cruises has announced the following statement:

"We regret to announce that Princess is unable to accept delivery of the RollGlider, Coastal Climb, and Ropes Course features within Park19 aboard Sun Princess and those experiences will not be opening. We are actively evaluating these areas for future recreational opportunities to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all our guests.

Park19 continues to offer a variety of fun and safe recreational options for guests' enjoyment, including:

• Infinite Horizon: Leaning tilt walls that cantilever over the side of the ship, allowing guests to peer out from deck 19 and look down to deck nine and beyond.
• Hammock Area: Relaxing hammocks that offer a great way to hang out with family and friends.
• Splash Zone: A whimsical splash area with pop jets and a beautiful water sculpture offering a refreshing and relaxing area to chill.
• Recreational Court: This multifunctional sports court offers a number of options, including cornhole, ping pong, shuffleboard, and more.
• Jogging Track: A refreshing open-air track where guests can walk, jog, or run at their own leisure and pace."

Photo: Sun Princess Park19. Credit: Teijo Niemela

Damen cuts first steel on four full electric ferries for BC Ferries

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 18 July 2024 18 July 2024

Damen Shipyards Group has celebrated a milestone moment for maritime sustainability at its Romanian yard, Damen Shipyards Galati. On 16th of July, the yard cut first steel on the first two of four, fully electric Island Class Ferries that it is building for Canada-based BC Ferries. The ferries will be the first fully electric vessels to operate in the company’s fleet.

Operating with battery packs with the capacity to supply the power train with 2,000 kilowatt-hour of electricity, the vessels will carry up to 47 vehicles and 390 passengers.

Complete maritime solution

As a complete maritime solutions provider, Damen will also supply BC Ferries with the required charging towers. The ferries will recharge efficiently during (dis)embarkation of passengers, using renewable electricity.

The vessels are based on Damen’s double-ended RoRo 8113 E3 model. The design features Damen’s in-house quality label E3, standing for Environmentally Friendly, Efficient in Operation and Economically Viable.

Growing Damen ferry fleet

The commonality of the design offers BC Ferries a number of advantages. Amongst these is the increasing standardisation and interoperability of the fleet, which makes deployment and training of crew more efficient. The ferries will take the number of Damen vessels in the BC Ferries fleet to ten.

Representing BC Ferries at the steel cutting ceremony were Project Program Manager David Tolman and Executive Director Shipbuilding Ed Hooper, who said, “These vessels represent a significant advancement in our fleet renewal efforts, aligning with our strategic vision for operational excellence and sustainability. The start of construction brings us one step closer to realising the benefits these vessels will bring to our customers and the communities that rely on us to get them where they need to go.”

Mark Vermeulen, Damen’s Managing Director Offshore & Specialised Vessels, said, “We are thankful for the trust that BC ferries has shown to Damen with this new contract for another four vessels. Damen has already built six vessels with hybrid propulsion for BC ferries. This project with full electric vessels is a step towards zero emissions ferries for the future – an achievement aligned with the sustainability goals of both BC Ferries and Damen.”

Superior travel experience

BC Ferries is committed to delivering a superior travel experience while upholding its responsibility to the environment. The organisation is supporting British Columbia’s CleanBC goals and aims to reduce emissions by 10,000 tons of CO2 equivalent by 2030. Damen has set itself the goal to become the most sustainable maritime solutions provider.

The ferries will operate services connecting Nanaimo with Gabriola Island, and Campbell River with Quadra Island. They are scheduled to commence operations by 2027.

Cruise and maritime industry set recommendations to accelerate path to net zero

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 16 July 2024 16 July 2024

Driven by a collective objective to help further the maritime and cruise industry’s decarbonization goals, more than 70 maritime leaders met earlier this week at a Decarbonization Summit hosted by Royal Caribbean Group in collaboration with the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping.

Cutting across the maritime ecosystem from technology developers and fuel providers to shipbuilders, ship operators and ports, the Summit’s conversations focused on three key areas including technology development, alternative fuel opportunities and policy and regulation.

“Achieving net zero is not something any one company can do alone – it requires collective problem solving, creative thinking, and a willingness to have tough conversations,” said Jason Liberty, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group. “This week we have put steps in place to catalyze an open dialogue that will foster the thinking necessary to develop an environment where net zero is attainable and sustainable.”

The Summit concluded with three key advancement areas to help the industry usher in a new era of collaboration to achieve net zero in the next 25 years. They are:

– Technology: Discussions zeroed in on the creation of an independent network or platform to enable the maritime industry to share important findings regarding pilot and testing programs.

– Fuel: Participants called for the formation of an independent third party-hosted platform to aggregate low carbon fuel demand by location. The aggregator would provide insights that would enable the industry to better prepare for the supply of alternative fuels.

– Policy: Summit participants agreed that a set of principles that outlines critical policy actions needed to support the industry’s shared goal for decarbonization should be developed to inform progress for the International Maritime Organization (IMO). 

“The shipping industry is in a critically important phase where the pathway to a sustainable future is now being shaped by concrete plans and actions. The cruise industry faces its own needs and opportunities on the road to decarbonization but also holds a lot of valuable insights that can benefit of the rest of the maritime industry,” shared Bo Cerup-Simonsen, CEO, Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping. “With this event Royal Caribbean Group demonstrates exemplary first mover leadership by taking responsibility beyond their own agenda, fostering important in-depth discussions, collaboration, knowledge sharing and action across the ecosystem to further strengthen the acceleration towards a decarbonized maritime industry.”