Royal Caribbean “has not confirmed Anthem of the Seas’ deployment”

 Royal Caribbean International, the contemporary market unit in Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. group, says it has not decided yet where Anthem of the Seas would operate after delivery in the spring of 2015.

"We have not yet confirmed Anthem of the Seas' deployment," the company told Cruise Critic, the consumer orientated cruise website.

The comment followed speculation that the 168,000 gross ton newbuilding that is the second unit in the Quantum class might replace Independence of the Seas in Southampton. The Quantum class vessels are “winter ships,” with many activities under a roof than traditional cruise ships feature outdoors.

US regulators, Carnival group in pollution reduction agreement -- report

Federal regulators in the US have reached a tentative deal with Carnival Corp. & plc, the world’s largest cruise shipping company, on a plan to reduce air pollution from nearly a third of its cruise ships,the Baltimore Sun reports.

“Under the agreement, to be announced today, the Miami-based company pledged to install pollution control equipment on 32 of its ships over the next three years and use it while they cruise in waters near the US coast. During that time, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Coast Guard will exempt those vessels from a pending requirement that they burn less-polluting fuel,” the report said.

Carnival Corp & pc operate a total of about 100 ships between its various brands.

A treaty approved by the International Maritime Organization requires all oceangoing vessels to start using lower-sulfur fuel in 2015 whenever they are in waters deemed to be environmentally sensitive, such as within 200 miles of Canada and the United States. The requirement is meant to reduce harmful sulfur and particulate pollution from shipping.

Carnival Cruise Lines appoints Kevin D. Richeson vp shipboard human resources

Kevin D. Richeson has been named vice president, shipboard human resources by Miami-based Carnival Cruise Lines (CCL), the US focused contemporary market brand in Carnival Corp & plc group.

 Richeson comes to Carnival after a 21-year career with The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company.  He begins on 7 March 2014, reporting to Ruben Rodriguez, executive vice president of ship operations.

“In this newly created position, Richeson will have overall responsibility for the integration and management of  core human resource functions for shipboard hotel and non-officer deck and engine crew.  He will also develop compensation and career development benchmarking efforts in collaboration with CCL’s sister lines and corporate HR and manage crew-recruiting activities overseas,” the company said in a statement.

Hans Rood joins FleetPro Passenger Ship Management

FleetPro  Passenger  Ship  Management  announced  today  that  Hans  Rood  will  join  the  Fleetpro  executive  team  as  Executive  Vice  President Commercial.   
 
Fleetpro  is  a  newly  formed  group  composed  of  River  Advice  (Basel,  Switzerland),  the  market  leader  in  river  cruise  vessel  management;  and  International  Shipping  Partners  (Miami,  USA),  managing  ocean  going vessels, with a specialization in the luxury expedition sector of  the  cruise  industry.  Hans  Rood  has  a  strong  background  in  cruise  sales,  services  and  marketing.  Having  held  executive  positions  at  Royal  Caribbean,  Holland  America  Cruises,  Cunard  and  for  the  past  seven  years  as  EVP  Hurtigruten  ASA,  he  assures  to  bring a strong industry knowledge and support to the newly formed Fleetpro team.   
   
As  the  leading  independent  manager  of  passenger  ships,  the  FleetPro  group  manages  and  operates  a  fleet  of  more  than  50  ocean‐going  and  river  cruise  ships  under  a  combination  of  nautical,  technical,  hotel  and  catering  management.  FleetPro  also  provides  services  ranging  from  itinerary  planning,  ship  financing,  supervision  of  new‐buildings,  the  refurbishing  of  existing  vessels,  to  sales  and  charter  activities,  port  services,  as  well  as  insurance  handling  for the ships.  
 
President  of  ISP,  Niels‐Erik  Lund,  states  that,  "the  strengthening  of  our  executive  team  will  further  show  our  commitment  to  play  a  leadership  role  in  both  ocean‐going  and  river  cruise  ship management.  Adding Hans to our team will assure us of a path for further growth while  maintaining the strengths of the brands we serve."

Albanian president awards medal to Costa Voyager master for saving lives

The President of Albania, Bujar Nishani, has awarded a medal for ‘special civil merit’ to the master of Costa Voyager, Giovanni Cosini, for rescuing two young Albanian fishermen who had been drifting off the coast of Durres for two days, the company said in a statement.

The medal is the highest civil decoration in Albania and was presented at the Presidential Palace of Tirana during a ceremony which was also attended by the Italian Ambassador to Albania, Massimo Gaiani.

The two young fishermen were rescued on 30 March 2013 at 7am. While Costa Voyager was heading to Durres for its first call in the Albanian city, the crew on the ship’s bridge spotted the small fishing boat that had lost power and was drifting about 15 miles off the Albanian coast.

The two young men on the boat, reportedly in very poor condition, were rescued and assisted by the Costa Voyager crew. The ship’s captain notified the Albanian Coast Guard which confirmed that the two fishermen were missing and that they had been looking for them for two days. After the rescue, Costa Voyager called in the port ofDurres where the fishermen disembarked and were reunited with their families.