Saga Cruises receives health assurance accreditation from Lloyd’s Register

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 27 November 2020 27 November 2020

Saga Cruises, the UK based luxury market operator, said it has become the first cruise operator to be awarded new Covid-19 health assurance accreditation by Lloyd's Register, the maritime safety experts.

“The move is a crucial step ahead of the planned return of cruise operations in spring next year in a Covid-secure environment,” the company said in a satement.

“Lloyd's Register has awarded Saga the Shield+ accreditation, the highest category of health assurance they have. The new framework has been created to reduce risk and provide greater confidence in the safety procedures of operators against the introduction of infectious diseases onboard cruise ships, including Covid-19, Norovirus and common flu, as the industry works with government to restart an industry that employs 88,000 people and is worth £10bn a year to the British economy,” the companysaid.

Saga Cruises is part of the listed Saga plc group that offers a range of products from travel to financial services to those over the age of 50. It has two ships, Spirit of Discovery and Spirit of Adventure, both of roughly 56,000 gross tons

Being awarded the accreditation demonstrates that Saga exceeds the compliance criteria in every category set out by the UK Chamber of Shipping in their guidance for COVID Secure Cruising, which has been supported by the government.

The safety accreditation is assessed against six key categories covering every aspect of ship safety where health risks are elevated: medical, policy, food, ventilation, accommodation and water.

Award of the accreditation follows months of detailed planning from Saga, designing and putting in place detailed new procedures to meet the highest standards of health and safety.

Saga said its ships have been surveyed and inspected in all key areas and the accreditation has been awarded for both the Spirit of Discovery and the Spirit of Adventure, which was delivered from Meyer Werft in Germany earlier this autumn and is due to set sail for the first time in May 2021.

AIDA Cruises starts with Canary Islands cruises next week

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 26 November 2020 26 November 2020

AIDA Cruises, the leading cruise line in Germany and a part of Carnival Corporation & plc, has announced that it will offer Canary Islands cruises starting from December 5, 2020.

On December 5, 2020, AIDA Cruises will open their cruise season around the Canary Islands with AIDAperla, followed by AIDAmar, which will start its winter season with the Christmas voyage on December 20, 2020. The 7-night voyages to the islands of eternal spring start on Saturdays or Sundays from Gran Canaria.

The Spanish government adopted clear regulations for safe travel in the Canaries in November, which are in line with AIDA's already established hygiene and prevention measures. AIDA's health and safety protocols, which have been audited by SGS Institute Fresenius and confirmed by the classification society DNV-GL, among others, include measures such as the free Covid-19 test before the voyage, secure arrival and departure, medical care, distance regulations and increased disinfection measures on board, as well as guided shore excursions.

Due to the current situation in the United Arab Emirates, Spain (except Canaries) and France, AIDA has to adjust the schedule in the Orient and the Western Mediterranean. All cruises on AIDAstella and AIDAprima that were planned between December 1, 2020 and January 26, 2021 are cancelled.

Guests whose cruises are cancelled will be informed immediately.

Photo Cumbra Vieja National Park / Hellocanaryislands.com

DFDS plans large hydrogen fuel cell powered ropax

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 26 November 2020 26 November 2020

 

 

 

DFDS, the listed Danish ferry company, has teamed with a group of companies to design a hydrogen fuel cell powered large ropax vessel that could enter service between Copenhagen and Oslo in 2027, DFDS said in a statement.

The ferry that has the working name Europa Seaways, is designed for 1,800 passengers and has capacity for 120 lorries or 380 cars.

“The ferry will be powered by electricity from a hydrogen fuel cell system that emits only water and can produce up to 23 MW to propel the ferry,” the company said, adding that green hydrogen is to be produced by a projected offshore wind energy-powered electrolyser plant in Greater Copenhagen.

“The largest fuel cell systems today produce only 1-5 MW, and the development of such large-scale fuel cell installations for an electric ferry is a monumental task. We can only succeed in partnerships with companies that together can muster some of the globe’s finest expertise in design, approval, building, financing and operation of innovative vessels,” said Torben Carlsen, CEO of DFDS.

The partners in the group of companies working on the project include DFDS, ABB, Ballard Power Systems Europe, Hexagon Purus, Lloyd’s Register, Knud E Hansen, Ørsted and Danish Ship Finance.

“Together, we expect to learn how to make these fuel types and technologies commercially viable, which is key to a transition of the industry to climate neutrality, which is also the ultimate goal of DFDS’ climate plan,” Carlsen said

The partnership has applied for support from the EU Innovation Fund. As there are no ferries of this kind in the world today, the development of the ferry will also require public involvement. However, if the project develops as projected, the ferry could be in full operation on the route as early as 2027.

Photo: DFDS

MSC Cruises inks deal with Southampton

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 25 November 2020 25 November 2020

MSC Cruises, the Geneva based cruise shipping company, said it would commit at least one ship to be based in the UK for the duration of a strategic partnership agreement with Associated British Ports (ABP), which owns the port of Southampton.

“MSC Cruises has confirmed that there will be at least one ship home porting from the UK for the duration of the partnership as well as several of the Companies (sic.) large fleet of 17 ships visiting the port and the UK, as a destination on sailings including grand voyages, northern Europe adventures and transatlantic crossings,” the company said in a statement.

Antonio Paradiso, MD MSC Cruises UK & Ireland said: “MSC Cruises is serious about the UK market and now more than ever we believe in the potential here and making this long term commitment to bringing even more passengers to Southampton is evidence of that.”

“ In 2017 we invested in a new office in the UK, we then focused on growing our teams and putting the right expertise in place to ensure we can provide the best possible support to our passengers and our travel agent partners, and now we are really proud to be further investing in the UK cruise industry at this incredibly important time for both the industry and the UK economy in having a home for our ships here in the UK.”

MSC Magnifica is earmarked to make 21 cruises from Southampton in 2021.

The agreement with ABP is the next step for MSC Cruises as the brand has gradually increased its presence in the UK market to support the growing demand from UK & Irish passengers. “Feedback from both guests and travel agents following the first full season sailing from the UK was incredibly positive which has driven the decision to strengthen the relationship with the port,” the company said.