Crystal Endeavor to sail through Northeast Passage in August 2021

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 14 February 2019 14 February 2019

Crystal Endeavor, the first of three expedition yachts of Crystal Expedition Cruises, will sail through the Northeast Passage on a 28 night cruise in August 2021, the company said in a statement.

The ship will sail from Anadyr in Russia for Tromsø in Norway on 18 August 2021.

“The Northeast Passage is precisely the type of bold expedition for which Crystal Endeavor is designed, with her PC6 designation and the ability to manoeuvre through medium first-year ice, offshore dynamic positioning, zodiacs and virtually all other gear necessary for such intrepid exploration,” said Tom Wolber, president & CEO of Crystal, which is part of the Genting Hong Kong group.

“In addition to these technical amenities, she’ll accommodate guests in the highest standard of comfort and luxury, even as they travel to the most remote destinations,” he added.

The ship will visit places that are only sparsely occupied since legendary polar explorer Nils A.E. Nordenskjöld first successfully made the passage in 1878-79. Before that time - and since - polar bears, Arctic foxes, walruses, whales and hundreds of species of seabirds are the primary local residents in the region, which is a Russian-controlled trade route in the summer months.

GE to provide electric propulsion technology for Seaside EVO ships

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 13 February 2019 13 February 2019

Following the delivery of the first and second ship – MSC Seaside and MSC Seaview – in the Seaside Class by the Fincantieri shipyard of Monfalcone, GE’s Marine Solutions has once again been selected by MSC Cruises and Fincantieri to provide the marine electric propulsion technology for two new Seaside EVO ships, further driving the evolution of the Seaside Class next-generation cruise ships.

With a gross tonnage of 169,400 and a total guest capacity of 5,632, Seaside EVO ships will be the largest cruise ships ever built by the Fincantieri shipyard. The two ships will adopt a range of innovative design features and maritime technologies, among which GE will provide the electric propulsion system with his partners Imesa and Nidec that will bring operational efficiency and excellent maneuverability. GE will also lead the consortium – Imesa, Nidec, ASI – for managing the overall electrical power and propulsion system.

GE’s solution consists of propulsion controls along with transformers, variable frequency drive (VFD) technology, propulsion motors and distribution transformers. The propulsion system will see an increased power rating compared to those onboard the previous two vessels. GE’s electrical marine solution enables a smooth installation and cabling process. It also eliminates the need for harmonic filters.

“Sailing full steam ahead, the Seaside Class showcases our commitment to pushing the boundary of the future of cruising by unlocking the maximized potential that a cruise ship can achieve. MSC Seaside EVO ships will be longer and consequently more powerful than the previous two ships concerning power generation and propulsion motors. And we once again place our trust and count on GE, among other various partners, to deliver the outcome,” said Emilio La Scala, President & Managing Director, MSC Cruise Management UK.

“We have a long-term relationship with MSC Cruises. Our electrical propulsion systems have been installed on the existing fleet of 14 vessels, bringing reliable operations and smooth voyage experiences to millions of passengers worldwide,” said Ed Torres, GE’s Marine Solutions leader. “We are excited to partner with MSC Cruises once again and provide GE’s marine electric propulsion technology with increased power rating to propel the next generation of mega cruise ships.”

“As the demand for cruise holidays soars, fleets continue to grow. While stringent regulations and increased vessel sizes may pose new challenges, they bring with them a host of opportunities. New regulations are driving for more efficient operations with reduced carbon footprint, while larger sizes of vessels will set new benchmarks for technology reliability,” said Azeez Mohammed, president and CEO of GE’s Power Conversion business. “GE’s marine electric propulsion is an attractive commercial solution for the growing cruise industry, and we are delighted to partner with a major cruise line and grow the industry with reliable and sustainable technology innovations.”

V.Group acquires Global Marine Travel, doubling size of travel operations

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 13 February 2019 13 February 2019

V.Group, the leading global marine services provider, announced today that it has acquired Global Marine Travel from Inchcape Shipping Services.

The move combines V.Travel with GMT’s industry-leading marine travel expertise and brings greater scale to the combined operations. Bringing together GMT and V.Travel increases the companies’ ability to offer truly global, 24/7 travel operations focused on delivering customer satisfaction.

The addition of GMT to V.Group’s travel portfolio doubles ticketing volumes, strengthens the management team and will enable the creation of a combined operational hub in the Philippines. At the same time, it bolsters existing travel operations with two additional International Air Transport Association licences. Both businesses will eventually operate under the GMT brand.

Last year, V.Group outlined a strategy of focusing on developing its six key services lines, with inorganic growth playing a key part in the process. In line with that strategy, this acquisition signifies V.Group’s commitment in the travel segment, and the extent to which V.Group’s inorganic growth furthers its strategic aim to transform the marine industry.

The combined resources of V.Group, V.Travel, and GMT will create a market-leading platform for managing and simplifying the seafarer journey from home to ship and back. This complements V.Group’s ‘Project Embark’ – which invests in the development of digital technologies that will streamline and enhance the overall seafarer experience.

“We are delighted to have found a partnership that allows us to increase the scale, and invest further in technology and talent within our travel business,” said Elliot Gow, Group Managing Director, Marine Services at V.Group.

“V.Group believes that there is genuine advantage to scale in the maritime services business, as it allows us to invest in great systems and great people. This partnership gives us unrivalled capacity, greater purchasing power, and better service capabilities within the travel market, and will help us deliver the right solutions, at the right prices, for our customers.”

“We are excited to be onboard with V.Group, as the next important step in V.Group’s strategy to consolidate and grow in this fragmented market”, said Tim Davey, Managing Director of the combined Marine Travel operations at V.Group.

“GMT complements V.Travel perfectly, adding to our pool of deep expertise in the maritime travel sector, and increasing the scope of what we can deliver on a global scale, 24 hours a day. The extra talent and technical capacity will be instrumental in transforming the seafarer journey. GMT customers will continue to benefit from the excellent global standards they have come to expect, but with the addition of more resources and capacity to deliver.”

V.Group will also divest its V.Ships Agency business to Inchcape, simultaneously entering into a service agreement that establishes a partnership with a global leader in port agency to provide a better ship agency platform and improve the experience for all customers

Elliot Gow added: “V. Ships Agency is joining the world’s leading agency business, which makes this a win-win for both of our companies.”

Inchcape CEO Frank Olsen said, “GMT is a travel business with a global reputation for excellence, and we believe it is in good hands with V.Group. As we acquire the V.Ships Agency business, we look forward to enhancing the services we provide for agency and travel customers alike. I believe this partnership sets a new standard of collaboration within the marine support services market, aimed at continual service improvement and scale efficiencies.”

CLIA UK & Ireland presents expedition forum speakers

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 13 February 2019 13 February 2019

CLIA UK & Ireland has presented the speaker line up for its first expedition cruise forum for travel agents that will take place in London on March 28.

British documentary maker and marine biologist Monty Halls, appearing courtesy of Silversea Cruises, is best known for his BBC Great Escape series. He is also an expedition leader, travel writer and former Royal Marine. Monty’s experience covers over two decades of leading teams in some of the most remote environments on earth and presenting wildlife and adventure documentaries, CLIA UK & Ireland said in a statement.

Veteran exploration leader Robin West is vice president of expedition operations and planning for Seabourn Cruise Line. “Robin oversees and continues the development of the line’s expedition-oriented product in destinations around the world. Prior to this role, Robin participated in exploration programmes for a number of companies and spent multiple seasons in regions including the Arctic and Antarctic, East and West Africa, the South Pacific, Central and South America, the Indian Ocean and Australia,” CLIA said.

The event, free for CLIA travel agent members, offers the opportunity for agents to meet with expedition cruise companies to learn about the latest products, news and developments. as inspire travel agents on ways they could grow their expedition cruise business.