Fred. Olsen cuts short Boudicca cruise, offers full refund to passengers

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 31 January 2015 31 January 2015

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, the destinational British cruise operator, said that it has cut short its 18-night D1502 ‘Cape Verde & the Canaries’ cruise on board 880-guest Boudicca in Tenerife, in the Canary Islands, following damage to the Engine Room on Sunday 25th January 2015.

Boudicca arrived in Tenerife on the afternoon of Tuesday 27th January 2015, where guests were greeted by Mike Rodwell, Managing Director of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, and a team from the Head Office in Ipswich, Suffolk.

A team of engineers and technicians also joined Boudicca in Tenerife, and have been investigating the extent to which the two main engines and electrical cables have been affected. Their expert assessment is that Boudicca should stay longer in Tenerife, in order for the ship to undertake all the work required.

As a definitive timeline is not able to be provided for the repairs, Fred. Olsen made the difficult decision to fly guests back to Southampton and Bournemouth, at its own expense, and they arrived back in the UK on the evening of Thursday 29th January 2015, supported by teams of Fred. Olsen staff at the airports. Alternative arrangements are being made for those who are unable to fly home.

Fred. Olsen expects that the next cruise will operate as planned, departing from Southampton on Saturday 7th February 2015.

Fred. Olsen appreciates the inconvenience and disruption that this has caused, and will also offer guests who booked with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines the following:

100% refund for the entirety of the cruise (not just the portion from today onwards)

a 50% discount voucher on any new booking for a future cruise within Fred. Olsen’s current 2015/16 programme (This voucher will be the equivalent to 50% of the value of the curtailed cruise and the future booking must be made by 28th February 2015)

The well-being of all guests is Fred. Olsen’s utmost priority, and Mike Rodwell, Captain Jensen and their teams would like to thank all those guests on board Boudicca for their support and assistance with these repatriation arrangements in very challenging circumstances. Boudicca departed from Southampton on Tuesday 20th January 2015, and called at Cadiz, Spain on Saturday 24th January 2015, before diverting to Tenerife.

Miller named Vice President of Nautical and safety Operations for Carnival Cruise Line

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 30 January 2015 30 January 2015

Richard Miller, who served in the U.S. Navy for more than 25 years and possesses extensive experience in shipboard and shoreside global marine operations, has been named vice president of nautical and safety operations for Miami-based Carnival Cruise Line.

In this capacity, Miller oversees all aspects of maritime safety and nautical operations for the company’s 24-ship fleet, including marine compliance, quality assurance, environmental functions and operational safety, with all shipboard deck and bridge personnel, including ship captains, reporting to him.  

“We are fortunate to have someone of Rick’s caliber overseeing this important aspect of our operations,” said Ruben Rodriguez, Carnival’s executive vice president of ship operations.  “Rick’s wide-ranging experience and expertise will be of great benefit as we strive for excellence in the critical areas of safety, compliance, ship operations and environmental responsibility, among others,” Rodriguez added.

During his esteemed career, Miller served in a variety of positions within the U.S. Navy, including commanding officer/captain of a guided missile destroyer and executive officer/staff captain of a guided missile cruiser.  Miller also held several shoreside positions within the Navy, including managing shipbuilding and repair budgets and, most recently, serving as chief of operations for U.S. Southern Command, responsible for directing all Department of Defense operations in South and Central America and the Caribbean region.

Miller has extensive experience in bridge resource management programs, oversight of damage control, operational and incident risk management, occupational and environmental safety programs, and vessel security. His seagoing experience has taken him throughout North and South America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.

He holds a bachelor of science degree in ocean engineering from the United States Naval Academy, master’s degrees in international affairs and national security studies, and is working toward completing Ph.D. requirements in political economy.

Wartsila says cruise vessel contracting doubled last year

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 29 January 2015 29 January 2015

Wartsila, the Finnish engineering group that provides lifecycle power solutions to the maritime and parts of the shore based electricity generation industries, says that the cruise ship building sector significantly outperformed the wider shipbuilding business in terms of how the business developed.

"The cruise vessel markets developed well with contracting volumes doubling compared to 2013," the company said in a statement. By contrast, the total number of newbuilding orders for all ship types placed in 2014 fell to 1,769 from 2,201 in 2013. The demand for offshore vessels was clearly lower than in the previous year, mainly due to the decline in oil prices, poor day rates, and spending cuts from international oil companies.

"Newbuilding prices are under pressure due to current market volumes. In the traditional merchant markets, contracting activity was slow and freight rates remained weak," the company said.

The group's Ship Power business area increased its order intake by 6% to €1.74 billion and it accounted for a third of all new orders the group won. The Ship Power business area's orderbook totalled €2.21 billion at the end of the year and its share of the group's total was just under 50%..

Group net profit fell to €389M ($428M) in 2014 from $425M in the previous year. Revenues rose to €4.78Bn from €4.61Bn, the company said in a statement.

Queen Elizabeth to make maiden call to Long Beach on February 5

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 28 January 2015 28 January 2015

On 5 February 2015, Cunard's Queen Elizabeth will meet her royal relative, the legendary Queen Mary, in a Cunard Royal Rendezvous when Queen Elizabeth docks in Long Beach for the first time ever.  This historic maiden call is particularly significant, not only because it is the first time a Cunard vessel has ever called at Long Beach, but because both Cunard and the Queen Mary are celebrating milestone anniversaries this year.  Cunard is marking 175 years since the first Transatlantic Crossing from England to the United States, inaugurating scheduled mail service to the U.S. and changing the face of ocean travel forever. The Queen Mary, who has crossed the Atlantic over 2,000 times while in service and is now a permanent hotel and museum in Long Beach harbor, is commemorating 80 years afloat.

The day will be marked with celebration and fanfare for the public, with traditional whistle salutes between the ships and a robust fireworks display.  The best public viewing location is on the Promenade Deck of the Queen Mary, at the aft (back) of the ship.  Complimentary access will be offered, and parking will be $15.00.  Queen Elizabeth will sail into Long Beach harbor at approximately 7:00am, and depart the port at approximately 6:00pm, followed by a whistle exchange salute with the Queen Mary, and fireworks display, before she proceeds on her journey.

“During our 175-year history, the Queen Mary has been one of our most beloved ships,” said Richard Meadows, president, Cunard, North America. “This meeting of the Queens will be especially memorable for our passengers, as this maiden call offers them the opportunity to disembark in Long Beach and experience the Queen Mary, an integral part of our history and tradition.”

Prior visits by Cunard ships to Long Beach have been restricted to floating salutes where the modern ships hovered in place while honouring their ancestor. The 5 February visit will see Queen Elizabeth dock nearby the Queen Mary - a first for Long Beach and Cunard...and the royal relatives.

Enhancing the Queen Elizabeth's visit, and in recognition of the Queen Mary's 80 years of public life, a new Ship Model Gallery will be dedicated on the Queen Mary in a private ceremony at 11:00am. Located on the Promenade Deck, the model gallery will open to the public at 12:30pm, and will house many important ship models and is the first phase of the Queen Mary's announced plans to create a world-class maritime museum and learning center aboard the ship.

"Having Queen Elizabeth in port for the Gallery dedication makes it even more special," said The Queen Mary’s General Manager, John Jenkins.

Included in the Gallery will be priceless large models of some of the world's greatest ships; Titanic, Lusitania, Normandie along with contemporary Cunard liners, Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and QE2. Overall some 15 ship models will debut - with others on the way. The exhibition will also present the original Bassett-Lowke shipbuilder's model of the Queen Mary - a spectacular and historically significant ship model measuring over 20 feet in length.

During Cunard’s legendary history, the iconic Queen Mary epitomized the Golden Age of Ocean Travel.  She also served as a British Royal Mail Ship (RMS) and as a troopship during World War II. Winston Churchill credited the Queen Mary and the original Queen Elizabeth with ending World War II one year early as they carried over 1.5 million troops between them.  The Queen Mary’s influence lives on today, inspiring Cunard’s modern fleet; and she continues to be a popular tourist and maritime destination as a hotel and museum in Long Beach Harbor, located 40 miles south of Los Angeles.

The elegant Queen Elizabeth captured the world stage in 2010 when Her Majesty The Queen christened her in a Royal Naming Ceremony in Southampton, England, amongst more than 1,500 guests, celebrities and dignitaries.  As the youngest in Cunard’s fleet, Queen Elizabeth recalls the rich heritage of the first Cunarder to bear the name, and features many unique Cunard traditions linking her with her predecessors, but with all the modern day luxuries Cunard guests have come to expect.  The ship’s adherence to liner traditions is most evident through art deco touches, elegant double- and triple-height public rooms on a grand scale, intricate mosaics, hand-woven carpets, gleaming chandeliers and cool marbles.

Key features of Queen Elizabeth include a specially commissioned portrait of Her Majesty The Queen, as well as an 18.5 ft. marquetry piece of the original Queen Elizabeth, expertly created by David Linley, the only nephew of Her Majesty.