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ClassNK acquires maritime software house NAPA

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 18 March 2014 18 March 2014

Leading classification society ClassNK today agreed to acquire NAPA, the world’s leading maritime software house, in a deal hailed as benefitting the improved safety and performance of the whole maritime industry.

The acquisition, will significantly enhance the success and capabilities of both organisations. For ClassNK, which has worked with NAPA for nearly ten years, the landmark deal is a chance to expand and improve the wide range of services it offers to shipowners and shipyards, whilst also providing NAPA with the support to accelerate expansion of existing operations and access new markets.

ClassNK, which provides safety and certification services for more than 8,500 vessels representing more than 20% of the world’s merchant fleet, and NAPA, whose software is utilised by shipyards designing over 90 % of the world’s newbuilds and by major ship owners, said the deal was a reflection of the growing importance of software technology in improving ship design and operational efficiency.

Yasushi Nakamura, ClassNK Executive Vice President, commented: “For both shipyards and shipowners, safety and performance have never been more important. Over the many years we have worked with NAPA, we have seen first hand the incredible benefits that ship designers and operators can achieve with innovative software solutions. From our work on ClassNK NAPA Manager to our work on ClassNK-NAPA GREEN, NAPA has shown us time and again the utmost importance they place on creating high quality, innovative tools that directly contribute to the development of the maritime industry. This gives us full confidence that the team will go on to reach even greater success with ClassNK.

“Moreover, as a classification society that sees safety and performance as paramount, we want to ensure that innovation in software benefits the entire maritime industry – and make new innovations available to everyone. Through this agreement we can ensure that NAPA’s ship design and operation solutions remain available to the entire maritime industry, while also providing NAPA with necessary tools and resources to further expand its innovative development work.

Juha Heikinheimo, President of NAPA Group, added: “After 25 years of growth into a company of 170 employees, with presence in nine countries, NAPA has grown into the world’s leading maritime software house. After years of organic growth, we see today’s announcement as a huge opportunity to continue to expand NAPA in a way that reflects the increasing demand for software design and operational solutions that we are seeing in the maritime market. In partnering with ClassNK over recent years, we have found it to be an organisation that understands the important opportunity that qualitative and innovative software, and global services presents to the maritime industry. Going forward together, NAPA will develop new solutions and services for the maritime industry, whilst maintaining its neutrality and confidentiality towards all stakeholders.

“Today, reducing fuel costs and attracting charterers are the predominant concerns for shipowners and operators. Through this acquisition, the development of clean-tech solutions for optimising fuel costs, planning and monitoring will be accelerated. In addition, continuously improving software solutions to enhance the safety of both merchant and passenger vessels, both at the design phase and during operation, will remain a core focus for NAPA. ClassNK’s role as a classification society will enable us to access its industry knowledge, scope and scale, as well as benefiting from its commitment to invest in software research and development. It is this that will allow NAPA’s solutions to be more widely available to the benefit of the maritime industry as a whole.”

The acquisition is the culmination of collaboration between ClassNK and NAPA over many years, the most recent of which being the development of operation optimisation software in 2012, ClassNK-NAPA GREEN.

FCCA and Onboard.com made Cruise Shipping Miami "a whole lot happier this year"

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 14 March 2014 14 March 2014

The exclusive multimedia partner of the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA), Onboard.com, and its video production team got the entire industry dancing to Pharrell Williams's "Happy" during Cruise Shipping Miami.

For the past 30 years, Cruise Shipping Miami has provided the largest annual gathering of the cruise industry's key players. Based at the Miami Beach Convention Center in the very heart of "cruise country," Cruise Shipping Miami brings together cruise line executives, destination representatives, cruise line suppliers and travel media.

"Onboard.com, our valued FCCA Platinum Member and cruise industry partner, has always put together a fine depiction of the FCCA's role and importance at Cruise Shipping Miami," said Michele Paige, president of the FCCA. "We were thrilled to again partner with them to give the global cruise community an accurate and extra 'happy' picture of what goes on during this very special week."

Sarah Beth Reno, president of Onboard.com, told, "This year, Onboard.com set out to prove that, as Carnival Corporation's president and CEO, Arnold Donald, proclaimed, 'This is a happy industry!'"

The Onboard.com film crew captured all of the happy people that make cruising the most exciting and "sexy" sector of the travel industry, as Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman for MSC Cruises, called it.

The video was filmed over a six-day period in the key spots around Miami Beach and Fort Lauderdale, including PortMiami, Port Everglades, the Miami Beach Convention Center and LIV Nightclub.

Our version of Pharrell Williams's "Happy" (#CruiseHappy) was released Friday, March 14 on Onboard.com's YouTube channel.

Watch the video: www.youtube.com/helloOnboard

Onboard Media has been instrumental in creating the niche market of cruise shopping promotion and continues setting trends in all forms of media, from print to digital. Drawing on the iconic brand-building tradition of its parent company, LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, and the content expertise of its core business, Onboard Media recently launched a game-changing online destination-Onboard.com.

Onboard.com fills a clear void in the cruise market, featuring an artfully designed mix of rich content and an inviting community where consumers can learn about, research, plan and share everything they love about cruising.

Royal Princess to take over as second Princess ship in Southampton 2015

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 14 March 2014 14 March 2014

Royal Princess, the largest vessel in the fleet of Princess Cruises at some 143,000 gross tons, will take over from Emerald Princess as the second ship of the company in Southampton in 2015, information on the company’s website shows.

Royal Princess, which entered service last year, will offer a series of 12 night Round Britain cruises from 9 May to25 August, when it will sail for Ft Lauderdale.

In addition, Princess Cruises will bring the 115,000 gross ton Caribbean Princess to Southampton next year as well. It has been the principal vessel of the carnival Corp & plc group member in the UK for several years.

The arrival of Royal Princess means that the supply of berths from the principal cruise port in the UK will increase significantly in 2015 as Royal Princess has some 500 brths more than Emeald Princess,

In addition, Royal Caribbean International will introduce the 4,180 passenger Anthem of the Seas from Southampton next spring as replacement of the 3,600 berth Independence of the Seas. Finally, Princess cruises’ sister company P&O Cruises will commission the 143,000 gross ton newbuilding Britannia next spring, which will add about 3,600 berths to the market.

Godmother Claudette Waggoner and former Transportation Secretary RayLaHood to lead American Empress christening

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 13 March 2014 13 March 2014

Today the American Queen Steamboat Company announces christening ceremony details for the U.S riverboat owner and operator's second vessel. The 223-guest American Empress, the largest riverboat west of the Mississippi, will officially join the fleet with the American Queen on April 5, 2014. Claudette Waggoner, wife of Chairman and CEO John Waggoner, will serve as godmother and officially name the vessel as part of the festivities in downtown Portland, Ore.

Former Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, longtime leader for the U.S. maritime industry and champion of U.S. river cruising expansion, has been announced as the ceremony's keynote speaker. Highlights of the festivities will include performances by local musicians, a blessing of the boat by Chinook Tribal elders and a bottle of local wine crashing against the American Empress bow. Additional participating dignitaries include the 13th Coast Guard District Commander Rear Admiral Richard T. Gromlich and Acting Maritime Administrator Paul "Chip" Jaenichen.

"It will be a great honor for my wife Kathy and I to join John and Claudette Waggoner, sharing our mutual passion for America's rivers with the world," explains former Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood. "I look forward to meeting the inspiring American Empress crew and visiting with community leaders who will soon see the positive impact U.S. river cruising expansion will have on their cities and towns."

One of only two conservatives in President Obama's cabinet during his first term, Secretary LaHood quickly became known throughout the federal government as a bipartisan leader and skilled arbiter. In his role as Secretary of Transportation, LaHood led an agency with more than 50,000 employees and a $70 billion budget overseeing air, maritime and surface transportation missions. With a passion for building new transportation infrastructure, Secretary LaHood became a strong advocate for U.S. river cruising, recognizing the impact its growth has on the economy, particularly river towns and cities in America's heartland. Secretary LaHood will speak on the importance of U.S. river cruising before introducing American Empress Godmother Claudette Waggoner.

"It is a true honor serving as the American Empress godmother and I look forward to sharing this majestic vessel with the world for the first time on April 5, 2014," shares Waggoner. "As I have listened to guests share their many discoveries aboard the American Queen sailing the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers, I can't help but be excited for them to now explore the Pacific Northwest in American Queen Steamboat Company style."

The American Queen Steamboat Company entered into a purchase agreement of the 223-guest riverboat with the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) in May 2013 and has had a team onboard preparing for her April 2014 launch on the Columbia and Snake Rivers. Formerly the Empress of the North, the American Empress will deliver opulence on a grand scale, following in the pedigree of the line's namesake riverboat American Queen, and proudly serve as the largest overnight riverboat west of the Mississippi River.

A U.S.-flagged vessel, the American Empress measures 360 ft. with five towering decks and accommodates 223 guests in seven stateroom categories. She is currently undergoing final preparations for her inaugural season and sea trials with the U.S. Coast Guard are scheduled for later this month.

The American Empress will begin service April 5 after a christening ceremony in Portland, Ore. Her maiden voyage will be a nine-day journey immersing guests in the splendor of the Columbia and Snake Rivers featuring stops at some of the region's most celebrated ports including Astoria, Ore.; Stevenson, Wash.; The Dalles, Ore.; Sacajawea State Park, Wash. and finally Clarkston, Wash. Complimentary shore excursions will be available in every port and include the cultural and historical landmarks that signify the living legacy of the region's first settlers. Travelers with specific interests are encouraged to enjoy the variety of Premium Experience Excursions such as the Walla Walla Wine Trail or the Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum. Daily lectures will also be provided by the Riverlorian, an onboard history and culture expert.

The American Empress was built in 2003 and operated by Majestic America Line from 2003 to 2008, sailing Alaska's Inside Passage and the Pacific Northwest. Just as the American Queen brought luxury and grandeur to river cruising America's heartland, the American Empress will do the same for the Pacific Northwest.

Space remains on the American Empress inaugural season and will offer an unforgettable experience for even the most seasoned of travelers.

Ambiente commences operations as Azores sails from Lisbon

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 13 March 2014 13 March 2014

Ambiente Kreuzfahrten, the German tour operator, has commenced operations on 12 March as the chartered vessel Azores sailed from Lisbon, a day late due to technical problems.

The 550 passenger vessel is on charter from Portuscale Cruises, the Lisbon based company that took over most of the assets of Classic International Cruises, the Portuguese company that failed in 2012.

Ambient is based in Berlin and Azores is scheduled to operate cruises in the Mediterranean, Black Sea, Baltic Sea and in the Norwegian and Greenland waters for the German company.

Azores was built in Sweden in 1948 as Stockholm. However, it was completely rebuilt in Italy in 1994, when it re-entered service under the name Italia Prima.