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

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 05 September 2013 05 September 2013

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

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 05 September 2013 05 September 2013

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

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 04 September 2013 04 September 2013

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

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 04 September 2013 04 September 2013

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.

Will Anthem of the Seas replace Independence in Southampton 2015?

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 04 September 2013 04 September 2013

It appears that Anthem of the Seas, the second Royal Caribbean International’s Quantum class vessel, may replace Independence of the Seas in Southampton in the UK in 2015.

A list of cruise ships visiting the Port of Le Havre in France shows that the ship will call at the French port six times in 2015, starting on 30 April and with the last call scheduled for 28 October. Southampton is either the previous or next port in the schedule of the ship, information posted on the website of the port shows.

Independence of the Seas does not appear on the list after the autumn of next year. Meanwhile, Adventure of the Seas, Royal Caribbean’s second Southampton based ship, is shown as due to visit Le Havre also in 2015, as is Brilliance of the Seas that operates a series of cruises from Harwich in the UK.

The Quantum class is designed for year-round operations from ports with wintry conditions as many activities that on most ships are outdoor will be indoors on these 168,000 gross ton ships that are on order at Meyer Werft in Germany.