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Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines appoints Ruth Ryland PR Executive

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 30 July 2013 30 July 2013

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, the UK based destinational cruise operator, has announced the appointment of Ruth Ryland as its new Public Relations Executive, based in the company’s Head Office in Ipswich, Suffolk. Ruth has joined Public Relations Manager, Rachael Jackson, and Public Relations Assistant, Wendy Jeffreys, on the in-house PR team.

Rachael Jackson, Public Relations Manager for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said: “We are delighted to welcome Ruth Ryland to Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, and we know that she will be a valuable asset to our in-house Public Relations team. Ruth comes from a dynamic PR agency background, so she will be able to use her varied experience and creative skills to build relationships and promote our award-winning cruise line.”

Ruth was previously Senior Account Executive at Suffolk-based PR agency, Genesis PR, where she was responsible for handling four local and national client accounts. Prior to that, Ruth studied for an English Literature Degree at the University of East Anglia, before completing her MA in Public Relations from the London College of Communication, whilst completing an eight-month internship at Wild Card PR in London.

Her responsibilities encompassed media relations, researching, writing press releases, copywriting, assisting in the organisation and implementation of events and crisis management. Ruth is also an active member of the East Anglia Chartered Institute of Public Relations Committee.

Ruth Ryland, the new Public Relations Executive for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said: “I am very proud to have joined Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines at an exciting, yet challenging, time for the cruise industry. I have a strong interest in travel personally and I am thrilled to be able to pursue that interest professionally as well.”

“It is a pleasure to be promoting such an impressive and unique product, and to be working for such a reputable company. I am looking forward to using my practical and academic experience in the Public Relations profession to help build on Fred. Olsen’s already- exceptional reputation.”

Fincantieri, Krylov in strategic deal as Italian builder deepens non-passenger ship focus

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 29 July 2013 29 July 2013

Fincantieri, Italian state owned shipbuilder that is major builder of cruise and ferry tonnage, and the Krylov State Research Centre of Russia, one of the world's most prestigious centres for shipbuilding research, have signed a framework agreement with the aim of jointly developing new projects for technological innovation within the industry, Fincantieri said in a statement.

The Italian company that has relied heavily on cruise ships and ferries in recent years said in its 2012 annual report that it wants to pursue growth diversification. Late last year, it acquired the listed offshore services vessel builder STX OSV as it identified the offshore sector as key area in this new strategy.

“The agreement, with an initial five-year term, stipulates that a series of initiatives will be undertaken in the partners' respective areas of operation, including joint research and development activities, the realization of new generation products and the provision of services,” Fincantieri said in the statement.

For Fincantieri, this agreement not only offers the prospect of technological progress, but also represents an extremely significant achievement in strategic terms. In fact, it will be able to benefit in many different ways from the Krylov Centre’s unique research & design knowledge of the high-tech vessels and offshore engineering structures, that will contribute to achieve the common goal of designing the most sophisticated vessels and offshore structures in accordance with the highest international standards, it said.

Krylov also stands to benefit from the exchange of knowledge with Fincantieri, which will give the Centre access to its enormous technological and manufacturing know-how gained in the construction and marketing of highly complex vessels.

Cooperation of the companies will allow to turn a new leaf in the history of specialized shipbuilding and Russian-Italian partnership. The first project involving joint activities related to comprehensive high-technology vessel will be defined in the nearest days.

Giuseppe Bono, Fincantieri CEO: "We consider the agreement with the Krylov Centre, internationally recognized as the most authoritative centre in the field of shipbuilding research, to be strategically important. We have always maintained that technological innovation, an unparalleled driver of development, is essential for dealing with a devastating crisis, like the current one that has changed the global scenario. The partnership with our Russian friends can only help us to progress in this direction, allowing us to improve still further and consolidate the excellence and leadership achieved".

Andrey Vladimirovich Dutov, Director General of the Krylov State Research Centre: "I believe that cooperation between our companies supported by unique scientific expertise and the state-of-the-art research & testing facilities of the Krylov Centre combined with strong experience of Fincantieri in design and construction of sophisticated vessels will contribute to synergy in development of high-end offshore engineering structures and result in successful implementation thereof in the global shipbuilding market".

Stena Line’s Harwich-Hook of Holland service sets passenger record in first half

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 29 July 2013 29 July 2013

Stena Line, the Gothenburg based ferry company, said it transported a total of 246,000 passengers between Harwich and the Hook of Holland in the first six months of 2013, setting a new record with a growth rate almost three times that of UK-Nerherlands air travel.

The service operates two 64,000 gross ton vessels, the Stena Britannica and Stena Hollandica, which were built in 2010.

“The figure represented an increase of 14,000 passengers on the North Sea route, a 5.9% uplift compared to the same period in 2012 and the largest first-half passenger volumes since the current timetable was established six years ago.

By comparison, air passenger numbers between the UK and the Netherlands grew less significantly during the first six months of 2013, with a year-on-year increase of just 2.2%

The ferry operator achieved particularly strong growth in car numbers on the route. The first half of 2013 saw a 9.6% lift in cars transported, equivalent to 5,000 more than the prior-year period.

Stena Line also saw a year-on-year increase of 5.7 % in coach traffic on the Harwich-Hook of Holland route between January and June.

STX Shipbuilding & Offshore creditors to pump KRW3trillion in company – reports

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 29 July 2013 29 July 2013

Creditors of the troubled South Korean STX Shipbuilding & Offshore group plan to pump cash into the ailing company that controls a passenger ship building yard in France and two in Finland via its STX Europe subsidiary in Oslo, news agencies report.

The company’s creditors last week agreed to pump up to KRW3 trillion in the company, the Yonhap news agency reported, while Reuters said the parties were close to an KRW2.15trillion cash injection.

“The group, whose businesses range from shipbuilding to components that go into vessels, has been trying to raise KRW2.5 trillion ($2.2 billion) by selling stakes in units as bulk shipping rates fell and ship orders tumbled,” a report by Bloombergs said.

STX Shipbuilding & Offshore has decided to sell its 66% stake in STX France and 100% holding in STX Finland as part of efforts to restore the financial health of the debt-ridden company. Last year, it sold its stake in the Singapore listed STX OSV Holding group, which owns a number of offshore services vessel builders. Fincantieri in Italy acquired the business that has since been renamed Vard.

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ losses deepen in second quarter and first half

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 29 July 2013 29 July 2013

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, the UK based destinational cruise shipping company, has experienced deeper losses in both the second quarter and first half of 2013 compared to the respective periods a year earlier.

In the second quarter, the Ipswich based operator of four ships booked a net loss of NOK42 million, which was NOK6 million more than in the corresponding period a year earlier. Revenues fell to NOK340 million from NOK391million.

In January-June, the loss amounted to NOK 88 million, an increase from NOK77 million in the same period last year. Revenues declined to NOK726 million from NOK839 million, parent company Bonheur ASA said in a statement.

“The UK cruise market continued to experience difficult economic conditions resulting in lower sale and occupancy. Number of passenger days totaled 284 964 (314 991) for the quarter. Net ticket income per diem was at the same level as same quarter last year. The average spot price of fuel oil in the quarter was 5% lower compared to second quarter 2012,’ Bonheur stated.

Bonheur is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange and it is controlled by the Fred. Olsen family. Its net profit rose to NOK545million in the second quarter of 2013 from NOK498million a year earlier.