FSG to build a new ferry for Scottish Caledonian Maritime Assets

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 24 June 2012 24 June 2012

Shipbuilders at FSG have taken their second order inside just a few weeks, booking the design and construction of a new type of RoPax ferry for Scottish shipowner Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL). The new ferry will go into service in 2014 between Stornoway and Ullapool linking the mainland of northwestern Scotland with the Isle of Lewis in the Hebrides. Because of her high-value and modern design and construction, the ferry will be capable of round-the-clock operation and for this reason will replace two local ferries. She will be 116 metres long, accommodate 700 passengers and boast 372 lane metres for 143 cars or 26 trucks.

Once again FSG was able to beat off competition from many international yard rivals to bring this order back to Flensburg and there were some good reasons for this. FSG Managing Director Peter Sierk said "for the customer, serving this route with just one rather than two ships was the most economic solution. Doing so means, however, that the new ferry has to be capable of meeting very high demands on a daily basis."

Quite apart from quality, the ferry has to be as reliable as possible so that timetable delays and even breakdowns can be avoided. "It is extremely important to our client," said Peter Sierk, "that he can provide the best possible service to his own customers in turn, in other words his passengers. That’s why he chose us, because we can offer just the right kind of reliable ship operation." He said CMAL had decided that FSG had most to offer, including: - Delivery and deadline reliability - high economic efficiency - Excellent price-performance ratio - Top quality “built by Flensburger” - Low operational costs - Low emissions.

It is now a well-known fact on the global market that ships built by FSG not only consu- me up to 30 percent less fuel than conventional vessels but are also characterised by particularly low emission levels. Delivery of this latest newbuilding is planned for June 2014 and the owner will take the ferry into service immediately after that. Peter Sierk: "This order demonstrates once again that we can score points with indivi- dual and innovative solutions which are in the best interests of the customer. That’s our forte. We understand customer demands, come to grips with them and in the end come up with a concept which is just what the customer wants. You hardly ever find that happening anywhere else."

Because FSG is so good in the research and development sectors "we are able to convert this strength into a real competitive advantage."

Currently in the yard’s order book are two RoRo freight ferries for Ulusoy Sealines in Turkey, a RoRo freight ferry for U.N. Ro-Ro, also in Turkey, a ConRo ferry for a Canadian shipping company, two multi-functional project load vessels for Rolldock in the Netherlands, two offshore seismic ships for WesternGeco in England and, now, the RoPax ferry for CMAL in Scotland. Other promising projects remain under intensive study by our sales department. 

O3b Networks to provide ultra-fast Internet communications to Oasis of the Seas

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 23 June 2012 23 June 2012

O3b Networks today announced a milestone multi-year, multi-million dollar agreement with Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. to provide high-speed satellite-delivered broadband service aboard the world's largest cruise ship. By summer 2013, more than 8,000 guests, staff and crew members aboard the cruise industry leader's flagship Oasis of the Seas – under the Royal Caribbean International brand – will be the first to enjoy O3b's enhanced connectivity at sea as if connected to fiber at home or in the office.

A true technology innovator, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. is the first to utilize O3b's new maritime offering O3b Maritime, which delivers the reach of satellite and the speed and latency of fiber at a fraction of the cost of conventional providers. O3b is enabling maritime service providers to offer affordable fiber-like capacity across the Caribbean and ocean regions around the world. Providing unparalleled bandwidth, O3b's steerable satellite beams will provide cruise industry passengers ultra-fast Internet communications throughout their voyage.

"Royal Caribbean is committed to delivering the most contemporary vacation to our guests, and that includes pushing ahead for onboard technological advances that offer the modern conveniences that guests enjoy on land," said Adam M. Goldstein, President and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. "This milestone agreement with O3b Networks enables us to provide our guests with unprecedented Internet service at sea aboard Oasis of the Seas and potentially in the future aboard other ships in our fleet."

"From the moment we met the Royal Caribbean team we were struck by an intense customer focus and a determination to provide an unrivalled cruise experience to their guests on boar," said Steve Collar, Chief Executive Officer, O3b Networks. With O3b Maritime, Oasis of the Seas will experience connection speeds that are an order of magnitude higher and latency that is four times lower than offered in the market today. "At O3b, we believe that affordable, high speed broadband should always be within reach – wherever you are in the world, on land and at sea – and we are delighted to showcase the unrivalled performance of O3b Maritime together with Royal Caribbean."

Destinations, people, local colours key to Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ passengers

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Published: 22 June 2012 22 June 2012

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, the Norwegian owned company that is based in Ipswich in the UK, has launched its 2013/14 worldwide cruise brochure. The 244-page colourful publication epitomises the line’s forward strategies and ambition, while company officials also published some performance data that they have not done previously, Alan Lam reports.

During the launch reception, held in the Royal Geographical Society in London, Nathan Philpot, the Sales and Marketing Director, introduced the brochure as “the most lavish ever”.

After carrying out various studies and talking to their customers during the year, the line came to the conclusion that the current cruise focus is on destination. “Not the brand or the ship, our guests want more time in port,” said Nathan Philpot. “They want to meet the people, experience and local colours and see the world. They don’t want cramped public spaces, ports of no interest and unnecessary dress codes.”

The itineraries in the new brochure are based on these findings. Among its myriads of cruise programmes, from mini two-night cruises to its longest-ever 114-night grand world cruise, there are a few new features. Fred. Olsen’s ex-UK cruises will include three new ports of departure - Liverpool, Harwich and Belfast. In total, the ships will depart from nine UK ports. “90% of the UK residents will be no more than 90 minutes away from one of Fred. Olsen ships,” stated Nathan Philpot. The company’s focus on the UK is relentless. There will be 98 ex-UK cruises for the 2013/14 season.

As a part of its more destination-orientated approach, Fred. Olsen has introduced a whole host of maiden ports, including Osaka, Vaasa, Townsville (Australia), Melilla, and Yangan (Burma). “Our ships are smaller and they can go further. We can go directly into the hearts of Ho Chi Minh City and Manaus, for example.”

The itineraries include a new fly-cruise to Tenerife, the traditional destination of Fred. Olsen. This cruise has proven to be extremely popular and is selling very well, according to Nathan Philpot. Other popular choices include - perhaps not surprisingly - the around the UK cruises, the Amazon, Arctic and White Sea, Northern light, and world cruises.

Perhaps the most radical of all is that the line will go “all-inclusive” as from 2013. The new slogan is “The drinks are on us!”

Special efforts are made to promote its 114-night world cruise that include South America and Australasia, and the 104-night world cruise that includes Burma and Japan. A good deal of emphasis has been placed upon far away destinations.

Performance

Fred. Olsen’s booking pattern echoes the general trend of the sector – it is getting later and slower.

So far this year:

Guests          -5%

Revenue      -3.5%

Yield             +2%

 

On booking pattern:

25% booking inside 6 weeks

75% booking inside 3 months

Over 50% customers are repeaters

Xiamen said to plan newbuilding, tonnage acquisitions

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 21 June 2012 21 June 2012

Xiamen International Cruise Company in China is reported to plan a newbuilding that would be built at a domestic yard plus seek to acquire second hand tonnage, media reports in China say.

According to a report in Xiamen Daily report, the planned newbuilding would be of about 100,000 gross tons, and it would provide comfortable accommodations to over 2000 passengers on international trips. Meanwhile, Xiamen is speeding up the preparatory works for transforming Dongdu Port into an international cruise homeport and building a Southeast International Shipping Center.

Shan-Hai-Shu Group and Xiamen International Cruise Copmpany recently launched the 2012 cruise season using Legend of the Seas chartered from Royal Caribbean International. Xiamen is also reported to look at the acquisition of second hand tonnage, with Hapag-Lloyd’s 1999 built Europa as one candidate.