Åbo Akademi and Meyer Turku deepen their green transition cooperation

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 05 October 2023 05 October 2023

The long-standing cooperation between Åbo Akademi and Meyer Turku was further strengthened at the Meyer Turku shipyard on Wednesday, October 4th with a signed partnership agreement.

The agreement period is five years and the focus lies initially on Åbo Akademi's Faculty of Natural Sciences and Technology and Meyer Turku's Business Finland funded green transition program NEcOLEAP. An important form of practical cooperation will be the "Green transition lab", a shared workspace to be established on the Åbo Akademi campus, which supports the interaction between researchers and industry. The presence of researchers at the shipyard in Perno will also be increased within the framework of joint projects.

A long-term goal is also to create interdisciplinary strategic cooperation between several different faculties of Åbo Akademi and Meyer Turku. The partnership agreement also includes a sponsored professorship, doctoral student positions and a range of courses adapted for lifelong learning in the shipbuilding industry.

"To support the ambitious goals in the agreement, we will initially focus on appointing the professorship in sustainability that Meyer finances with a particular focus on process technology, energy technology and industrial engineering and management. This is a very significant and highly valued collaboration for us," says Kim Wikström, professor of industrial engineering and management at Åbo Akademi.

"We are very satisfied with this agreement, which will bring our company’s and Åbo Akademi Universitie's’ scientific expertise even closer together. Technical fields naturally play a key role in shipbuilding, but our common goal, a more sustainable maritime industry, requires top experts also from many other disciplines. Turku as a thriving study and working region offers a strong framework for this. The now signed agreement also ensures that we will expand the interaction between the Academy and the business world," says Tim Meyer, CEO of Meyer Turku.

"Partnerships between industry and universities is valuable. The cooperation with Meyer towards an important goal like the green transition is very meaningful. Increasing interdisciplinarity will bring us ever closer to our common goal," says Åbo Akademi Rector Mikael Lindfelt.

Chantiers de l'Atlantique floats out The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection's second vessel

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 30 September 2023 30 September 2023

The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection marked a significant construction milestone with the successful float out of its next superyacht, Ilma, at Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France. This traditional maritime celebration brought together senior leadership and shipbuilders in anticipation of Ilma touching water for the first time, signifying the commencement of its next phase of construction in preparation for its maiden voyage in 2024.

The float out event was attended by company leadership from The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection including Jim Murren, Executive Chairman and CEO, and Ernesto Fara, President and CFO. Also present were representatives from Chantiers de l’Atlantique, including Laurent Castaing, General Manager, and Arnaud Le Joncour, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing.

As part of the float out, the yacht’s dry dock was filled with water overnight, then moved to an outfitting dock where it will remain for the rest of its build leading to sea trials in April and start of its first season. Now afloat, final-stage construction will focus on completing interiors, fixtures, and fittings for suites, restaurants, and other public spaces that will welcome guests to experience a new journey of discovery at sea in just less than a year.

“As we celebrate this remarkable milestone, we are immensely proud of the dedication and craftsmanship by all those involved in the construction of Ilma,” remarked Jim Murren. “We are thrilled to have partnered with the team at Chantiers de l’Atlantique and are excited to enter the next stage of construction and outfitting in anticipation of the yacht’s inaugural journey next year, expanding our fleet and vision within the ultra-luxury space.”

Ilma, meaning “water” in Maltese, will be the second newbuild superyacht from The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. Measuring 790-feet, the yacht will feature 224 airy, light-filled suites, all with private terraces, and will accommodate up to 448 passengers. Paving the way for a new era of cruising, this brand extension introduces an entirely unique experience at sea, illustrating the ongoing commitment to innovative luxury travel experiences from The Ritz-Carlton. Ilma will offer expansive public spaces and will have one of the highest space ratios at sea, ensuring an exceptional journey.

The onboard experience will reflect the unparalleled lifestyle and legendary service for which The Ritz-Carlton brand is recognized, including state-of-the-art technology, five distinct dining venues, and a Ritz-Carlton Spa.

Delivering thoughtfully curated itineraries and unforgettable journeys for guests, Ilma will join the company’s first yacht Evrima in visiting the most coveted destinations in the Mediterranean and Caribbean, with select ports of call in Central America and South America, depending on the season.

The yacht’s sleek and graceful exterior design, expertly crafted by Helsinki-based design studio Aivan, draws inspiration from the elegant aesthetics of private yacht design. Interiors will seamlessly blend warmth and sophistication with a relaxed atmosphere, showcasing modern craftsmanship and interior finishes imagined by AD Associates, a renowned London-based architectural and design firm, and award-winning lighting designer, DPA.

“We are thrilled to witness Ilma’s float out. Ilma embodies Chantiers de l’Atlantique’s dedication to ultra-luxury,” expressed Arnaud Le Joncour. “This milestone marks the beginning of the next construction phase of outfitting. Drawing inspiration from Ilma’s elegance, clean lines, and unique features, our teams are united in the pursuit of meeting the expectations of today’s most discerning luxury travelers.”

Explora I makes its U.S. debut

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 29 September 2023 29 September 2023

The port of New York City welcomed Explora I for its maiden call to mark Explora Journeys’ debut in the U.S.on September 25 The luxury ship is the first of a fleet of six ships of the luxury travel brand of the MSC Group.

The maritime tradition of a crest exchange to celebrate a ship’s first visit to a destination took place on board the vessel at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal between the ship’s master Captain Diego Michelozzi and Captain Zeita Merchant, Commanding Officer of the U.S. Coast Guard Sector New York.

Michael Ungerer, CEO, Explora Journeys, said, “We are very proud to bring our extraordinary new ship, Explora I, to New York City. New York City is one of the most important destinations in the Northeastern U.S. and it is an honor to showcase our highly anticipated new ship and luxury experience in the North American market. Our team has worked tirelessly to push the boundaries of innovation and excellence to create a product that we are thrilled for guests to see when they embark in New York City.”

Explora I set sail for her inaugural East Coast U.S. and Canada voyage following the maiden call in New York. The itinerary will call Boston, Massachusetts in the U.S. and Saint John, Bay of Fundy and Quebec City in Canada. The luxury ship will then sail two additional 7-night journeys along the East Coast of the U.S. and Canada, before heading to Miami, Florida for the beginning of the Caribbean season.

Ungerer added, “Throughout these journeys, our guests will experience the authentic and bespoke experiences offered by Explora Journeys. With best-in-class service, exquisite onboard offerings and immersive destination experiences, they will reach an ‘Ocean State of Mind’. A balanced blend of on- and off-the-beaten-path destinations will allow our guests on Explora I to indulge in authentic cultural experiences and a slower pace of travel, leaving them rejuvenated and inspired.”

Explora I is equipped with the latest environmental and marine technologies, including selective catalytic reduction technology, shore power plug-in connectivity, underwater noise management systems to protect marine life and a comprehensive range of onboard energy efficient equipment to optimize engine use to further reduce emissions.

Explora I first set sail in July 2023. Explora II will enter service in summer 2024 and operate until April 2025 in the Mediterranean Sea and the Middle East. Explora III and Explora IV will both be powered by liquefied natural gas and enter service in 2026 and 2027 respectively. Explora V and Explora VI will both be powered by hydrogen and enter service in 2027 and 2028 respectively.

Editor's note: We are currently onboard the Explora I to prepare our cover story for the Winter 2023/2024 issue.

Hurtigruten Expeditions rebrands as HX

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 24 September 2023 24 September 2023

After launching the world’s first expedition cruise in 1896, Hurtigruten Group AS is taking its adventure travel brand Hurtigruten Expeditions to the next phase. This includes a new global brand identity that will launch this December, with a new name, HX, and logo across all materials. The new name is a nod to Hurtigruten Expeditions and its origins.

Hurtigruten Norway, which celebrated 130 years of operating the original Norwegian Coastal Express this summer, will continue with the iconic name but simplified to just “Hurtigruten”, maintaining the same name as when it first launched in 1893, signifying “the fast route” in Norwegian. Both Hurtigruten Expeditions and Hurtigruten Norway are 100 percent owned by Hurtigruten Group and form a portfolio of sustainable travel brands that includes extensive land-based activities, including hotels, restaurants, and more through Hurtigruten Svalbard, and a 25 percent stake in Ecuador-based Metropolitan Touring, the pioneers of sustainable travel in the Galápagos Islands.

"The name Hurtigruten is synonymous with travel in Norway, just as it has been a renowned travel brand for over 130 years. Today’s evolution of our brand identities is the culmination of the work that started in 2021 when we split the two brands,” said Daniel Skjeldam, CEO, Hurtigruten Group. “HX will remain at the forefront of expedition cruising and sustainable travel as we continue to significantly grow its global presence while strengthening Hurtigruten’s iconic position on the Norwegian coast. With HX, we are investing in our high-end expedition itineraries to some of the most adventurous, remote places around the world. While we have traditionally been known as the Polar experts, we launched the Galápagos Islands last year, which is already our third most popular destination. And we will be the only cruise liner to exclusively sail the West African archipelagos of both Cape Verde and the Bissagos Islands in this year’s most exciting new itinerary, which we are launching this fall."

The new HX brand and logo will be fully implemented starting in December, with updates to brochures, websites, and social channels; livery repainting of the fleet’s six ships will commence over the next 18 months.

In 2020, the strategic separation of the two brands was announced to enhance operational and commercial autonomy for each business, allowing for the delivery of distinctly different guest experiences. Implementation of this separation began in 2021, and earlier this year, Hurtigruten Group completed its internal restructuring to align commercial and support functions with the dedicated ship operations. The Group also announced a fleet adjustment over the summer, shifting Hurtigruten Expeditions’ battery-hybrid-powered Otto Sverdrup to Hurtigruten Norway as of January 2024 while redeploying Maud to Antarctica due to growing demand. In the 2024-2025 Antarctica season, HX will offer guests more choices than any other expedition cruise company, with 36 departures across eight different itineraries spanning 12 to 24 days.

As the leader of expedition cruising, HX will continue to provide its guests with the same immersive small-ship experience deeply rooted in exploration with scientific research, expert-led lectures, and community advocacy at the heart of the experience. The Hurtigruten Group offers more itinerary options to Antarctica, the Galápagos Islands, Greenland, Svalbard, and the West African coast than any other expedition cruise company while also offering Alaska, Iceland, Canada’s Northwest Passage, the British Isles, and many other exciting destinations. The most sustainable fleet in the industry, HX’s vessels include Roald Amundsen, the world’s first-ever battery-hybrid-powered ship, and its sister ship, Fridtjof Nansen.

Hurtigruten Group remains steadfast in its commitment to becoming the world’s most sustainable adventure travel company by investing in technologies and solutions to achieve emission-free travel by 2050. As the leader in sustainable travel, they most recently announced Hurtigruten Norway’s zero-emission ship that will launch in 2030.