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Seabourn orders new ship from Fincantieri

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines

Published: 18 October 2013 18 October 2013

 Fincantieri, the world leader in cruise ship construction, and Seabourn, a Carnival Corporation & plc brand, have signed a letter of intent for a new ultra-luxury cruise ship.
 
The new ship, due to join the Seabourn fleet in the second half of 2016, will be built according to the standards and technical solutions that make Seabourn one of the most prestigious brands in the super-luxury segment.
 
“We are pleased to be moving forward with the plans we announced earlier this year to build a fourth ship similar to the highly regarded new design we introduced with Seabourn Odyssey, Seabourn Sojourn, and Seabourn Quest,” said Seabourn President, Richard Meadows. “The experience and the amenities offered by these award-winning ships has raised the bar in ultra-luxury cruising.”
 
Gabriele Cocco, Fincantieri's Executive Senior Vice President Merchant Vessels, said: "We are very pleased to have acquired a new customer like Seabourn and at the same time to have strengthened our historic partnership with the Carnival Group. This agreement is particularly important: it strengthens our leadership in the luxury cruise niche and confirms our primacy in the cruise industry."

QE2 Holdings selects COSCO Shipyard to refurbish Queen Elizabeth 2 into five-star hotel

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines

Published: 16 October 2013 16 October 2013

For over four decades, the Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2) was “The Most Famous Ocean Liner in the World”. Yesterday, QE2 Holdings Ltd. (“QE2 Holdings”) announced its appointment of COSCO Shipyard Group (“COSCO Shipyard”), a subsidiary of China Ocean Shipping Company (COSCO), to complete the refurbishment of the QE2 into a luxury floating hotel – taking the ship into the next chapter of its illustrious history.

The cruise ship, which hosted kings, queens, presidents, prime ministers and celebrities throughout its legendary 40-year history, will depart from Dubai and arrive in COSCO Shipyard’s facility in Zhoushan, Zhejiang Province. Once there, it will receive a thorough revitalization and makeover that is scheduled for completion by 2015. The existing 990 staterooms onboard the cruise ship will be converted into 400 premium all-suites ranging from 60 to 150 square metres. COSCO Shipyard will be responsible for all the technical repairs and coordinate with an appointed interior renovation contractor to revamp the accommodation and ballroom, as well as the refitting of seven restaurants, 10 lounges, a cinema, a maritime museum displaying QE2 memorabilia, and a shopping mall.

Mr Khamis Juma Buamim, Chairman of QE2 Holdings and Dubai’s Drydocks World, said, “No other ship can match the QE2’s prestige, or her legacy. She is an absolute icon of maritime history, one of the best and most powerful ships in the world. Therefore, our decision on a partner was critical.”

“We are pleased to be working closely with COSCO Shipyard for the technical repair and refurbishment process, which will be carried out with the utmost respect to the QE2’s heritage and splendour. China COSCO’s expertise in cruise ship conversion will complement our extensive experience in comprehensive ship repair work and upgrades.”

Mr Yan Chengxiang, Vice President of COSCO Shipyard, said, “The Zhoushan shipyard is one of COSCO’s largest and newest, and it certainly has the capacity to host a cruise ship of the QE2’s stature. QE2 Holdings’ decision to carry out this work with us is a reflection of COSCO Shipyard and COSCO Group’s leading position in China’s shipbuilding industry, and it also should also generate optimism for a sector that is rapidly transforming.”

QE2 Holdings also announced that it has invited seven international interior architecture houses to participate in a competition for the interior design and concept for the QE2’s conversion into an all-suite luxury floating hotel. Submitted designs from Benoy of UK, BG Studio of USA, Jerde Partnership of USA, Dsign Vertti Kivi from Finland, Ong & Ong of Singapore, Santarossa of Italy and Wilson Associates of USA will be showcased at the official QE2 website (http://www.qe2hotels.com) for public review and comment from Oct 15 to Nov 15, 2013.

Mr Daniel Chui, President and Chief Executive of QE2 Holdings and Managing Director of Oceanic Group, said, “The QE2 offers more than 500,000 square feet of usable space, in a structure roughly equivalent to any five-star hotel. The ship’s redevelopment is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for any interior design professional to create what will become one of Asia’s major waterfront tourist attractions. The goal for the final design is to preserve the soul of the QE2 — many of the original furnishings and much of the décor will be incorporated — while creating a modern luxury hotel.”

The winner of the competition will be chosen by QE2 Holdings and an advisory panel composed of some of the most illustrious names in the global architectural and design industry, based on a list of set criteria to be posted on the QE2 website and comments from the public. The results will be announced on November 30, 2013.

Star Cruises’ newbuilding to feature 1,000sqm of retail area to attract Asians

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines

Published: 15 October 2013 15 October 2013

Star Cruises, the Asia-Pacific focused cruise line that is part of Genting Hong Kong group, says the newbuilding it contracted from Meyer Werft last week will be approximately 330 meters long and feature large retail areas to appeal to Asian customers.

“To cater to the preference of Asia cruisers, more than 1,000 square meters of floor area will be designated for retail. With luxury products from all over the world available on this shopping centre on the sea, cruisers can treat themselves to a shopping spree whenever and wherever they want,” Star Cruises said in a statement.

The ship will also feature 33 food and beverage outlets. The restaurants, bars and cafes specialising in international and Asian cuisines will be complemented by a state-of-the-art theatre, and 19 world-class recreation, health & fitness and MICE facilities such as aqua slides, kids’ waterpark and meeting rooms, the company said.

Once completed in 2016, the €707.2 million ship that will measure about 150,000 gross tons and have more than 1,600 cabins, will be the largest ship permanently homeported in Asia. It will also be the largest under the Star Cruises brand.

European yards of STX could be sold before year-end – report

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines

Published: 11 October 2013 11 October 2013

European shipyard put up for sale by the ailing South Korean STX Offshore & Shipbuilding group could be sold befre the end of this year, a media report says.

MoneyToday has cited unidentified merger and acquisition specialists as saying STX Europe could fetch KRW 1 trillion ($933 million) in a disposal process beginning at the end of November. STX Offshore & Shipbuilding’s major creditor Korea Development Bank (KDB) is reportedly close to completing its due diligence on the company and is ready to offload yards in France and Finland.

STX Offshore & Shipbuilding owns 64% of the shares in STX France and 100% in STX Finland through its fully owned subsidiary company STX Europe, which has its headquarters in Oslo. STX Finland recently announced the closure of its shipyard inRauma, with a loss of about 700 jibs in the company.

The French yard, in St Nazaire, and the two Finnish yards have built cruise liners and ferries, while STX Finland also owns a 50% stake in Aker Arctic, which specialises in Arctic tonnage.

STX has already sold off STX OSV, a Singapore based company that builds offshore services vessels in various countries,  to Italy's Fincantieri and Norway’s Floro yard to Westcon Group.

There was more bad news for STX’s restructuring yards on Thursday as group company STX Pan Ocean, itself under court receivership, announced newbuilding cancellations worth $225 million, $220 million of which is at STX plants.