News

Cruise Shipping Asia-Pacific Hong Kong debut

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 21 November 2014 21 November 2014

This year’s UBM Cruise Shipping Asia-Pacific made its Hong Kong debut on the 20th and 21st of November. Cruise Business Review was again present at this well attended pan-Asian event, which was held in Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre. Alan Lam reports.

In a tumultuous excitement over the bourgeoning Chinese-led Asian cruise boom, the conference focused on the multifarious operating environment in Asia and called for lowering of barriers for further accelerated growth in the region, while recognising the progress already made by many local and national authorities in this respect. Aside from the unprecedented growth, the like of which has never been witnessed in the entire history of cruising, the industry has identified and acknowledged a number of challenges facing the sector in Asia.

Weak infrastructure, artificial obstacles, under-developed distribution networks, difficult itinerary planning and adverse weather conditions were among the issues listed as roadblocks for the industry moving forward.

In all the recent cruise industry gatherings around the world, China has been repeatedly mentioned as the emerging epicenter of cruise tourism. On this occasion the conference attempted to address the importance of the cruise business in the entire Asia Pacific region, including the Indian subcontinent, and its implications to the global economy.

While countries such as China, Singapore, Australia and South Korea are steaming ahead, others like Thailand, Indonesia, India and Vietnam are unwilling to be left too far behind. There are conspicuous signs and tangible development in most of these territories in terms of legislative changes and infrastructure upgrades in their efforts to impel cruise business growth.

A full, insightful report of this event will be published in the next issue of Cruise Business Review.

Fincantieri aims to work with CSSC to develop cruise ship building in China

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 21 November 2014 21 November 2014

Fincantieri, the Italian shipbuilding group, says an agreement signed with China State Shipbuilding Group (CSSC) and Carnival Corp & plc, the Anglo-American cruise shipping company, aim at starting cruise ship building in China.

"More particularly, Fincantieri would work with CSSC to develop cruise ships production capacity in China. Indeed, based on its experience as one of the world’s largest shipyards, Fincantieri would provide specialised services and components to support CSSC’s shipyards," Fincantieri said in a statement.

On its part, Carnival would work closely with CSSC and Fincantieri and contribute its expertise to create the vision, definition, and specifications for the China-built cruise ships.

The Chinese Ministry of Transport (MOT) projects China to be the second largest global cruise market after the U.S. in the next several years based on economic growth, increased spending power of Chinese consumers and growing demand for cruise vacations. China could see 4.5 million cruise passengers by 2020, according to the MOT, and is expected to eventually become the world’s largest cruise market.

Potential partnerships like the ones being explored between Fincantieri, Carnival and CSSC are aimed at supporting the MOT's pro-growth cruise policies and the rise of overall tourism in China.

“Building on our groundbreaking MOU signed with CSSC last month, this new agreement with Fincantieri gives us the opportunity to work with our longtime partner to further explore a formal joint venture that could forever change the landscape of shipbuilding in China” said Arnold Donald, CEO of Carnival Corporation & plc.

"After working diligently to get a deep understanding of China’s aggressive cruise ambitions, we’re collaborating with two of the world’s top shipbuilders in Fincantieri and CSSC to establish a framework for a world-class Chinese shipbuilding venture designed to help accelerate growth and demand for cruising in China in the years to come”.

Fincantieri’s CEO, Giuseppe Bono, said: “This agreement with Carnival, to which we are bound by a consolidated partnership, and with CSSC testifies our determination in pursuing a strategy that increasingly establishes Fincantieri as a global and reference player in the sector, with strong presence in all the markets that can ensure a future in our business."

"Indeed, new international scenarios are emerging, and with them new challenges arise in addition to existing ones and we are glad to contribute together with Carnival to develop the cruise shipbuilding capacity in China for the Chinese market. For this reason, our commitment must be ever-stronger in order to enable us to take advantage of such opportunities and continue to be an example of Italian style in the world."

Carnival group sustainability report shows CO2 emission cut target met ahead of plan

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 21 November 2014 21 November 2014

Carnival Corp & plc, the Anglo-American cruise shipping group, has released its 2013 Sustainability Report detailing the company’s sustainability efforts, including initiatives which enabled it to meet its corporate goal to reduce its rate of CO2 emissions from shipboard operations by 20%– a year ahead of its initial plan, the company said in a statement.

The report highlights extensive measures Carnival Corp & plc and its brands are taking to deliver on their commitment to continue to keep guests and crew members safe and comfortable, protect the environment, develop and provide opportunities for its workforce, strengthen its stakeholder relations and enhance the communities in which the company visits and operates, including:

·Committing to invest more than $400 million to install an industry-first exhaust gas cleaning technology to 70% of the fleet

·Introducing two new ships, Royal Princess and AIDAstella, that are among the most efficient ships at sea today, both from a unit cost and fuel efficiency standpoint

·Investing up to $700 million into the company’s ships and operations to ensure its ships operate safely and reliably, underscoring that the safety and comfort of guests and crew are the top priority for the company

·Adopting a Passenger Bill of Rights along with other members of the Cruise Line International Association (CLIA) to commit to further inform cruise guests of the industry’s commitment to their comfort and care

·Donating over $1.5 million to Typhoon Haiyan relief efforts in addition to other efforts to support the communities in which the company operates

·Making progress with its Asian growth strategy, positioning the company to capitalise on the emerging region including doubling its presence in China, successfully launching an inaugural homeport in Japan and opening offices in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore, Caernival said.