News

One person missing after Carnival Triumph breaks from moorings

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 04 April 2013 04 April 2013

One person is reported missing after Carnival Triumph, which is undergoing repairs after an suffered an engine room fire in the Caribbean, broke from its moorings in Mobile in a storm, media reports say.

“The Coast Guard is searching for a man knocked into the Mobile River after high winds hit the area Wednesday, blowing the man's security guard hut into the water and causing the Carnival Triumph cruise ship to break loose from its repair dock,” a CNN report says.

The ship suffered some damage in the incident that took place in near hurricane force storm. “A 20-foot gash about 2 to 3 feet wide was visible about halfway up the hull from the water and it wrapped partway around the stern,” Huffington Post reports.

Underneath the, two levels of railing were dangling and broken. electric cables that had been plugged in on shore were dangling from the port side of the ship, it continued.

STX Shipbuilding & Offshore seeks debt restructuring

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 03 April 2013 03 April 2013

STX Shipbuilding & Offshore, one of the three key units in the South Korean STX Business Group, has sought debt restructuring and saw its shares fall by 15% for second day in a row, media reports say.

”Through the debt restructuring agreement, we hope that creditors will roll over our maturing debts and provide some financial support, while we continue efforts to sell our assets,” STX was quoted by the Financial Times newpaper as saying.

STX Europe owns two shipyards in Finland and has a 66% stake in STX France with a yard in St Nazaire that, like the Finnish yards, build cruise liners and ferries.

The three principal units in the STX Business Group - STX Shipbuilding & Offshore, STX Pan Ocean and STX Corporation have KRW1.13 trillion (1KRW = 0.09USD) worth of bonds maturing this year, the Bloomberg news agency has reported. The group received no bids for a 36% stake in STX Pan Ocean, a bulk and tanker shipping company, it had put on the market, with bids closing on 29 March.

In Finland, economics and employment minister Jan Vapaavuori has called the situation of the STX Business Group as ”worrying, but not surprising.” STX employs 2,200 staff in at the two yards there.

Norwegian Breakaway successfully completes sea trials

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 29 March 2013 29 March 2013

Norwegian Cruise Line today announced that the line's newest and most innovative ship to date, Norwegian Breakaway, successfully completed her technical and nautical sea trials which took place off the coast of Norway and Denmark. Over the course of several days beginning on March 25, Norwegian Breakaway underwent a series of stringent tests to assess various nautical and technical elements, including the ship's speed, maneuverability, and more.

In order to assess the ship's speed, the Captain, navigational officers and representatives from Meyer Werft tested all of the various power outputs for the propellers. The speed was then adjusted to various levels at each power output level. Every speed test that Norwegian Breakaway underwent was successful and exceeded the required technical specifications.

To demonstrate the agility of the ship, Norwegian Breakaway performed a Williamson's Turn, to determine how well the ship would be able to turn around in the event of an on board emergency. The Zig Zag test was also conducted to demonstrate the ship's ability to rapidly maneuver away from danger ahead, while still maintaining its forward course. Norwegian Breakaway passed both of these important tests successfully.

Norwegian Breakaway also executed a successful Turning Circle test that is conducted by powering the ship at full speed ahead and then quickly turning on the azipods, the ship's propulsion units, to monitor the behavior of the vessel. When conducting the Turning Circle test, a certain minimum diameter is required in order to prove the ship's seaworthiness and Norwegian Breakaway successfully executed all tests.

A Crash Test was also performed. This test is conducted by running the ship full steam ahead and then quickly reversing the azipods in order to assess the ship's stoppage capabilities. The stoppage is monitored in terms of time and distance and Norwegian Breakaway exceeded all of the standards set.

Finally, noise and vibration tests were performed to ensure that there is proper insulation between all staterooms, corridors and public areas. Wind levels on Norwegian Breakaway's pool deck and The Waterfront, the ship's outdoor dining and recreational area, were also assessed.

Norwegian's nautical team reported that the conditions for Norwegian Breakaway's sea trials were extraordinary, and that the ship successfully completed all of the very important tests and trials that were conducted.

With the sea trials now complete, the on board operations team will continue the ship's set up, getting Norwegian's newest ship ready to receive guests for a series of inaugural events and transatlantic voyage. Following those events, the largest cruise ship to ever be constructed in Germany, will sail seven-day cruises from New York City to Bermuda through October 2013.