News

Hurtigruten prepares for further growth – establishes separate expedition cruise entity

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 15 October 2020 15 October 2020

Hurtigruten reports strong demand for 2021 and 2022 cruises. Preparing for post-Covid-19 expansion, the company announces it will redefine its growing cruise operations by establishing a separate expedition cruise entity.

As the rest of the global travel industry, Hurtigruten is currently experiencing the challenges of the global Covid-19 pandemic.

"2020 is a tough year for everyone in the travel industry. But the set back is only temporary. For second half of 2021 and beyond, we are seeing a strong demand across all markets and all destinations, including the Norwegian coast, the Arctic and Antarctica," Group CEO Daniel Skjeldam says.

"The demand reflects our predictions that expedition cruises, with all our advantages such as smaller ships, more flexibility and fewer guests, will prove even more popular post-COVID-19," Skjeldam says.

Small ships – big demand

Hurtigruten Group CEO Daniel Skjeldam oversees Hurtigruten’s 15 ship operation that has grown significantly over the past years, both in number of ships, guests and destinations – including some of the most spectacular destinations on our planet.

Hurtigruten recently launched selected 2022/2023 voyages – including Antarctica and the Arctic – and reports a strong global demand.

"We have only seen the beginning of what’s to come. Hurtigruten see great demand and equally great opportunities in the expedition cruise segment from 2021 and beyond. This is the growth we are preparing for," Skjeldam says.

Hurtigruten is announcing that the global travel group is preparing for further growth, reorganizing their cruise operations in two different entities: Hurtigruten Expeditions and Hurtigruten Norway.   

Hurtigruten Expeditions

Hurtigruten’s expedition cruises includes more than 250 destinations from pole to pole, ranging from the Northwest Passage, Greenland, Norway, Svalbard, British Isles to Caribbean, South America and Antarctica.

As Hurtigruten consolidates the position as the world’s largest expedition cruise line, Asta Lassesen is appointed CEO of Hurtigruten’s global expedition cruise operations.

"As Hurtigruten continue to grow our expedition cruise offering, we will keep doing what we do best: Combining almost 130 years of exploration with cutting-edge innovation and our unparalleled commitment to sustainability to deliver unique experiences in some of the world’s most awe-inspiring destinations," Lassesen says. 

Hurtigruten’s expedition cruise entity will operate a fleet of 8 small size, custom built and greener expedition cruise ships. Starting in 2021, Hurtigruten is offering several new itineraries – including new year-round departures from United Kingdom and Germany, as well as a full Alaska season.

"We go where the big ships can’t, taking you far beyond the ordinary and closer to communities and nature, while exploring the true beauty of our planet in a more sustainable way," Lassesen says.

Hurtigruten Norway

Operating the Norwegian coast continuously since 1893, Hurtigruten has longer and more in-depth experience on the spectacular Norwegian coastline than any other cruise line. 

Hurtigruten’s iconic 2500 nautical mile between Bergen in the south to Kirkenes at the Russian border offers a unique combination of local travelers, goods and cruise guests, visiting and serving 34 communities along the rugged Norwegian coastline.

From 2021, Hurtigruten’s coastal operation will consist of 7 custom built ships, and operate under a separate entity with a yet to be named CEO.

"The Norwegian coast is our home. No one knows Norway like Hurtigruten, and from northern lights, the midnight sun, wildlife and local communities, there is no better way to experience authentic Norway than with Hurtigruten. We’ve pioneered the Norwegian coast for more than a century. But the best is yet to come," Skjeldam says.

Aris Batsoulis appointed as the new President of MedCruise

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 15 October 2020 15 October 2020

Aris Batsoulis is the new President of MedCruise, effective from mid-October 2020. Since 2017, Aris Batsoulis has held the position of SVP of MedCruise representing the port of Corfu, Greece. The announcement follows the decision of outgoing President Airam Díaz to leave his office as Commercial Director of the Port Authority of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

Following his nomination, Aris Batsoulis said: “It is with great honor to assume responsibility of the Presidency of the largest cruise ports association of the world, MedCruise. I would like to express my gratitude to Airam for his outstanding work throughout his term. Wishing him every success in his new position. I am committing and looking forward to working along with my skillfull colleagues, members of the MedCruise BoD and the Secretariat, to serving the needs of the members ports and associate members and collaborate with all the stakeholders of the cruise industry towards a responsible and sustainable growth. #PortsTogether and #WorkTogether are meaningful today, more than ever”.

“I would like to congratulate Aris Batsoulis on his appointment. I am confident that he will develop a great job. I would like also to thank all Board of Directors members for their commitment and excellent work during the last three years. Finally, I would like to recognise the dedication of the Secretariat team, Jordi Caballé, Anja Lohrum and Sara Valls, and encourage them to keep working hard," said Airam Díaz, now MedCruise Honorary President.

Aris Batsoulis is a Mechanical Engineer MSc. Since 2007 is the Head of Cruise Department, Port Facility Security Officer (since 2003) and the last ten years Development Director of Corfu Port Authority S.A.

MV Werften secures EUR 193 million to complete Crystal Endeavor and fund shipyard operations till March 2021

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 09 October 2020 09 October 2020

MV Werften announced this week that the yard has received an EUR 193 million loan to complete the Crystal Endeavor for delivery and keep the shipyard operations till March 2021. MV Werften and all its employees are very appreciative of the support of the State of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and the Federal authorities in receiving this support. All the funds from the loans will be used in Germany for MV Werften's shipyards.

Genting Hong Kong (GHK), the parent company of MV Werften has invested about 2 billion euros in the shipyards and the construction in progress of the Global Dream and Crystal Endeavor and had created about 3,000 direct jobs in the State plus thousands of indirect jobs in the cruise shipbuilding supply chain and the local economies of Wismar, Rostock and Stralsund.

GHK had been a very good client of Germany, ordering and taking delivery of 22 cruise ships built in Germany, almost half of Germany’s output from 1996 for the cruise brands which were under its control.

In 2016 GHK bought the yard group – and named it as a homage to the state Mecklenburg-Vorpommern – MV Werften – in order to build ships for its three cruise brands as the orderbook from existing shipyards were full and the earliest delivery was seven years into the future.

GHK invested in MV Werften, previously Nordic Yards, to build cruise ships because they have built the two AIDA cruise ships and cruise ferries. All the 3,000 employees of MV Werften are nationals of the European Union, with the majority German nationals with the rest from the European Union.

“GHK is an exemplary investor and fully relies on German management in the operations of MV Werften. We are very appreciative of the very significant investment, probably one of the largest made in Germany, and the creation of thousands of direct and indirect jobs for Germany and the EU," says Peter Fetten, the Chief Executive Officer. “MV Werften built four luxurious river ships for Crystal Cruises and they have been rated the best river ships in Europe. We are now completing the Crystal Endeavor, which will be again be the most luxurious polar class expedition yacht in the world for Crystal Cruises," he added.

“It is the impact of the COVID-19 that stopped the world’s cruise fleet, including GHK, that MV Werften has to turn to the State and Federal Government for support under the WSF, which had been established by the German Government to assist industries impacted by COVID-19,” added Carsten Haake, the Chief Financial Officer of MV Werften. “Since 2016, GHK had fully supported the shipyard and had not withdrawn any of the invested funds from Germany.”

GHK cruise ships are mainly deployed in Asia and Dream Cruises, one of its brands, is the world’s first cruise ship to start ocean destination cruises in Taiwan since July 26.

Yesterday Genting announced that the World Dream, built in Germany and the 9th best largest resort ship as rated by the Berlitz Guide to cruising, will restart domestic cruising on 6th November. This will be followed by Genting Dream starting cruises in Hainan and China in mid-November. GHK had two Star Cruises ships chartered to the Singapore Government to accommodate post-COVID patients without any incidents. GHK’s is one of few companies which did not have any COVID-19 cases on any of its cruise ships due to the high standards of health and safety developed with over 30 years of cruise experience and is the first cruise line to receive the CIP-M certification by DNV GL for infection prevention, including
COVID-19, for the marine industry.