Costa orders two more
Costa Crociere, of the Carnival group, has returned to Italy's Fincantieri for two more 114,200gt cruise ships to be delivered in 2011 and 2012 as sisters to the already delivered Costa Concordia and Costa Serena, as well as the new Costa Pacifica, currently being built at Sestri Ponente.
Salvors still working on Napoli
Dutch contractors Smit Salvage started operations to remove the stern section of the wreck of MSC Napoli from Lyme Bay on the Devon coast in early November 2007. Initially progress was brisk. Within a week, hydraulically operated shears had removed most of the vessel's 650-tonne accommodation block and upper-works. A 60-day first phase to cut the aft section in preparation to return in spring 2008 to lift the engine and remaining hull section seemed achievable.
Port Everglades to host Genesis
Royal Caribbean Cruise Line is to base both of its two new gigantic Genesis class ships year-round at Port Everglades, ending months of speculation as to which port would be selected to homeport the 6,400-passenger, 220,000gt giants. This significant extra business will propel Fort Lauderdale's port from third place in the world cruise rankings, behind Miami and Port Canaveral, to the number one spot. It is a blow to Miami, which has been RCCL's base since the line started nearly 40 years ago.
Northern rock
The future HMS Diamond was launched in typically 'dreich' Scottish weather on 27 November. The ship was the second Type 45 destroyer to enter the water in 2007, following the launch of Dauntless in January. The much-delayed programme is now making good progress with construction of the fourth and fifth ships, Dragon and Defender, also well advanced. The lead ship, Daring, successfully completed initial sea trials last August and is due to return to sea in March for further trials.
Oscar Wilde's stormy debut
Irish Ferries' new flagship Oscar Wilde (1987/31,914gt) completed a gale lashed first round-trip from Rosslare to Cherbourg over the opening weekend of December, the return passage taking 21 hours and delaying the next departure. Oscar Wilde, representing an investment of more than €50 million for purchase and onboard alterations and refit in Fredericia, Denmark, set off from Rosslare on 30 November 2007, 107 years to the day of the famous writer's death in Paris during 1900, still wearing the blue hull colour of former owners Color Line which, according to Irish Ferries, is to be retained.
Positive moves for Brittany
New ro-ro freight vessel Cotentin's long-awaited appearance in the Brittany Ferries fleet was accomplished at the end of November when the company also took a significant step forward on the labour relations front, signing an agreement with French unions to establish new strike prevention procedures.
Saga Rose mystery cruise
On 22 November, Saga Rose slipped quietly under cover of darkness from Southampton on a 14-day 'mystery cruise', but her passengers and crew, with the exception of her Captain and a few key personnel, did not know where they were going. All they were told was that, following two days at sea, the 550-passenger ship would be visiting eight ports outside the UK, four of which would be maiden calls.
Norwegian Crown becomes Balmoral
Fred Olsen Cruise Lines' Balmoral completed her major refit in Hamburg at Blohm Voss Repair shipyard, which included the insertion of a 30.2m mid-section, creating 186 new passenger and 53 crew cabins; 60 balconies have been added, while new public areas have also been created.
Arctic Princess loads first LNG cargo
On 20 September 2007, the LNG carrier Arctic Princess (2006/121,597gt) loaded the first ever cargo of liquefied natural gas (LNG) at the Statoil LNG Plant at Melkoya Island, Hammerfest, from the Snohvit fields north-west of the terminal. The vessel arrived at the terminal on 10 September and was assisted by the GAC-Ole R. Olsen's Hammerfest team in loading the cargo.
Busy Times At Lloyd Werft
German shipbuilders and repairers Lloyd Werft of Bremerhaven ended 2007 on a high note, completing as well as receiving several orders. The company received an order for two 11,000dwt multi-purpose vessels for delivery in January and June 2008 and, classified as so-called dock ships, being built for K/S Combi Lift, a German-Danish joint venture.
DCT Gdansk Phase 1 complete
The new 1,400TEU feeder vessel Cape Fulmar arrived at the new Polish deepwater container terminal at Gdansk for the first time on 6 June 2007. The vessel then made regular calls on her weekly schedule that links Hamburg with Gdynia, and now the DCT Gdansk terminal.
Ships Monthly, 8 January 2008
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