News August 2006

Another carrier goes down to the bottom
The decommissioned American aircraft carrier Oriskany was scuttled 22 miles south of Pensacola, Florida on 17 May, becoming the largest ship ever intentionally sunk as an artificial reef.

Virus hits UK-based cruise ships
As what is predicted to be a record summer for ex-UK cruising opened, early season itineraries for three vessels were affected after passengers fell victim to norovirus. The 506-berth Van Gogh (1975/ 15,402gt), chartered by tour operator Travelscope, was prohibited from departing from Harwich on 27 May for a seven-night Norwegian Fjords itinerary by the Maritime and Safety Agency.

Miracle for China
Pure Car and Truck Carriers (PCTC's) are widely acknowledged to be the ugly ducklings of the shipping world. However, they are amongst the most functional. The building of these vessels has for a long time been the bailiwick of Japanese and Korean shipyards, with only recently the Europeans contributing. But as with most other areas of shipbuilding, the Chinese are now getting in on the act. Xiamen Industry Shipbuilding Co delivered the first of six PCTCs to Zodiac Maritime of London. Morning Miracle, the first of these vessels, paid her maiden call to Southampton on 3 May.

Queen Victoria keel laying
On 19 May, the ceremony to mark the keel laying of Queen Victoria, the second largest Cunarder ever built, was held at the Marghera shipyard of Fincantieri near Venice. She is due to enter service on 11 December 2007.

Lerwick powers up
Lerwick Port Authority's new pilot boat/tug arrived at the Shetland port on 5 June. The 20m vessel has a bollard pull of 19 tonnes

More on all these stories and many others in the August issue.