Largest container ship
Yet another claimant to the title of world's largest container ship has been delivered by Denmark's Odense Steel Shipyard to associated Mærsk Line, and this 390m contender is a true champion. Emma Mærsk, the first of Mærsk's new generation of 'E' class container ships, is also the first vessel that can stow 22 box rows across the beam (currently the largest ships afloat stow 18 across). She has a protective breakwater forward and a highly abbreviated accommodation block aft while power is provided by a Wärtsilä RT-flex diesel developing 110,000bhp.

Trinity House vessel launched
The second new ship for Trinity House was launched on 26 July by Mrs Jane de Halpert, wife of the Executive Chairman Jeremy de Halpert, at the Stocznia Remontowa's yard in Gdansk, Poland. Trinity House's new Multi-Function Tender Galatea marks the final stage of a £38m investment in three new vessels by the General Lighthouse Authorities (GLAs) of the UK and Ireland.

Nomadic comes home
The former White Star tender Nomadic returned to Belfast from Le Havre on 15 July, a day ahead of schedule on board the Anchor Marine barge AMT Mariner, attended by local tugs Tore, Norton Cross, Carron and Leanne (pictured below). After slow progress up river, she was berthed at Harland & Wolff's repair yard. On 18 July she was moved to a new berth at Queen's Quay to be opened to the public.

Waverley grounds
The paddle steamer Waverley grounded while leaving Girvan on 7 August but was able to re-berth and disembark 715 passengers who were transferred to their destinations by bus. The 947gt vessel, built in 1947, received authorisation from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to sail empty to Ayr where, after a surveyor's inspection, the 8 August cruise to Loch Fyne went ahead.

Superferry sold by Swansea-Cork
Following sale of the company's only ship, the 1972-built Superferry, Swansea Cork Ferries have announced that this year's final sailing takes place on 7 October with services not resuming until the middle of March 2007 with a replacement vessel.

UK base for Arielle
Bremen-based operator Transocean Tours is to market the 1,050-passenger Arielle (1971/23,149gt) to the British as well as the German market next summer for a number of ex-Tilbury cruises in May, June and September. She will offer a Monte Carlo to Dover sailing at the beginning of May, after which her British programme will include a seven-, nine- and two 12-night cruises from Tilbury to North Cape, Iceland and round Britain.

Largest ice-strengthened tanker
The world's largest ship of its class, the 117,100dwt ice-class tanker Stena Arctica, has entered service in the Baltic Sea transporting Russian crude oil from the Gulf of Finland to European ports. Owned by Sweden's Stena Group, and now the largest ship in the Swedish merchant marine, the double-hulled Stena Arctica has a heavily reinforced hull and high-output propulsion system to allow it to safely manoeuvre in most icy conditions found in the Baltic.