Standards remain high on QE2
Cunard's former flagship Queen Elizabeth 2 is currently berthed at Port Rashid, where she has been since her arrival in Dubai on 26 November 2008. Owners Nakheel have recently announced that there are no plans to move QE2 in the short term and that she will remain in Port Rashid until refurbishment work commences.

LNG arrives at Milford
On 20 March the 136,410gt LNG carrier Tembek berthed at the South Hook Marine Terminal in Milford Haven to discharge her cargo as part of the new terminal's commissioning, and remained at the berth for ten days. Tembek is the first LNG carrier to use the newly-built South Hook LNG terminal in the Haven. The South Hook terminal forms one element of the Qatargas 2 chain owned by subsidiaries of Qatar Petroleum, Exxon Mobil and Total.

UK cruise figures climb
The British cruise industry enjoyed a record year in 2008 with figures increasing by 11 per cent to almost 1.5 million passengers. In all 577,000 cruised from home ports with 900,000 taking fly-cruises. But Passenger Shipping Association director William Gibbons does not expect growth in 2009, commenting: 'The world of today is a very different one from that of 12 months ago.' He does expect to see fresh impetus next year with a number of new ships due in service.

P&O challenge LD Lines aid
P&O Ferries is going to court in France claiming that LD Lines, now running out of Dover, is receiving illegal public sector finance. P&O argue that Louis Dreyfus Armateurs subsidiary is provided with support in breach of both French administrative law and European Union competition law.

Rosyth route sells well
The public response to Norfolkline's reinstatement of the Rosyth to Zeebrugge ferry link from 19 May has been positive, with over 50 per cent of passenger capacity for the opening month having been sold by mid-March.

'Ferry Fortnight' in May
MORE THAN A dozen operators are supporting a National Ferry Fortnight between 9 and 22 May. It is a Passenger Shipping Association initiative to generate interest in ferry travel, and will feature special offers from the organisation's 'Sail and Drive' scheme members.

Imperial's Bahamas Celebration
Imperial Majesty Cruise Line's 56-year old veteran Regal Empress (1953/21,909gt) has been replaced by the newer Bahamas Celebration (1981/35,438gt), formerly the Scandinavian cruise ferry Prinsesse Ragnhild. A similar programme of two and three day cruises to Nassau began on 9 March under the new banner of Celebration Cruise Line.

Oceanic to Peaceboat
Spanish operator Pullmantur has sold Oceanic (1965/38,772gt) to Japanese interests, who in turn will charter the vessel to the Peaceboat organisation. One of the last remaining steam-driven cruise ships still in service, Oceanic replaces the problem-plagued Clipper Pacific (1970/22,945gt).

Maersk restructure fleet
At the start of the year Maersk Tankers acquired Brostrom, the Swedish tanker company. At that time it was unclear just how the two fleets would merge. Now Maersk Tankers, which are part of the Danish A. P. Moller Maersk, has announced that it intends to move its smaller tankers under 25,000dwt to the Brostrom fleet. Larger vessels will be integrated into Handytankers.

First for Eletson
In mid-February The Greece-based Eletson Corporation took delivery of its first liquefied petroleum gas carrier from builders Hyundai Mipo Dockyards in Korea. Entering the gas market is a new venture for the company, which had previously gained its reputation in the transportation of oil products.

Taurus 09 deployment
The Royal Navy's largest Task Force to deploy to the Far East in more than a decade has sailed from Devonport. Designed to demonstrate the UK's commitment to the security of the Mediterranean, Middle East and South East Asia, the Task Force comprises 12 ships led by Command Ship HMS Bulwark.

End of an era for landmark
The former HMS Rame Head left Portsmouth Harbour for the last time on 25 February after a varied career lasting more than 60 years. Her final destination was the same Van Heyghen Recycling quay in Ghent which scrapped HMS Fearless last year. Although a great deal of asbestos has already been removed, dismantling and recycling the vessel will take a year.

Things that go bump in the night
With internal enquiries under way on both sides of the Channel, British and French authorities have downplayed the furore after a mid-ocean underwater collision between two of their nuclear submarines. Both sides stated that the coming together of FS Le Triomphant (pictured) and HMS Vanguard was at low speed and did not cause any injuries or compromise the integrity of either vessel. As ballistic-missile submarines are designed to be undetectable on patrol, it is not surprising that each failed to notice the close proximity of the other.

Catalina to be scrapped
Efforts to save the 1924-built steamer Catalina, which once ran between the US mainland and Catalina island off the coast of southern California, have failed. After lying semi-submerged on the bottom of Ensenada harbour in Mexico for over a decade, she is to be dismantled where she lies to make way for a new marina.

German S-boat saved
S-130, the last surviving World War II German motor torpedo boat, has been saved. Kevin Wheatcroft, whose family owns the Donington Grand Prix museum In Leicestershire, acquired the S-boot (Schnell-boot, literally 'Fast boat') for just £1, but will spend around £3 million on restoring her to working condition. He has also recently acquired salvage rights to three S-boat wrecks off the Danish coast, and hopes to use parts of them in the restoration.

Bembridge on the move
Bembridge, the former Trinity House pilot cutter which spent nearly 30 years as the clubhouse for Essex Yacht Club at Leigh-on-Sea, may soon be on the move. Bembridge has been moored at Gillingham Pier for several years, but she is reported to have been acquired by Polish buyers who plan to tow her to Poland, restore her externally and use her as an office.

When will the first cruise ship be laid up?
The cruise industry has been rather resilient to the ups and downs of the world's economy over the past three decades, but the present recession seems more severe and observers are beginning to wonder just when the first large cruise ship might be laid up. In the cargo sector, nearly 500 large container vessels have already been taken out of service, while Japan's three largest shipping lines have agreed to scrap 35 auto carriers, all to reduce supply. Most cruise lines have lowered prices rather than reduced capacity, but the financial implications may still be bleak.