Buzz on the floor today is after leaders from major European shipyards heavily criticized the Mitsubishi deal with AIDA. They claimed that that the pricing model of the AIDA ship is “unstable”. Corrado Antonini, Fincantieri chairman Mitsubishi has come up with a price per lower berth that no other builder could match. [Mitsubishi is]10 years [...]
click for larger Press release from STX: STX Finland Oy and TUI Cruises have today signed a contract for the design and construction of a 97,000 GT cruise vessel. The sophisticated and highly innovative cruise vessel is scheduled to be delivered in spring 2014. The vessel has many environmentally friendly features, with a particular emphasis [...]
Back in December I reported that the Libyan Government ordered the 139,000grt ship, m/v Phoenicia. It was shocking at the time but given how much $$$$ the Libyan government had from its oil exports {the state run shipping line sails only tankers}, the venture into passenger ships didn’t seem that far stretched. Hapag-Lloyd and MSC [...]
Cruise Industry News is reporting that sources have told them that Royal Caribbean International “is set to go with Meyer Werft for a two-ship order.” This is surprising in not only THAT they will be ordering more, but WHERE they are ordering more. RCI has always enjoyed a relationship with Kvaerner/Aker/STX in Finland. Its where [...]
Earlier this week, Hapag announced that they will charter the Insignia of Oceania for 2 years starting in 2012. This coincides with an ambitious plan to grow the fleet. The German based line ordered a new ship, Europa 2 from STX france for delivery in 2013. The 516 pax ship made an appearance on CIN’s [...]
Update: She has a name: m/v Phoenicia The General National Maritime Transport Company (Libya) and STX France celebrated the steel cutting ceremony for the state-run comapny’s first cruise ship. The ship ordered back in June has celebrated the first milestone of construction: The steel cutting. On hand from GNMTC were Captain Ali M. Belhag, Chairman [...]
STX Finland just got a very important order for a ferry for Viking Lines. I normally don’t cover ferry travel but this is important news. No one is building ships anymore. Its just the way things are now. After Allure leaves Turku, there will only be a handful of ferries left in the 3 yards [...]
The Norwegian Epic departed Rotterdam this morning and is currently on her way to Southampton, England where she was scheduled to arrive at 1000 but that has been rescheduled to 1730(5:30 pm) local time. NCL is reporting that the ship developed a problem with the propeller shaft. This is the part that connects the brass [...]
I’m back after a long weekend and the Epic is back from her seatrials. You can see the photos on the Norwegian Epic page. Another bit of info. Her delivery date has changed from the 15th to the 17th. Maiden voyage and inaugural celebrations are still on track.
