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MJM Marine secures $150 million order book

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 13 September 2023 13 September 2023

Northern Ireland outfitting firm MJM Marine is at the heart of the global cruise ship industry with $150 million of new work secured for 2023/24.

The increase in business across a range of global clients, including the world’s largest cruise companies, will see the Newry headquartered business create more than 100 new jobs.

The announcement was made on September 8 on board theCelebrity Apex which was docked in Belfast. Celebrity Cruises is a brand in the Royal Caribbean Group, and one of MJM Marine’s trade partners.

The strong order book reaches across seven of the world’s leading brands, with delivery taking place in locations across the world including Singapore, stretching across Europe, and into The Bahamas.

Gary Annett, CEO MJM Marine said, “We are delighted to be here this morning on Celebrity Apex with a number of our team to make this announcement. We have a really exciting growth trajectory and new opportunities right across the business. The new roles are predominantly based at our headquarters in Newry and range from operations and project management to commercial and other business support roles. This represents a multi-million-pound GVA (Gross Value Add) to the local economy in salary contribution and significantly more in value to the local and national supply chain.

“There are more than 500 cruise ships active at the moment with regular refit and upgrade schedules. We have visibility of the future requirements, so we are confident of a buoyant long term project pipeline.”

Naoimh McConville, Group Managing Director, Rathbane Group (MJM Marine parent company) added, “We are thrilled to announce the next phase of growth for MJM Marine. We are committed to strengthening our operations by investing for the future to make a positive impact for our people and planet.

“To achieve this, we are launching an extensive recruitment drive aimed at attracting top talent, to complement our dynamic team. Our people are the force behind driving innovation and delivering industry firsts, which is the platform for our strong culture and performance. We take pride in our record for securing repeat business and the development of collaborative client relationships, with brands who entrust us time and again with their refit work.”

When the new positions are filled MJM Marine will employ in the region of 300 people.

Aura Flow, a new subsidiary of Aura Rakennus to focus on the refurbishments of cruise ships

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 09 September 2023 09 September 2023

The rapidly growing construction company Aura Rakennus Oy has established a subsidiary, Aura Flow Oy, specializing in the rrefurbihments of passenger and cruise ships. The operation of the new company is based on an exceptional way of utilizing the group's resources beyond traditional industry boundaries. It is the first time that a major Finnish construction company expands its operations into the marine industry.

Ship renovation is a global business, where specialized know-how can be found where the ships are also built. Aura Flow's Finnish management and key personnel have considerable experience in the construction of cruise ships and a wide contact network for the factors needed in the renovation, such as design, logistics, plumbing and installation experts.

The restructuring market is in a situation where market shares are being redistributed after the stoppage of the cruise industry caused by the travel restrictions following the pandemic declaration. Aura Flow is a new project house that offers shipping companies renovation services on a turnkey basis. At the core of the new company is an exceptional operating model, where project management and work management resources are utilized across industry boundaries as needed.

"We naturally start with entry level projects, but thanks to Aura Group's resources, we are able to scale our services efficiently according to the needs of our customers, says the company's new CEO Mikko Varjanne.

The demand for refurbishments of passenger ships is expected to grow strongly from 2025. The engine of demand is the active newbuilding of cruise ships that is currently underway. Older ships must be able to respond to the pressures caused by the supply of new ships.

Aura Flow's vision is to achieve the position of a credit supplier for passenger and cruise ship shipping companies operating around the world, near and far. The aim is to achieve the goal by specializing 100% in renovation construction and by providing high-quality service in project operations. Scaling is made possible by combining experienced experts and project management processes.

"Expanding into traditional renovation construction has been in our plans since the founding of the Aura Group. However, the business plan presented by Mikko Varjante convinced Aura's owners in an exceptional way to expand into the maritime industry and, in general, the possibilities of renovating passenger ships. In accordance with our expectations, we have already found that the financial and production management systems we use are directly suitable for Aura Flow's operations. Maritime industry and construction have a lot to learn from each other, which supports our company's idea of a path of continuous development," says the group's CEO Mikko Kilpi.

"Already during the first weeks, the entire group and the work community have transmitted an extremely good working mood. I am excited about the new and convinced that with this combination of a network and a competent team, the start of the new company will be the strongest possible," Varjanne smiles.

Vow receives another cruise retrofit cleantech contract worth $5 million

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 29 August 2023 29 August 2023

Vow ASA, through its subsidiary Scanship, has secured a significant retrofit contract worth USD 5 million with a major cruise line company.

Under this turnkey agreement, Scanship will supply and install its state-of-the-art wastewater purification systems on a cruise ship capable of processing all wastewater generated by 6000 individuals. The delivery of process equipment and onboard installation is scheduled for 2024, with some work taking place during drydock and the remainder during regular cruise operations. Once operational, the cruise ship will adhere to the highest environmental standards at sea, in accordance with the IMO Marpol MEPC 227(64) guidelines, including nutrient removal in line with chapter 4.2.

CEO Henrik Badin expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "This contract signifies the cruise industry's commitment to embracing clean technology upgrades for their existing fleets, highlighting shipowners' unwavering focus on environmental sustainability. Scanship is proud to be the chosen supplier in this endeavor."

Corvus awarded battery supply for the world`s largest battery electric ship

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 24 August 2023 24 August 2023

Corvus Energy, the world’s leading provider of zero-emission solutions for the maritime industry, has announces that the company has been selected by technology group Wärtsilä to supply the battery systems for the world`s largest 100% electric lightweight Ro-Pax ferry.

With more than 40 MWh of energy storage, it will be the largest battery system installed onboard a ship – four times as big as the current largest installation.

Incat shipyard in Tasmania will build the aluminum-constructed vessel on behalf of its South American customer, Buquebus. The large ferry, 130m in overall length, will have the capacity for 2100 passengers and crew, 225 cars, and a 2000 square meter Duty-Free Shop, all housed on one level.

A new era of green transportation

"This groundbreaking project marks a turning point in the maritime industry's effort to transition towards greener means of transportation. Combining cutting-edge technology, environmental consciousness, and innovative design, it redefines the future of ferry operations worldwide and paves the way for other large, zero-emission vessels,” says Halvard Hauso Commercial Director Europe, Corvus Energy. “We are very grateful that Wärtsilä once again chose Corvus Energy as their partner for such an important and advanced project.”

This vessel will be the largest of its type with the highest ESS capacity and it will also have the longest zero-emission journey, at the highest speed, and it will be charged with the world’s highest capacity chargers.

Milestone for maritime decarbonization in South America

“The ferry will also be the first fully electric vessel in South America, operating between Argentina and Uruguay. Hauso cites the significance of this milestone as a positive indicator of the increasing adoption of maritime electrification. This project demonstrates that “maritime decarbonization is now happening worldwide, not only in Europe.”

Powered by advancing battery energy storage technology

This project is made possible by Corvus` latest technological breakthrough – the lightweight battery, Dolphin NextGen. The design is based on the architecture of the 4-year, multi-million development program for the Corvus Blue Whale ESS. The Blue Whale development included a ground-up redesign that reevaluated and improved every aspect of battery design, including battery chemistry, mechanical and electrical design, and software building blocks. The Dolphin NextGen ESS is a game changer for marine battery projects due to its low weight and volumetric density, robustness, and unsurpassed flexibility.

The battery systems are scheduled for delivery end of 2024 and the vessel will enter operation in 2025.

Adventure Golf & Sports appoints Ashley Gordon to manage cruise ship & riverboat business development

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 02 August 2023 02 August 2023

Adventure Golf & Sports (AGS) has brought aboard Ashley Gordon to lead strategic ocean cruise and riverboat business development from the company’s Florida satellite offices. Gordon will help develop new business opportunities, service existing client relationships and new product R&D.

Gordon’s previous work-related experience included her role as Revenue and Marketing Director for Celebrity Cruises. With Celebrity for eight years, she was charged with executing new build and refurbishment projects for retail spaces as well as coordinating and executing onboard marketing and advertising plans to maximize sales and profitability.

“Her experience within the cruise industry is a valuable asset that will help us continue our growth trajectory,” said Scott Lundmark, President of Adventure Golf & Sports.