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Silversea completes inaugural expedition through Northwest Passage

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 03 September 2014 03 September 2014

Luxury expedition cruise specialist Silversea's 132-guest Silver Explorer has successfully completed the company's first-ever journey through the legendary Northwest Passage.

The 23-day voyage commenced in Kangerlussuaq, Greenland on 9 August and concluded in Nome, Alaska on 1 September. It covered a distance of nearly 3,500 nautical miles, following a route through the Canadian Arctic Archipelago similar to Roald Amundsen's momentous east-to-west expedition of 1903 to 1906, the first successful navigation by boat through the passage.

Conrad Combrink, Silversea's director of expedition planning and strategic development, said: "Sailing the Northwest Passage is an experience reserved for true adventurers and dedicated explorers. We are honoured to know that what was once an unfulfilled dream for such renowned explorers as Captain James Cook, Henry Hudson, and many others, is now a successful chapter in the history of Silversea Expeditions."

The Northwest Passage is famous for its shallow channels and floating ice. Although summer ice conditions have permitted a number of successful transits since Amundsen's expedition, the passage can still present challenges. The small-sized Silver Explorer, with her shallow draft, ice-strengthened hull, 1A ice class certification, and Captain Alexander Golubev at the helm, is well suited to take on such missions.

"It's a special privilege to sail through the world's most elusive and historic waterways. Such a journey requires careful and meticulous planning at every stage," said Golubev, who has led over 50 voyages to the Arctic, Antarctic and Greenland. In an abundance of caution, Captain Golubev enlisted the services of an icebreaker to escort Silver Explorer through a critical portion of the route. "I'm pleased that all our strategising and preparations resulted in success for Silversea's first-ever Northwest Passage expedition, and I'm very grateful to be among a small group of mariners who have experienced such an extraordinary opportunity during their careers."

Silversea is a member of the Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators (AECO), dedicated to managing respectable, environmentally friendly and safe expedition cruising in the Arctic.

Seaspan's Vancouver Shipyards begins construction on new BCFS cable ferry

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 03 September 2014 03 September 2014

Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards (VSY) announced today it has officially started construction on a new Cable Ferry for BC Ferries.

The 78.5 metre ferry, slated for delivery in Spring 2015, will accommodate up to 50 vehicles and 150 passengers, while servicing the Buckley Bay to Denman Island route.

This new build will engage all VSY unions, including Marine and Shipbuilders Local 506, International Association of Machinists Lodge 692, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 213, United Association of Pipefitters Local 170, and Canadian Office and Professional Employees Local 15, and is expected to employ 100 workers at the peak of the project.

“Seaspan has a long and established relationship working with BC Ferries in building and repairing ships for the people of British Columbia, and we are proud to begin construction today of its first-ever Cable Ferry at our new, state-of-the-art, $185 million facility,” said Brian Carter, President – Seaspan Shipyards.

The Cable Ferry project follows several other BC Ferries contracts that have been successfully completed at Seaspan Shipyards in 2013/14, including maintenance refits on the Northern Adventure, Island Sky, Coastal Celebration and Spirit of Vancouver Island.

“With community roots tracing back to 1886, Seaspan is a long-serving contributor to British Columbia’s economy and we look forward to continuing to play that role for many years to come through our service to BC Ferries and its customers,” said Brian.

“We’re proud of our partnership with Seaspan and we know that they will construct an excellent ship for the millions of customers who will sail on her over the next 40 years,” said Mike Corrigan, BC Ferries’ President and CEO.

Seaspan Shipyards’ two-year Modernization Project is scheduled for completion by Fall 2014.

AmaWaterways appoints Paul Sharp UK business development manager

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 03 September 2014 03 September 2014

AmaWaterways, the river cruise line, has announced the appointment of Paul Sharp as business development manager, working alongside the existing UK team of Fay McCormack (General Manager, AmaWaterways UK), Natalie O’Mahoney (UK Sales Manager) and Hannah Logan (Sales Support Executive), the company said in a statement.

Previously, he has worked on board P&O Cruises as shore excursions manager for five years before returning to dry land to work for TUI and Carnival UK in sales. His most recent appointment was as head of sales for The River Cruise Line, a position that has given him an in-depth perspective on river cruising and allowed him to build excellent relationships with the travel trade.

MSC Armonia reaches dry dock in Renaissance Programme start

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 03 September 2014 03 September 2014

MSC Cruises’ Renaissance Programme to renew and enlarge four ships of its 12-strong fleet has started after MSC Armonia arrived in Sicily. “On Sunday 31 August MSC Armonia entered the Fincantieri shipyard, in Palermo, Italy, where she will remain for 11 weeks, until resuming service on 17 November with a one-off inaugural Mediterranean cruise from Genoa to the Canary Islands,” the company said in a statement.

Over the next two and a half months, Fincantieri’s team of world-class shipbuilders will lengthen the ship by inserting a prebuilt 24-metre section containing 194 extra cabins. In addition, they will refit and renew many other parts of the ship, upgrading the level of comfort, entertainments and services available on board.

Before MSC Armonia’s arrival on Sunday, Fincantieri had begun preparations for the massive project both on board and in the shipyard. On 28 August, the new midship section was floated into the shipyard, and towed into the drydock area, where MSC Armonia will undergo her Renaissance.

Finally, on Sunday morning, MSC Armonia stopped inside the drydock, where the midship section was waiting. Work immediately started on her hull, as the cutting line was marked. The midsection will be inserted mid-September and the maiden journey out of the shipyard will be on 17 November.

In addition to new cabins, the ship will boast new areas for the Baby Club built in partnership with Chicco; also a new Mini Club and Young Club for kids to play, as well as a Teens Club. Food lovers were not forgotten as the buffet will be open 20 hours per day and exciting features will be available for an even better food experience. She will also feature a new lounge area as well as an extended restaurant.

MSC Armonia will in addition be fitted with a library for MSC travellers to enjoy their time on board even more. MSC Aurea Spa will also benefit from enrichments to please our guests. A completely new spray park will also be added, with an exhilarating pathway of water features and water cannons.

The Renaissance programme will follow the below schedule:

• MSC Armonia: 31 August to 17 November 2014

• MSC Sinfonia: 12 January to 16 March 2015

• MSC Opera: 2 May to 4 July 2015

• MSC Lirica: 31 August to 9 November 2015

The four ships were built between 2003 and 2005 at the STX yards in Saint-Nazaire, France. They are currently 251 metres long, weigh 60,000 tons and carry 2,069 travellers. After the “renaissance programme”, the ships will be 275 meters long, weigh 65,000 tons and carry 2,680 travellers, boasting 193 additional cabins (plus 59 new cabins for crew members).

Costa Diadema's modern art to complement its innovative design

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 02 September 2014 02 September 2014

Costa Diadema, Costa Cruises' new 132,500-ton flagship, will feature 7,671 pieces of specially commissioned modern art that perfectly complement the ship's innovative interior design. The art will be on display when the ship is delivered Oct. 30, 2014.

Costa Diadema, the Regina del Mediterraneo or Queen of the Mediterranean, will exhibit a wide array of original art, reproductions and silk-screen prints by 41 artists -- 38 of them Italian. The artists were commissioned by Costa to interpret the theme of regality, as in belonging to or befitting a monarch, through painting, sculpture, photography, graphics, architecture and design.

"We are trying to evoke different feelings through the ambiance of the interiors on Costa Diadema," said Joseph Farcus, the architect on Costa newbuilds since Costa Atlantica, which debuted in 2000. "The art and design elements are essential to achieving the emotional dimension we want guests to experience."

Curator and artistic duo Casagrande & Recalcati selected both recognized and emerging artists to take inspiration from contemporary culture. Among them are well-known artists Sam Havadtoy and Mario Donizetti, as well as rising Italian artists Vanni Cuoghi, Resi Girardello, Andy, Roberta Savelli and Claudio Prestinari.

Among the art pieces are 190 original works, including paintings hung in suites and in the stairwells, and other mixed-media works placed at the entrance to the theater. Public areas such as the Corona Blu Restaurant, Costa Diadema Club Restaurant, Eliodoro Atrium and Lido Diana will feature 260 works of digital art and 26 sculptures. On the open-air Promenade, which encircles the ship from stern to bow on Deck 5, Roberto Bixio's two large glass mosaics titled "Riviera Ligure" showcase imagery from the Mediterranean coasts on both port and starboard sides, covering a total area of 1,442 square feet.

Italian artists who worked on the Costa Diadema project include Piero Addis, Andy, Davide Avogadro, Bixio, Manuela Carrano, Casagrande & Recalcati, Cuoghi, Marco Dezzi Bardeschi, Donizetti, Titti Garelli, Girardello, Eloisa Gobbo, Marco Grassi, Riccardo Gusmaroli, Cristina Iotti, Vittorio Locatelli and Carlo Ninchi, Tiziana Lorenzelli, Flavio Lucchini, Francesca Marzorati, Francesco Merletti, Alberto Nodolini, Matteo Piazza, Annalisa Pirovano, Prestinari, Elisa Rossi, Savelli, Luisa Valentini, Antonella Piro, Virgilio Rospigliosi, Augusto Vignali and Toni Zanussi.

Artists from outside Italy include Roger de Montebello and Nathalie du Pasquier from France, and the Hungarian-American Havadtoy.

The 132,500-ton Costa Diadema is being built at Fincantieri's shipyard in Marghera, Italy, at a cost of US$745 million.

Costa Diadema's monthlong debut will include a preview cruise from Trieste, Italy, Nov. 1, the christening overnight Nov. 7 in Genoa, Italy, and a trio of seven-night inaugural cruises Nov. 8, 15 and 22.

Beginning Nov. 29 and for the rest of the 2014-15 winter season and through summer 2015, Costa Diadema will depart Savona, Italy, on seven-night western Mediterranean cruises calling weekly at Marseille, France; Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca, Spain; and Naples and La Spezia, Italy.