News

Aris Batsoulis appointed as the new President of MedCruise

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 15 October 2020 15 October 2020

Aris Batsoulis is the new President of MedCruise, effective from mid-October 2020. Since 2017, Aris Batsoulis has held the position of SVP of MedCruise representing the port of Corfu, Greece. The announcement follows the decision of outgoing President Airam Díaz to leave his office as Commercial Director of the Port Authority of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

Following his nomination, Aris Batsoulis said: “It is with great honor to assume responsibility of the Presidency of the largest cruise ports association of the world, MedCruise. I would like to express my gratitude to Airam for his outstanding work throughout his term. Wishing him every success in his new position. I am committing and looking forward to working along with my skillfull colleagues, members of the MedCruise BoD and the Secretariat, to serving the needs of the members ports and associate members and collaborate with all the stakeholders of the cruise industry towards a responsible and sustainable growth. #PortsTogether and #WorkTogether are meaningful today, more than ever”.

“I would like to congratulate Aris Batsoulis on his appointment. I am confident that he will develop a great job. I would like also to thank all Board of Directors members for their commitment and excellent work during the last three years. Finally, I would like to recognise the dedication of the Secretariat team, Jordi Caballé, Anja Lohrum and Sara Valls, and encourage them to keep working hard," said Airam Díaz, now MedCruise Honorary President.

Aris Batsoulis is a Mechanical Engineer MSc. Since 2007 is the Head of Cruise Department, Port Facility Security Officer (since 2003) and the last ten years Development Director of Corfu Port Authority S.A.

MV Werften secures EUR 193 million to complete Crystal Endeavor and fund shipyard operations till March 2021

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 09 October 2020 09 October 2020

MV Werften announced this week that the yard has received an EUR 193 million loan to complete the Crystal Endeavor for delivery and keep the shipyard operations till March 2021. MV Werften and all its employees are very appreciative of the support of the State of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and the Federal authorities in receiving this support. All the funds from the loans will be used in Germany for MV Werften's shipyards.

Genting Hong Kong (GHK), the parent company of MV Werften has invested about 2 billion euros in the shipyards and the construction in progress of the Global Dream and Crystal Endeavor and had created about 3,000 direct jobs in the State plus thousands of indirect jobs in the cruise shipbuilding supply chain and the local economies of Wismar, Rostock and Stralsund.

GHK had been a very good client of Germany, ordering and taking delivery of 22 cruise ships built in Germany, almost half of Germany’s output from 1996 for the cruise brands which were under its control.

In 2016 GHK bought the yard group – and named it as a homage to the state Mecklenburg-Vorpommern – MV Werften – in order to build ships for its three cruise brands as the orderbook from existing shipyards were full and the earliest delivery was seven years into the future.

GHK invested in MV Werften, previously Nordic Yards, to build cruise ships because they have built the two AIDA cruise ships and cruise ferries. All the 3,000 employees of MV Werften are nationals of the European Union, with the majority German nationals with the rest from the European Union.

“GHK is an exemplary investor and fully relies on German management in the operations of MV Werften. We are very appreciative of the very significant investment, probably one of the largest made in Germany, and the creation of thousands of direct and indirect jobs for Germany and the EU," says Peter Fetten, the Chief Executive Officer. “MV Werften built four luxurious river ships for Crystal Cruises and they have been rated the best river ships in Europe. We are now completing the Crystal Endeavor, which will be again be the most luxurious polar class expedition yacht in the world for Crystal Cruises," he added.

“It is the impact of the COVID-19 that stopped the world’s cruise fleet, including GHK, that MV Werften has to turn to the State and Federal Government for support under the WSF, which had been established by the German Government to assist industries impacted by COVID-19,” added Carsten Haake, the Chief Financial Officer of MV Werften. “Since 2016, GHK had fully supported the shipyard and had not withdrawn any of the invested funds from Germany.”

GHK cruise ships are mainly deployed in Asia and Dream Cruises, one of its brands, is the world’s first cruise ship to start ocean destination cruises in Taiwan since July 26.

Yesterday Genting announced that the World Dream, built in Germany and the 9th best largest resort ship as rated by the Berlitz Guide to cruising, will restart domestic cruising on 6th November. This will be followed by Genting Dream starting cruises in Hainan and China in mid-November. GHK had two Star Cruises ships chartered to the Singapore Government to accommodate post-COVID patients without any incidents. GHK’s is one of few companies which did not have any COVID-19 cases on any of its cruise ships due to the high standards of health and safety developed with over 30 years of cruise experience and is the first cruise line to receive the CIP-M certification by DNV GL for infection prevention, including
COVID-19, for the marine industry.

World Dream to start cruises from Singapore 6 November

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 08 October 2020 08 October 2020

Genting Cruise Lines, whichis part of the Genting Hong Kong group, said that its Dream Cruises unit will be the first cruise brand to restart service in Singapore with World Dream, as she makes her homeport debut from 6 November 2020 onwards.

“World Dream will also be the newest built cruise ship to homeport in Singapore, offering a series of brand new 2 and 3-night “Super Seacation” experience for Singapore residents during the school and year-end holidays,” the company said in a statement.

Dream Cruises resumed operations with the successful deployment in Taiwan in July, which will now be followed by Singapore. “Working very closely with the Singapore government, Dream Cruises was granted approval by the local authorities to start a pilot based on the company’s stringent and enhanced health and safety protocols, complemented by its exemplary safety track record during its first two months of operations in Taiwan,” the company said.

With the safety and well-being of our guests and crew being the highest priority, Dream Cruises has completely re-examined and enhanced all of its health, hygiene and operating protocols to ensure the safest environment for everyone across its fleet and in accordance with the local authorities’ guidelines including health screening processes prior to embarkation, disembarkation and safe distancing measures on board.

It also includes thorough sanitisation and disinfection and enhanced hygiene practices for guest cabins, crew member quarters, public areas and recreational facilities; safe food and beverage handling procedures; and, 100% fresh air ventilation in guest and crew cabins, as well as public spaces.

“Due to the invaluable support and confidence of the Singapore authorities in Genting Cruise Lines, the inaugural homeport deployment of World Dream in Singapore marks another important milestone in the recovery process post COVID-19 for the local cruise tourism industry,” said Michael Goh, President of Dream Cruises.