Early Christmas presents don’t please all!

Last week saw two early Christmas presents for companies in the cruise and ferry business; one very welcome, the other no so! Carnival Corp’s early present to Rolls-Royce Marine was write in a Florida court for US $100m damages for ongoing problems with the complex podded propulsion system onboard Cunard’s flagship QM2. The world’s leading cruise operator is alleging ‘fraud and conspiracy.’ This isn’t the first time that there have been problems with the Mermaid podded propulsion system, RCCL took the manufacturers to court over problems with the pods fitted to Celebrity’s four Millennium-class vessels. Both parties settled out of court.

A more welcomed early Christmas present last week was the gift of two state-of-the-art high speed passenger/vehicle ferries from the Government of Saudi Arabia to the Government of Egypt. Both 37 knot vessels, built in Australia, will significantly improve the comfort of passengers travelling across the Red Sea between the Egyptian port of Safaga and Dibba in Saudi, as well as the reliability of the service. Sphere: Related Content

Carnival sues Rolls-Royce over QM2 pod problems

Carnival Corp, parent of Cunard Line, is suing propulsion system specialists’ Rolls-Royce/Converteam for US $100m over ongoing problems with the Mermaid podded propulsion system used propel QM2.

In a law suite filed in Florida last week, carnival alleges ‘fraud and conspiracy.’ Carnival is looking to recover mullions of $s in damages to compensate for repair costs and other losses incurred by ongoing propulsion with the ship’s four main propulsion pods.

Carnival claims that the pod system never performed as promised and further alleges that Rolls-Royce/Converteam are guilty of ‘fraudulent and conspirational’ acts. QM2 has been plagued by propulsion pod problems ever since being delivered by the then Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in St. Nazaire in 2004. She is the first cruise ship to be powered by four propulsion pods; two fixed units and two azimuthing pods.

Carnival says that Rolls-Royce and Converteam knew that each time they pretended to fix a failed pod it would, in fact, break down again because in reality they had no solution whatsoever for the complex design and manufacturing defects plaguing the Mermaids installed on QM2, nor did they want to incur the cost of undertaking a complete redesign.

The problems with QM2’s pods relate to the lifetime of the bearings in each pod. Rolls-Royce/Converteam claim that each bearing should have a service life of between 15 and 20 years. In reality, says Carnival, Cunard is changing bearing every three years.

Commenting on the pod problems, Mickey Arison, chairman of Carnival said: ‘It will be very embarrassing to Rolls-Royce if this is not resolved. And expensive.’

This is not the first time that Mermaid pods have had problems with cruise ships. RCCL sued Rolls-Royce for problems with the pods on Celebrity’s four Millennium-class vessels. Sphere: Related Content

Fred Olsen looks to start new fast ferry routes in the Canaries

Ferry operator Fred Olsen is looking at starting new fast ferry services in the Canaries. The company is looking to operate a new service linking three ports on the island of La Gomera: Valle Gran Rey, Playa Santiago and San Sebestian de La Gomera, with the major tourist island of Tenerife.

Fred Olsen is also looking at operating a new fast ferry service between the island of Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura, the latter is currently served by a conventional ferry, making he trip in four hours. However, the planned fast ferry would make the trip in around one and a half hours. The port used on Fuerteventura would be Morro Lable on the south coast of the island.

Meanwhile, Fred Olsen’s fast ferry Bonanza Express ran aground last week while on its regular service between La Gomera and the port of Los Christanos. All 175 passenger and crew were safely rescued. Sphere: Related Content

Spanish ferry operator orders at home

Spanish ferry operator Naviera Armas has ordered four new Ro-Pax’s with the Vigo shipyard of H.J. Barreras. The first two of the 1,500 passenger capacity, 26 knot vessels, will be delivered in February and May 2010, with the remaining two vessels following in January and May 2011. Sphere: Related Content

Expedition ship grounds in Antarctica

The small Argentine expedition cruise ship Ushuaia ran aground last week while on an Antarctic cruise. All 84 passengers were rescued safety by the Chilean Navy. The 1970-built ship, formerly a research vessel operated by the US’ National Oceanographic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), ran aground at the entrance to Wilhelmina Bay, near Cape Anna. Sphere: Related Content

P&O Cruises fits new balcony cabins to Arcadia

During her first major refit since being delivered from Italy’s Fincantieri in April 2005, P&O Cruises’ 1,996 passenger capacity Arcadia is receiving 34 new cabins with balconies during her refit at Germany’s Lloyd Werft in Bremerhaven. The new passenger cabins are all located on the ship’s stern

When Arcadia returns to service on 20 December, the vessel will feature an enlarged deck area around the Aquarius Pool, which will feature a new bar, a 30-seater cinema, which replaces the ship’s existing Cyb@Study internet area, revamped Photo Gallery, new carpets, soft furnishing etc.

Following a Christmas cruise, Arcadia will depart on her first 101 Grand Voyage in the New Year. Sphere: Related Content

Austal delivers new fast ferries for Saudi Arabia-Egypt service

Australian fast ferry specialist Austal has delivered two high speed passenger vehicle ferries to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which have been offered as a gift to the Egyptian Government. Both vessels, Riyadh and Cairo, will operate on the service across the Red Sea, linking the Saudi port of Dibba with Safaga in Egypt, cutting the crossing time for the 100 nautical mile service to six hours.

Both 88m vessels can each carry 1,200 passenger, 120 cars and 15 trucks. Propulsion comes from four MTU 20V8000 M71R diesel engines, each developing 7,200kW at 1,150 rev/min (reduced output) and driving KaMeWa waterjets. Service speed is 37 knots.

Austal is also building two 69m passenger/vehicle ferries for Saudi Arabia, with delivery set for the middle of 2009. Sphere: Related Content

No Japanese newbuildings for Carnival

The Carnival Corp will not be building two newbuilding cruise ships at Japan’s Mitsubishi heavy Industries. Talks between the two parties have been underway for months for two 1,000 passenger capacity vessels for delivery in 2013 and 2014. However, due to the global recession and both companies not being able to agree on the price for the ships, the deal has been shelved for the time being. Sphere: Related Content

Rolls-Royce Marine sued by carnival over QM2’s problem propulsion pods

Carnival Corp, parent of Cunard, is suing Rolls-Royce Marine over the continuing problems with the Mermaid propulsion pods fitted to Cunard’s QM2. Sphere: Related Content

TEAM in major Spanish passenger boarding bridge contracts

One of the world’s leading designers and suppliers of passenger boarding bridges for cruise ships and ferries, Spain’s TEAM, has secured more contracts at domestic cruise ship ports.

The Barcelona-based company has just secured a contract from Malaga Cruceros SA to deliver in the spring of 2009 two of its Pegasus-type of passenger boarding bridges for the Estacion Maritima de Levante cruise terminal in the port of Malaga.

This new cruise terminal has been in operation for just under 12 months and handled 270 cruise calls and 335,000 passengers in 2008, and increase of 14.5% on figures for 2007.

Earlier this year TEAM delivered a single Pegasus passenger boarding bridge for the south berth of the new Malaga cruise terminal. Summer 2009 will see the completion of the construction of the north berth, where the two recently ordered bridges will be located.

Meanwhile, in a separate contract, TEAM is to design and supply a new type of passenger boarding bridge for Creuers del Port de Barcelona. Named the Creuers Barcelona-class of bridge, the two units will be delivered in the summer of 2009 and is designed to fit the largest cruise ship in the world, RCCL’s Oasis of the Seas. The large new passenger boarding bridges will operate at the A & B cruise terminals on the Adossado Quay in Barcelona.

One of the main design challenges for TEAM in the design of the Creuers Barcelona-class of bridge is the 6m clearance that needs to be provided for the overhanging lifeboats of Oasis of the Seas and her sisters. Sphere: Related Content

Louis to review cruise routes following revenue drop

Cyprus-based cruise ship and hotel operator Louis is to review its cruise routes following the Group dropping into the red during the first nine months of 2008. Cruises account for 72% of the Group’s revenue.

Louis attributes the weaker cruise performance to reduced activity in the winter period, giving fewer ships and passengers, and the negative affect of weaker rates of the $ and the $ versus the €. Around 60% of all Louis’ passengers for cruises out of Piraeus come from the US. Sphere: Related Content