Welcome to Passenger Vessel Week!

Both our vessel week features this week are replete with more than our usual issue of superlatives. In these days of rapidly and constantly improving vessels, those superlatives represent a big boast. I suspect, though, that they are not too excessive.

We present a very wide range of passenger vessels from inland waterways cruise ships to large high-speed catamaran Ro-Pax ferries. We have smaller 39-41 metre aluminium fast ferries, both catamaran and monohull, and a relatively fast FRP monohull. We even have a low emissions but otherwise conventional Ro-Pax.

Ferries • Ro-Pax • Marine Tourism • Cruise • Freshwater

It is an extensively representative range of vessel types, construction materials, vessels sizes, propulsion systems and even fuels. Most importantly, all appear to be safe, seaworthy, comfortable vessels that produce minimal nasty emissions and consume comparatively small amounts of fuel. Most are even aesthetically attractive.

This is the modern environment for passenger vessels that must appeal to passengers and operators as well as the “thought police” and ever more vigilant safety authorities.

These vessels, from a wide range of builders and designers, in terms of geographic location, size, experience and material and vessel type specialties, all seem to achieve what has been asked of them. I thus encourage you to visit Baird Maritime to learn all about the latest examples of all kinds of ferries, tourist and cruise vessels from all over the world.

Vessel Reviews:

• Costa d’Argento – Tuscany tour company adds 34m newbuild to fleet
• AmaSiena – New cruiseliner for AmaWaterways’ Rhine River sailings
• Eleanor Roosevelt – Balearia’s new high-capacity, LNG hybrid ferry
• Aurora Botnia – Wasaline low-emission ferry for Vaasa-Umea service
• Maria Galanta Express – New ferry for Mauritius operator boasts fast, smoother coastal trips
• Stena Scandica – Upgraded Stena Line ferry with increased capacity and emissions-reducing features
  
• Ocean Explorer – SunStone Ships’ ice-class expedition vessel with 162-guest capacity
• American Melody – Fourth 175-pax riverboat in series for American Cruise Lines

News and Gear:

• Japan’s Marix Line adds 145m ferry to inter-island fleet
• Holland Norway Lines to launch Eemshaven-Kristiansand ferry service in 2022
• SunStone Ships’ fifth Infinity-class vessel hits the water
• Irish Ferries to double frequency on Dover-Calais route with second vessel
• One missing after boat capsizes off Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines
• Scandlines orders ferry for Puttgarden-Rodby route
• Norway’s Troms and Finnmark County takes delivery of truck-carrying ferry
• Work underway on new terminal precinct for Spirit of Tasmania at GeelongPort
• First of four hybrid LNG coastal ferries delivered to Havila Kystruten
• One dead, three injured after boat capsizes off Cebu, Philippines
• California tech startup unveils electric hydrofoil ferry concept
• Carnival Cruise Line christens newest flagship
• Costa Cruises’ newest LNG-fueled ship completes sea trials

Recent Important Features:

VESSEL REFIT | French sightseeing boat rebuilt in La Spezia

– “The small boat, which had become damaged in a fire from which only the bare hull was saved, underwent an extensive overhaul.”

– by Stefano Fermi, publisher of Italian work boat magazine Il Battelliere – Nautica Professionale and web magazine TuttoCrociere – Cybercruises.com

Remember to come back every day to see the latest news, opinion and vessel reviews!

Call for content!

Any news or views about the global maritime tourism, ferry and cruise industries? Send it through to [email protected] ASAP (between now and November 12), so we can add it to this current edition of Passenger Vessel Week!

We are after:

• Vessels – Orders, new deliveries, under construction
• Gear – Latest innovations and technology in the passenger vessel sector
• Interviews – Owners, operators, terminal authorities, passenger vessel associations, etc.
• Reminiscences – Do you have any exciting, amusing or downright dangerous anecdotes from your time in the passenger vessel world? (example here)
• Other – Any other relevant news

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