Focus on Passenger Vessels

Baird Maritime resumes its regular vessel feature weeks for this year by focusing once more on the ever-expanding passenger vessel sector. This week’s lineup of reviewed vessels include a cruise ship for Caribbean sailings, a ferry for a US transport company, a coastal cruise ship and a ferry for operation in Norway, and an electric tour boat for northern China.

Ferries • Ro-Pax • Marine Tourism • Cruise • River/Lake Operations

We also look into an exciting vessel development project in Britain that seeks to introduce a fleet of passenger-carrying hovercraft that will run on hydrogen fuel. If successful, this will mean that these vessels will already be in service as early as 2025.

Remember to visit Baird Maritime regularly over the coming days for the latest news on the global passenger vessel industry.

Vessel Reviews:

• Linghang Zhixing – Battery-powered inland tour boat for China’s Heilongjiang province
• VESSEL REFIT | Richard With – Hurtigruten Norway coastal ship rejoins fleet after battery hybrid upgrade
• Carnival Celebration – New Caribbean cruise ship with 5,200-guest capacity
• Ryfylke – Double-ended electric ferry enters service with Norway’s Norled
• Mary Ann Market – Ohio operator welcomes new Ro-Pax to fleet

Features and Opinion:

FEATURE | UK consortium developing hydrogen-powered hovercraft for passenger transport

– “The novel propulsion system will be demonstrated on 12-seat and 80-seat hovercraft.”

FEATURE | Electric tour boat fleet for Shanghai’s Suzhou Creek

– “The creek itself possesses historical and cultural significance, having been used as a major trade route for silk and ceramics during the Tang Dynasty.”

REMINISCENCES | Building a luxury day boat for the navy

– “I was in a bit of shock as I had never experienced such a team of people to make a decision about such a small project (by navy standards).”

– by Bill Wright, director of Australian shipbuilder Norman R. Wright and Sons

News and Gear:

• US Congress passes bill covering operators’ liabilities following passenger vessel accidents
• OBITUARY | Bill Zebedee, former chairman and CEO of Hovermarine
• Passenger Vessel News Roundup | December 7 – European vehicle ferries plus cruise ships for US and Monaco
• 27 people on drifting boat rescued in joint Philippine-Malaysian operation
• One dead, four injured after rogue wave hits cruise ship off Argentina
• Hong Kong court rejects calls for coroner’s inquest into ferry tragedy
• LETTERS | Unconsidered costs of much-delayed CalMac ferries
• Over 200 rescued from burning ferry off Bali, Indonesia

Recent Important Features:

OPINION | An impending ferry disaster on the Clyde: hundreds (of millions of pounds) lost, reputations ruined and shipyard bust. And fake windows painted on the bridge…

– “Whilst the shipyard boasted a long track record, the team that had executed the track record was long gone.”

– by Hieronymus Bosch, Baird Maritime‘s anonymous insider in the world of offshore oil and gas operations

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 December 9), 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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