Focus on Passenger Vessels

Baird Maritime resumes its regular feature weeks by focusing on the steadily growing, global passenger vessel sector. We will review recently delivered large ferries in Europe and the Far East, electric commuter boats for Russia’s capital city, a fast catamaran for Norway, and a luxury tour vessel for an owner in Thailand.

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

We also take a closer look into an upcoming Norwegian-led project with the aim of introducing a fleet of autonomous inner city ferries into service as well as the fascinating story of a Thai river ferry company that has been in operation for over five decades.

We invite regular readers to continue visiting these pages for the latest news and other noteworthy developments in this ever-important sector of the global maritime industry.

Vessel Reviews:

• Moby Fantasy – Large ferry for Moby’s Livorno-Sardinia sailings
  
• Ryukyu Express 7 – Large Japanese vehicle carrier to operate on Tokyo-Okinawa routes
• MyStar – LNG-fuelled Baltic Sea shuttle ferry for Estonia’s Tallink Grupp
• A Galeotta – Corsica Linea’s newest ship boasts extensive passenger and freight capacities
  
• Sunflower Kurenai – LNG-fuelled ferry to serve Japan’s inter-island routes
• Ma Lisha – Indian-built ocean-going ferry for Guyanese government
• Pearl of Siam – Fast VIP tour boat delivered to Thai owner
• Frey – First of two fast hybrid catamarans for Norled
  
• Sinichka – Electric commuter boats designed for Russia’s Moskva River
  
• Ferry Rokko – Second 194m Ro-Pax for Miyazaki Car Ferry
• Lady Samoa IV – Japanese-built versatile inter-island ferry for Samoan government
• Reef Inspector – Expedition cruising catamaran for Great Barrier Reef tour operator

Features and Opinion:

FEATURE | Norwegian firm to introduce autonomous electric commuter ferries

– “Besides the smart functions, the ferry and docking systems follow a standardised design so that it is compatible with existing infrastructure in addition to being ready for mass production.”

FEATURE | Supatra Boats: a long history and a strong future

– “The long slim and agile wooden boats have proven themselves over a half century on the tricky and turbulent waters of the Chao Phraya.”

– by Alan Haig-Brown, novelist, non-fiction writer, and regular Baird Maritime contributor

COLUMN | A load of bollards: the US Coast Guard (and others) should get serious on testing mooring equipment! [Offshore Accounts]

– “The physical inspection of bollards is a problem that has been with us for generations.”

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

News and Gear:

• Passenger Vessel News Roundup | March 24 – A Danish fast ferry, US catamaran cruise ship construction and more
• Cruise ship rescues adrift boaters off Victoria, Australia
• Marine Propulsion News Roundup | March 21 – Electric retrofit for Michigan Lake Huron ferry, cruise ship fuel cells and more
• 33 arrested over deadly ferry sinking off Gabon
• 15 additional bodies found following Gabon ferry tragedy
• Passenger Vessel News Roundup | March 15 – Norwegian and UK ferries, a tour boat for the Chinese Arctic and more
• Passenger Vessel News Roundup | February 22 – US and Russian cruise ships plus harbour ferries for Hong Kong
• Mitsui OSK Lines to merge ferry and coastal Ro-Ro business units
• Ferries to be used as temporary shelters as part of Turkish earthquake response effort

Recent Important Features:

HISTORY | A voyage on an Irrawaddy Flotilla Company ship

– “On any steamer you had a microcosm of colonial Burma’s political, economic and social hierarchy.”

– By Paul Strachan, author and founder/owner of Pandaw Cruises

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 March 24), 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

Stay updated on future Passenger Vessel Weeks

Sign up here to be notified in advance about future Passenger Vessel Weeks.