Fincantieri floats out new ship Norwegian Aqua Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri has floated out Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Aqua  at its dry dock in Marghera, Italy.

The construction milestone was celebrated by Fincantieri welding two ceremonial coins into Norwegian Aqua to bestow good luck and safe sailing for ship.

“We are excited to celebrate another milestone with our partners at Fincantieri, who are integral to the Prima-class journey and supporting us in evolving the amazing experience we design and deliver for our guests,” said David Herrera, president of Norwegian Cruise Line. “Building upon the guest-favourite features of the award-winning vessels of this class, the 10 per cent increase in space provides us with more flexibility to deliver more offerings and more beautifully designed venues for our guests to relax and explore onboard Norwegian Aqua.”   





The floating out ceremony marks the end of work on the ship’s exterior ahead of its launch in April 2025 (image credit: Fincantieri) ...
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Service Alterations Registered ~ 24th April 2024 For the second consecutive week there are no entries of  'local' interest in today's East of England Traffic Commissioner's Notices and Proceedings Report. However, the full report will be available to be viewed here soon.Roy
https://eastnorfolkbus.blogspo....t.com/2024/04/servic

Recent Re-Registrations Norfolk Coachways of Besthorpe have recently re-registered both of their Plaxton Panther bodied Volvo B9Rs obtained from Greys of Ely during August 2022URZ 1309 and RXZ 3099, which both feature on the home page of their website, are now B21 NCW and B22NCW respectively.My thanks to Martin Bott for the information and photoRoy
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Expedition essentials Expedition cruising is on the rise. According to the Expedition Cruise Network’s (ECN)’s Insights Report 2023/2024 , 71 per cent of expedition cruise operators recorded an increase in business in 2023, and 94 per cent expect it to grow further in 2024. The network attributes this to the post-pandemic realisation that it is unwise to put off bucket-list trips. This surge in interest underscores the necessity for operators to invest in specialised systems and equipment to ensure safety and sustainability when taking guests to remote regions of the world.  

“To provide an exceptional expedition experience, guest safety must always be a top priority,” says Akvile Marozaite, CEO of ECN. “Some of the highest-rated expedition cruise experiences, such as kayaking and snorkelling, expose guests to the elements. Specialist equipment, that meets various safety specifications and standards, needs to be available, especially in remote regions with limited or non-existent specialist ...
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What three factors must expedition brands focus on when designing ships? The number of passengers sailing on expedition cruises more than doubled from 2016 to 2022, according to the Cruise Lines International Association’s State of the Cruise Industry 2023 report. With this, the expedition cruise industry should anticipate increasing consumer demands for the safety of navigation, passenger experience and environmental impact. In response, KNUD E.HANSEN is enhancing its designs for passenger expedition vessels, built for 100-400 passengers, to support cruise lines in strengthening their operations. 

To ensure safe navigation in remote and pristine environments, we prioritise the highest level of survivability in our designs, strictly adhering to the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Safety of Life at Sea convention that sets out the minimum standard for how ships should be built, equipped and operated to ensure safety. Our explorer cruise vessels are designed with redundant, segregated power and propulsion systems, as well as ...
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