Tag Archives: Carnival Spirit

Panama Canal to Receive Over 200 Transits by Cruise Ships This Season

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The Panama Canal announced the transit of Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Spirit, which will kick off the 2022-2023 cruise season, with over 200 transits by new and returning cruise ships expected in the waterway this season, according to a press release.

Over the next few months, the Panama Canal will facilitate over 200 cruise ship transits, 17 more than was expected in the 2019-2020 season, including two transits by the Norwegian Encore, according to the Panama Canal.

“We anticipate a record number of Neopanamax vessel transits this year, which will help boost Panama’s tourism sector. Given our role in international trade, we are thrilled to welcome visitors from around the world to experience the Panama Canal first-hand and to discover what our country has to offer,” commented Albano Aguilar, international trade specialist, at Panama Canal.

The cruise season for the Panama Canal stretches from October to May. This season will see the return of several cruise lines, including Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America, Princess Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Royal Caribbean Cruises, all of which will offer passengers itineraries that include a full or partial transit of the Panama Canal.

In addition, at least 12 cruise ships are scheduled to make their first transit through the Panama Canal this season, including the Fridtjof of Nansen, Seabourn Venture, World Navigator, Celebrity Edge, Sea Cloud Spirit, World Voyager, Evrima, Le Bellot, Spirit of Adventure, Viking Neptune, Viking Octantis, and Viking Polaris.

Ports of Auckland Challenged on Shore Power Plan

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The Carnival Spirit is based year-round in Australia (photo: Clyde Dickens)

Ports of Auckland (POAL) has announced that it has decided to adopt the recommendation of a recent study to plan for shore power, which it said will have an estimated cost of some $18.3 million and the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 31 percent.

Commenting on POAL’s decision, however, CLIA Australasia’s managing director Joel Katz stated that a key strategy of the major cruise lines in meeting the IMO requirements is the adoption of exhaust gas cleaning system technology to achieve emission reductions. But, with the advancements in cleaner fuels and emissions abatement systems, he said, the usefulness of shore power will likely decline over time, and it should not be assumed that the next generation of cruise ships will be designed and built as shore power enabled, he said.

Katz added that it was worth noting that the Ports of Auckland said it will carry out further work on shore power, including a detailed cost estimate, a cost-benefit analysis and an investigation of funding options so there is still a lot discussion to be had with industry.

According to the POAL, cruise ships were selected for the study as the cruise industry has been proactive at addressing environmental issues over the past decade and these vessels are more frequently fitted with the onboard infrastructure required. This, combined with high individual electricity demand while at berth (compared to other vessel types), is expected to increase utilization and deliver the highest emission reduction return.

The study looked at the feasibility of a wide range of emission reduction technologies, including shore power (grid supplied, local generation including renewables, hybrid); fuel switching (methanol, LNG, low sulfur diesel); land/barge based exhaust capture systems; and ship based scrubbers.

Viable solutions were assessed against a range of social and environmental attributes in addition to the whole of life cost. This holistic approach was adopted to provide a balanced assessment of the alternatives, with consideration of the stakeholder values.

The report recommended two options: To implement shore power at one cruise berth in the next five years; and/or fuel switching to 0.1% sulfur fuel.

The report or the recommendation did not address the issue, however, that very few of the ships currently sailing year-round or seasonally from Australia are equipped to plug in.

The Carnival Spirit and Legend, for example, are not shore power enabled, according to Carnival Australia.

Search for couple missing overboard from Carnival Spirit / Cruise fall couple may have been arguing, claims police source

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Search for couple missing overboard from Carnival Spirit

09 May 2013

Search for couple missing overboard from Carnival SpiritA major search is under way after two people were reported missing from Carnival Spirit off the coast of Australia.

After the pair – a 26-year-old woman and a 30-year-old man who were travelling with family and friends – were unaccounted for during the debarkation process at the Sydney Overseas Passenger Terminal, the authorities were contacted and searches began.

The New South Wales (NSW) police said an air and marine search and rescue operation was under way off the coast of Forster – more than 130 miles north of Sydney.

Officers from the Marine Area Command reviewed CCTV footage and determined the pair had gone overboard about 8.50pm local time on Wednesday.

A spokesman for NSW police said: “Police and Australian Search and Rescue have determined a search area approximately 60Nm east of Forster and have deployed aircraft and marine vessels.

“Officers are investigating the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the pair and, in these early stages, are focused on the search efforts.”

A spokesman for Carnival Cruise Lines said: “We have naturally been concerned since we became aware that two passengers were missing from Carnival Spirit and our thoughts are clearly with their families at this difficult time.

“We are working closely with New South Wales Police and assisting them in their inquiries.

“At approximately 9.15am today during the debarkation process for Carnival Spirit at the conclusion of a 10-night cruise in Sydney, it became apparent that two guests, a 26-year-old woman and a 30-year-old man, were unaccounted for.

“The ship immediately initiated standard missing person procedures including a full search of the vessel as per protocol. The guests in question were travelling with family and friends and initial reports indicate that the couple were last seen onboard the vessel last night.”

Cruise fall couple may have been arguing, claims police source

14 May 2013

Cruise fall couple may have been arguing, claims police sourceA couple who went overboard from a cruise ship off the coast of Australia on May 8 had been arguing before the fall, a senior police source told the Associated Australian Press.

The incident occurred on the Carnival Spirit as it sailed along the mid-north coast of New South Wales.

CCTV captured Paul Rossington and Kristen Schroder in the ship’s casino on Wednesday evening having a heated argument, which led them to skip dinner with Ms. Schroder’s family.

Later footage shows the pair ‘mucking around’ in the ship’s corridor, apparently no longer arguing. The couple then head to the deck of the ship where Ms. Schroder can be seen climbing over the Spirit’s railing, facing the sea.

Around 8.50pm, the footage shows the couple going overboard into the Tasman Sea, one immediately after the other. Police have been unable to determine whether Ms. Schroder jumped or fell, but Mr. Rossington can be seen jumping overboard moments later.

The search for the pair was called off last Friday afternoon after police had searched 500 square nautical miles off the coast of Forster, NSW.

Carnival Australia has defended the company’s safety standards, saying rails on the ship are higher than required by international regulations.