Last year we meet Dawn Princess in Bora Bora and again yesterday the romance was renewed when Paul Gauguin meet Dawn Princess in this beautiful island for the second time. Dawn Princess arrived in the morning at around 7:00 AM while the Paul Gauguin arrived the night earlier. Dawn Princess left Bora Bora at around 5PM and if I am not mistaken the ship was heading for Christmas Islands. Yesterday’s weather was still considerably fine despite the threatening clouds that was hovering the skies throughout the day. I believe it was one busy day for tour operators, souvenir shops, restaurants and the locals of Bora Bora as two cruise ships full of tourists were on the island. Tourism industry in French Polynesia is continually bringing good revenue despite the global economic run down. The cruise industry may still afftected by the continuing global crisis but I believe it is not as bad as other business sectors in the maritime industry.
Look at this yacht here! When I first saw this yacht the first thing that came to my mind was that of a naval ship perhaps. The outside really looks more of a naval ship or a military boat rather than a pleasure craft. I searched in Google for some facts about this yacht and it turned out that my presumption was partly correct or let me just say closer to it. Plan B is actually a hydrographic vessel of the Royal Australian Navy. This 50-meter yacht was originally named Flinders when it was launched in 1972. After it was decommissioned in 1998, it was purchased by a new owner and converted to a yacht in which during the conversion major refitting was made. Plan B docked in Papeete on the same wharf as we were berthed on 25th April 2009. I went down to the wharf to breathe some fresh air after knocking down my 3-hour shift at the gangway. With my digital camera I took few shots of Plan B. The Bill helicopter sitting on the top deck is an eye catcher (for me at least).
Dubai will be the new home for Queen Elizabeth 2. After her magnificent days serving the seas, Queen Elizabeth 2, one of the most famous ships in history, will be entrusted to a new task. This time, she won’t be circumnavigating the world anymore. Instead, the former ocean liner will be transformed into an “ultra-luxury” floating hotel in Dubai. The ship is set to have her new home at a luxury marina development, Palm Jumeirah, one of the man-made islands in Dubai. Most ships were sent to scrap yards after retiring but for Queen Elizabeth 2, this is not her fate. Ship enthusiasts, who loved and followed Queen Elizabeth 2’s voyages since the ship was launched September 20, 1967, this is obviously one great news. Queen Elizabeth 2 has circumnavigated the world 25 times, crossed the Atlantic more than 800 times and carried more than 2.5 million passengers including kings and queens, prime ministers and presidents, astronauts and The Beatles. She survived a 95 ft wave during Hurricane Luis, carried 3,000 troops to the Falklands War and helped evacuate 500 passengers from a burning ship.
To read the report you may click here.
Sometimes shit happens. This is true and it can happen anytime and anywhere. The incident that keeps flashing over FOX News regarding the missing person aboard the cruise ship Norwegian Pear is just one of the rare cases that occurred in cruise ships. By the way, I mentioned Fox News not because this is my favorite news channel but because this is the only news channel available onboard. Okey so here we go. In my own opinion, possible reasons that a person may go missing onboard cruise ships or even to cargo ships are suicide or drunkenness. The possibility of involvement of another person seldom or rarely happens. The incident that occurred recently onboard the cruise ship Norwegian Pear until now continues to be a mystery but anytime soon, I believe investigators will release the result of their investigation. Read the report here.
Photo: www.nowpublic.com
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LOA – 134.5 feet Displacement: 300 tons median load Hull Rig: Steel Brigantine Sail Area: 8,500 sq. feet Power: 455 H.P. Diesel Built: 2001; Tacoma, WA Operating Range: Northern and Southern Pacific Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico
Please visit the link here for more information about SSV Robert C. Seamans.
