– First of Six Next-Generation Vessels Sets Single-Best Booking Day And Best Initial Booking Week Sales in the Company’s 54-Year History –

–Norwegian Cruise Line’s Record-Breaking Sales Demonstrate Strong Demand for Cruise Travel –

ATHENS, May 17, 2021 – Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), the innovator in global cruise travel, is once again breaking the boundaries of conventional cruising and vacation experiences, with the reveal of Norwegian Prima, which has become the Brand’s most in-demand ship ever, with record bookings on the first day and week of sales.

With voyages beginning August 2022, Norwegian Prima, the first of six ships within NCL’s all new Prima Class, will offer guests exciting itineraries, the highest staffing levels and space ratio of any new cruise ship in the contemporary and premium cruise categories, and Brand-first experiences with Ocean Boulevard, Indulge Food Hall, The Concourse, Infinity Beach and Oceanwalk.

“Every aspect of Norwegian Prima, from bow to stern, was conceptualized with the guest in mind,” said Norwegian Cruise Line’s President and CEO Harry Sommer. “With this world-class ship, we are providing our guests with more wide-open spaces, elevated service, thoughtful design and a variety of experiences that go beyond expectation. Our record-breaking sales are a clear indicator of our guests’ excitement to return to the ocean and of the significant demand for a premium vacation experience.”

Norwegian Prima will not only offer the largest variety of suite categories available at sea but will also boast a redefined The Haven by Norwegian, NCL’s ultra-premium keycard only access ship-within-a-ship concept. The Haven will feature an expansive sundeck, a stunning infinity pool overlooking the ship's wake and an outdoor spa with a glass-walled sauna and cold room.

“Norwegian Prima is already proving to be a gamechanger for NCL,” added Sommer. “Norwegian Bliss, which debuted in 2018 and boasted our biggest booking day ever during her unveiling, has been outpaced by Norwegian Prima, which has doubled the prior record. In addition, nearly 20 percent of bookings are for our Haven suites, indicating the desire for top-of-the-line experiences.”

For additional details and a list of itineraries, rendered images and video content of the all-new Norwegian Prima, please click here.

For more information about Norwegian Cruise Line ships and their itineraries, or to book a cruise, please contact a travel professional, call 888-NCL-CRUISE (625-2784) or visit www.ncl.com.

About Norwegian Cruise Line 

As the innovator in global cruise travel, Norwegian Cruise Line has been breaking the boundaries of traditional cruising for 54 years. Most notably, the cruise line revolutionized the industry by offering guests the freedom and flexibility to design their ideal vacation on their preferred schedule with no assigned dining and entertainment times and no formal dress codes. Today, its fleet of 17 contemporary ships sail to over 300 of the world’s most desirable destinations, including Great Stirrup Cay, the company’s private island in the Bahamas and its resort destination Harvest Caye in Belize. Norwegian Cruise Line not only provides superior guest service from land to sea, but also offers a wide variety of award-winning entertainment and dining options as well as a range of accommodations across the fleet, including solo-traveler staterooms, mini-suites, spa-suites and The Haven by Norwegian®, the company’s ship-within-a-ship concept. For additional information or to book a cruise, contact a travel professional, call 888-NCL-CRUISE (625-2784) or visit www.ncl.com. For the latest news and exclusive content, visit the media center and follow Norwegian Cruise line on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube @NorwegianCruiseLine; and Twitter and Snapchat @CruiseNorwegian.

Inmarsat, the world leader in global, mobile satellite communications, has announced that JRC (Japan Radio Company Co. Ltd.) has joined its fast-expanding group of Certified Application Providers (CAP) offering applications via Inmarsat’s dedicated Fleet Connect bandwidth.

The announcement follows the successful trial of JRC’s Smart Ship Viewer (SSV) bridge solution onboard Taiwan Navigation’s Handymax bulk carrier Tai Splendor. As a result of the successful trial Taiwan Navigation has now contracted to use Fleet Connect and JRC’s Smart Ship Viewer across its eight newbuildings and eight existing vessels.

“Taiwan Navigation prides itself on the high quality of its operations and has ambitious plans for expansion within the region,” said a spokesperson from Taiwan Navigation said. “We are moving ahead by investing in new ships and in digitalisation and as part of our strategy we are deploying the best available assets to optimise safety and efficiency.”

“The SSV is a networked bridge and communications management solution with capabilities including ship monitoring, Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS), navigation and routing, Voyage Data Recorder (VDR) downloads, and data sharing using the J-Marine Cloud,” said Hiroshi Miyashita, Manager of SATCOM Business Group at JRC. “Entering into the Inmarsat CAP programme will allow us to use Fleet Connect to provide the dedicated bandwidth that ensures this powerful digital network is available on-demand, to prioritise data traffic and optimise vessel efficiency in a safe and secure way.”

Marco Cristoforo Camporeale, Senior Director, Digital Applications for Inmarsat Maritime said: “Given the stature of JRC as a provider of advanced marine technology, this new agreement is a major step forward for the CAP programme. The Taiwan Navigation contract is a notable country success for both Inmarsat’s high-speed Fleet Xpress service and for Fleet Connect’s dedicated bandwidth in particular.

“Combined, these agreements add a significant new bridge network option for Fleet Xpress customers worldwide, while also allowing us to demonstrate the reality of Fleet Connect dedicated bandwidth to Taiwan’s widely respected ship owning community,” said Mr Camporeale.

“The secure cyber protection provided by Fleet Connect’s segregation from the vessels primary bandwidth was also influential in Taiwan Navigation’s decision,” Camporeale added. “Separation of the JRC SSV network from other traffic, such as crew communications, creates an additional layer of cyber security protection,” he said.

Inmarsat’s Certified Application Provider marketplace now hosts over 40 applications designed for ship owners and operators to reduce fuel emissions, enhance vessel performance, improve navigation, train crew and save lives at sea.

About Inmarsat
Inmarsat is the world leader in global, mobile satellite communications. It owns and operates the world’s most diverse global portfolio of mobile telecommunications satellite networks, and holds a multi-layered, global spectrum portfolio, covering L-band, Ka-band and S-band, enabling unparalleled breadth and diversity in the solutions it provides. Inmarsat’s long-established global distribution network includes not only the world’s leading channel partners but also its own strong direct retail capabilities, enabling end to end customer service assurance.

The company has an unrivalled track record of operating the world’s most reliable global mobile satellite telecommunications networks, sustaining business and mission critical safety & operational applications for more than 40 years. It is also a major driving force behind technological innovation in mobile satellite communications, sustaining its leadership through a substantial investment and a powerful network of technology and manufacturing partners.

Inmarsat operates across a diversified portfolio of sectors with the financial resources to fund its business strategy and holds leading positions in the Maritime, Government, Aviation and Enterprise satcoms markets, operating consistently as a trusted, responsive and high-quality partner to its customers across the globe.

Vancouver, Canada, 17 May 2021 – NYK Trading Corporation and Sterling PlanB are entering into an exclusive agreement for the sales and distribution of Energy Storage Systems in Japan, bringing new standards of ESS performance and safety to the market.

Energy storage expert, Sterling PlanB has signed an agreement with NYK Trading Corporation, the trading company of the NYK Group, to distribute Sterling PlanB’s energy storage systems in Japan. Sterling PlanB has pioneered the development of energy storage systems (ESS) for use in the maritime industry, and consistently raised performance and safety standards for battery technology.

This move reflects the growing awareness that energy storage technology will be an essential component of the evolution of zero-carbon shipping, both in Japan and globally. Whether in combination with zero-carbon fuels, wind assisted propulsion, or other optimisation solutions, ESS can play a role in peak shaving, managing a hotel load, or supplying emergency power, both increasing performance and safety, and reducing fuel consumption.

This agreement will see Sterling PlanB benefit from the scale and resources of NYK Trading Corporation as an important commercial partner. NYK Trading Corporation is already an established supplier of marine fuel and lubricants oil, and mechanical instrumentation business globally, and strong links with Japanese shipowners, shipyards and technology integrators. This marks the move towards a low-carbon future, in line with NYK Trading Corporation’s investment in developing its solar energy business and other clean technology avenues.

NYK Trading Corporation aims to bring ESS propulsion to small vessels such as tugboats, short distance ferries and merchant vessels in the domestic Japanese maritime market. By using its business network as an established trading house in Japan, the company will establish a strong sales foundation for ESS and fuel cell suppliers and the battery propulsion market as a whole, as the maritime ESS market in Japan remains relatively immature.

Brent Perry, CEO of Sterling PlanB said: “With many major commercial shipping lines and shipyards based in Japan, we are honored and proud to be joining forces with NYK Trading Corporation to bring our ESS solutions to this market. With their scale and expertise, we look forward to working together to ensure that ESS and battery power is a major part of Japan’s clean shipping future.”

Keiji Tsuchiya, Representative Director, CEO from NYK Trading said: “Sterling PlanB has demonstrated that they are an innovative company that has made safety its top priority. We recognize the urgent need for shipping to reduce its carbon emissions, and as such, look forward to providing our customers with a world leading ESS solution.”

Sterling PlanB’s batteries are developed with the highest standards of safety in mind, particularly when it comes to tackling the risk of fire due to thermal runaway. Its systems are some of the first to meet classification society DNV’s new 2020 class rules for commercial vessel batteries, which substantially mitigates the risk of the spread of fire by eliminating the propagation of thermal runaway within a battery module. By monitoring individual cells – including patented venting solutions and liquid cooling – Sterling PlanB’s batteries have led the way in developing safe systems that supply the power needed for commercial shipping.

About Sterling PlanB
Sterling PlanB designs and manufactures high power lithium-ion energy storage. Comprised of the most experienced team in the sector, they are focused on providing value and safety for industrial, marine and grid energy storage applications. Visit spbes.com.

About NYK Trading Corporation
As a trading company of the NYK Group, the NYK Trading Corporation has been gaining traction at home and abroad in both the petroleum energy business and the mechatronics (machinery and instrumentation) business. Their slogan is Global Energy & Mechatronics. They are developing a variety of services in both energy and mechatronics, and striving for the realization of "sustainable development".

How can shipping companies support women seafarers’ mental wellbeing and eradicate gender discrimination – and are they doing enough? These were some of the topics that Sophia Onken, Partner and Clinical Psychologist at Mental Health Support Solutions (MHSS), discussed during the ‘Wellbeing For Women In Shipping’ webinar on 14 May.

The event organised by MHSS – which provides professional mental health support and guidance across the maritime sector – explored the challenges facing female crewmembers such as sexual harassment, bullying, gender discrimination and the stresses of life aboard a vessel. It also covered resilience strategies for women in shipping, how to improve their wellbeing and the issues that need addressing to improve their working lives.

“When it comes to seafaring, it seems women are often treated as the underdogs,” said Ms Onken. “Typical reasons for this include being perceived as inferior to men, receiving unequal treatment to their male counterparts and suffering from verbal or physical sexual harassment.”

Ms Onken added that the lack of women in the maritime industry – accounting for just 2% of the workforce – was a major barrier for females at sea. “There is a low ratio of females to males on deck, which could partly explain why their issues aren’t addressed at work,” she said. “For this reason, more female employment in shipping should be encouraged.”

While seafaring is a prime cause of stress-related suicide among men, studies show that mental health issues are also a concern for their female counterparts. “Some women experience work-related stress and physical concerns when aboard a ship, which can lead to suicide attempts,” said Christian Ayerst, CEO of MHSS.

Research in recent years highlights some of the issues that women seafarers face when at work. According to a survey on women seafarers’ health and welfare, 18% of the 595 women crewmembers who responded said they had been sexually harassed while on board.

“The study clearly shows the need to raise awareness because many women experience unfair treatment at work,” Ms Onken said. “One example is not having access to sanitary bins or female-specific products.”

The main symptoms for women with physical or mental health problems at sea were joint/back pain, stress/depression/anxiety and headaches, with 55% attributing these issues to their work.

A separate study on women working at sea for Greek-owned shipping companies found that men saw their female counterparts as equals when it came to career success. However, only a minority of men felt that women could perform as well as male crewmembers. The ‘Employment of women at sea’ report also revealed that most men were unwilling to accept a woman as their superior in the ship’s hierarchy or as port captains ashore.

“This study shows the ongoing belief that female seafarers are inferior to their male counterparts,” Ms Onken said. “While most respondents (63%) believed that females should be given the opportunity to work at sea, only 19.6% agreed that women could be as competent as men. This fuels the belief that women aren’t fit for the job, discouraging them from entering or staying in the maritime industry. We need to change that.”

Ms Onken added that the studies highlighted the discrimination facing women in the “male-dominated” maritime industry. “These problems include, but aren’t limited to, sexual harassment and restricted access to female-specific resources,” she said. “Encouraging women to join the sector will go a long way to reversing, or at least reducing, these problems.”

Ocean Technologies Group (OTG) has assisted the IMO’s Global Industry Alliance to Support Low Carbon Shipping (Low Carbon GIA) to develop a free E-learning course on energy efficient ship operations and how GHG emissions from ships can be addressed.

The online course, called ‘An Introduction to Energy Efficient Ship Operation’, features content using a variety of interactive formats including videos, text information and quizzes to engage seafarers and anyone else interested in this important subject matter.

The self-paced free course has been developed by the Low Carbon GIA, a public-private partnership bringing together leading maritime companies to address barriers to low carbon shipping, established under the IMO-Norway GreenVoyage2050 Project and is available via the UN Climate Change Learning Partnership website.

“We are pleased to have worked with Ocean Technologies Group on the creation of IMO's 'An Introduction to Energy Efficient Ship Operation' course. The free course, which can be accessed online but also downloaded via PDF in case of low internet connectivity, is extremely user friendly with a mixture of video, text, graphic and interactive elements," said Astrid Dispert, Project Technical Manager for IMO’s Department of Partnerships and Projects.

The course features two modules which include interactive lessons and resources for additional learning. Each module takes about an hour to complete. The first module explores IMO’s regulatory framework to address GHG emissions from ships and the second module focuses on the operational measures that can be included in the Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP) part 1that can contribute to improvements in the energy efficiency of ships to help reduce GHG emissions. Ocean Technologies Group will be working on additional modules in the future.

Talking about their involvement in the project OTG's Chief Executive Officer Manish Singh said, “We are delighted that we have been able to assist the IMO’s Low Carbon Global Industry Alliance in the making of this vital piece of e-learning. Clean energy-efficient shipping is a cause we at Ocean Technologies Group are deeply committed to and are keen to support. Training for both our seafarers and those onshore will have an increasingly important role in raising awareness and shaping behaviour if we are to fulfil our ambitions for decarbonisation of our Industry.”

Raal Harris Group Creative Director of OTG added, “It has been a fascinating project to work on and we are proud to be a part of the project. Lowering GHG emissions is such an important area to address given the target set by the IMO for the industry to achieve at least a 50% reduction in emissions by 2050 as compared with 2008. This course explains that we all have a part to play and will hopefully help everyone to understand the first steps they need to take to start them on this journey.”

To access the course simply use the following link:

About Ocean Technologies Group
The Ocean Technologies Group is a global learning and operational technology company built on historic and iconic maritime brands Seagull Maritime and Videotel. Further strengthened by the COEX, Marlins, Maritime Training Services and Tero Marine brands, it boasts over 100 years’ collective experience of helping the most successful ship operators achieve the highest standards of safety and operational excellence. Dedicated to realising the potential of every seafarer and every ship, Ocean Technologies Group and its global team of over 300 Oceaneers help to make the industry safer, stronger and able to excel.

The shipping and financial services stakeholders are meeting online on 08 June, 15 June and 22 June between 12.30 – 13.50 (CEST) to discuss the current opportunities and challenges of ship financing.

ECSA is organising an event to bring together regulators, maritime experts and the financial services stakeholders to discuss the currently ongoing finance initiatives and to find practical and usable solutions for facilitating the European ambitions. 

In the times ahead, the European shipping industry is facing both opportunities and challenges. The shipping industry needs sufficiently available and affordable financing to keep its commitment to work towards a sustainable economy. The success of the shipping industry goes hand in hand with the success of the financial services industry. Let it be regulator or market actor, the shipping industry and the financial services industry need to join forces to get one step closer towards the common goal.

European shipowners cooperate with the shipbuilding sector, ports, equipment manufacturers and the research community, to name just a few. This facilitates innovative and sustainable solutions to drive the whole maritime industry together towards a greener future in key areas such as air emissions, waste management, and the protection of marine life. The European shipping industry embraces these challenges and is committed to taking the global lead for green shipping. 

The preliminary programme of the first webinar – Finance on 08 June 2021 (12.30 - 13.50 CEST) is:

ECSA F.I.T. - welcome speech by the ECSA President

FINANCE
This panel will focus on the currently ongoing ship finance initiatives with regulatory stakeholders discussing the opportunities and challenges.

Keynote speech: summarizing the ongoing initiatives
Panel Discussion driven by the questions of the moderator
ROUND-UP by the moderator

Details for registration will follow soon!