The former Japanese controlled cruise ship ‘Fuji’ was beached at Gadani, India for recycling on 20th January.
In addition, the casino ship ‘Oriental Dragon’ arrived on a Pakistani beach on 26th January.
‘Oriental Dragon will be better known as the ‘Sun Viking’, which helped to kick off the Florida cruising boom in the late 1960s/early 1970s, having been delivered in 1972.
Carnival Corp’s AIDA brand has announced that the ‘AIDAmira’ (pictured) will be leaving the fleet in March of this year.
‘AIDAmira’ will be joining the ‘Ambience’, operated by Ambassador Cruises, as the ‘Ambition’.
Ambassador said that the new ship will enter service in 2023 and will operate from regional UK ports, such as Newcastle, Dundee, Belfast, Liverpool, Bristol and Falmouth, as well as the company’s base at Tilbury.
As ‘AIDAmira’, she underwent an extensive refit in the fourth quarter of 2019.
Prior to entering service with Ambassador, she will undergo a series of similar extensive upgrades as with her sistership ‘Ambience’, including the installation of the latest emission reduction technologies to secure IMO Tier III compliance.
She will also be fitted with updated ballast and sewage water treatment systems..
While confirming that the vessel will leave the fleet, AIDA commented that with the commissioning of ‘AIDAcosma’ on 26th February, 2022, it will continue its sustainable growth course.
She is the second AIDA newbuilding to be powered by LNG.
The company is also researching the use of emission-neutral fuels and plans to use fuel cells and batteries on its ships this year.
While in ports, AIDA is committed to the further development of shore power from renewable energy sources. Its ships already use shore power where it is technically possible, or are technically prepared to use the facilities once installed.
