Storylines is building a luxurious residential cruise ship that will indefinitely travel worldwide starting from 2025.
However, a passenger must be prepared to trade their comfortable multi-room house for a tiny studio condominium where they will need to sleep on a Murphy bed.
The 18-deck MV Narrative, the start-up’s first luxury residential cruise vessel, that will travel all over the world indefinitely.
Credits: Storylines
The ship and its 1,000 occupants will not begin such a unique lifelong journey until 2025, but the vessel’s 547 floating condominiums are capturing the wallets and, of course, the hearts of interested buyers.
In August, some floor plans are almost sold out, Katie Drew, Storylines’ VP of marketing, informed Insider.
The 741-foot cruise vessel is lined with 11-floor plans that are semi-customizable.
The price of the residences ranges from a $1 million 237-square-foot studio home that can be compared to NY apartments to a palatial four-bedroom, spanning almost 1,970-square-foot, a two-floor house that will run potential buyers about $8 million. The 237-square-foot home is not a conventional $1.1 million condo.
A guest will still have access to furniture such as storage units, a closet, and a TV, per the Storyline brochure.
Instead of a divider or bedroom that separates the living room from the former, the studio apartment has a queen-size Murphy bed. This means the bed can be easily stored in the wall when it is not used.
Remote employees depending on the Narrative’s WiFi, can either use the workspace of the vessel or lease the vessel’s private offices. But if they would instead work from home, they could use the two chairs and table across from the beds.
A small bar separates this public living space from the bathroom. While the bathrooms lack a bathtub, the neutral washroom has modern furnishings and a bright vanity that can easily rival a bathroom found in any multimillion-dollar condo.
And the studio home’s price does not include the “living fees” incurred monthly. The rate is approximately $2,600 per person in a dual-occupancy unit, per the firm’s brochure.
But in the Narrative, the monthly fees and sticker price does not include a home at sea.
As the Narrative happens to be “all-inclusive,” the cost will also cover the homeowners’ daily drinks and food at the 20 restaurants and bars the ship boasts.
Besides, guests will also have access to onboard medical staff, gorgeous pools, and a marina with water toys.
The ship also boasts a bowling alley and a 10,000-square-foot large wellness facility that Storylines says is the biggest of its kind at sea.
And throughout the vessel’s journey worldwide, residents will spend several days at lovely international destinations such as Istanbul, Kotor, and Palermo.
So, to some, paying almost $1 million for such a tiny home may seem unreasonable.
But for travellers who are never likely to get exhausted from exploring different countries, the ability to circumnavigate the planet every three and a half years while staying on a luxury cruise vessel is worth each penny.
Innovez One and Aventra Group have signed a strategic partnership to develop an advanced and innovative analytics dashboard that will enhance digital Port Management Information Systems (PMIS), giving ports better visibility on their operations and supporting strategic decision-making.
The joint platform, Port Management Insights (PMIn-sightsTM), will use historical and real-time data (coming from sensor-based IoT technology) to improve the operational efficiency of port, towage and pilotage operations, building on both companies’ expertise with machine learning automation and artificial intelligence (AI). An analytics dashboard will integrate data from several sources and applications, facilitating data sharing and enabling managers to see all information in one place.
Moreover, this partnership will enable the two companies to develop a data library of use cases, and create tailored advanced solutions to support port management.
Grant Ingram, CEO of Innovez One for the UK and Europe, commented:
“We are excited to partner with Aventra Group to help deliver state-of-the-art digital solutions for more ports around the world. As a growing number of ports embrace digitalisation as the foundation for their sustainable future, we are proud to be delivering even more value through user-friendly solutions that help them improve efficiency, make robust decisions, and reduce their emissions.”
Juan Jose Gil, CEO & Executive Director of Aventra Digital, said:
“We are very excited to be joining forces with Innovez-One to contribute to the acceleration of Ports’ Digital Transformation. The digital era is the era of collaboration where leading companies bring in their best strengths to build unprecedented value. This partnership will equip ports to run smoother with an in-depth understanding of their operations while uncovering all the potential for improvement.”
Chantiers de l’Atlantique has chosen Gasum as expert supplier of LNG bunker fuel and technical adviser to perform the initial bunkering of the first LNG fueled cruise vessel built in its premises.
The choice of Gasum as partner in the preparation and performance of this state-of-the-art delivery recognizes Gasum’s unique expertise in supporting shipyards performing initial bunkerings of newbuild LNG fueled cruise vessels.
The energy company Gasum has successfully performed the initial bunkering of the first LNG fueled cruise vessel to be completed by Chantiers de l’Atlantique, bunker operation that was performed on the 10th of September 2022 in the Port of La Rochelle. The LNG was delivered by Gasum’s LNG bunker vessel Kairos.
In addition to delivering LNG, Gasum has supported Chantiers de l’Atlantique in the technical preparation of the delivery, including obtaining the relevant permits and authorisations. This delivery marks a new milestone in the extension of the Gasum LNG bunkering network and underlines its ambition to grow geographically, offering its expertise to customers wherever such is requested.
Laurent Castaing, General Manager of Chantiers de l’Atlantique, said:
“With the LNG fueled newbuild program undergoing, Chantiers de l’Atlantique has proven its capacity to embrace new technologies and to remain at the forefront ot the shipbuilding industry. Choosing Gasum is a choice of confidence in its unique experience and track record in supporting yards with technical advice and LNG supplies.”
Grégoire Hartig, Sales Manager, Gasum, said:
“With this delivery to Chantiers de l’Atlantique, Gasum confirms its position as leading partner for shipyards engaged in the construction of LNG fueled vessels, supplying LNG and delivering decisive technical support in the preparation of initial bunkerings. This new partnership underlines also Gasum’s ambition to extend the geographical reach of its reliable and high quality service in west and south-west Europe. In addition to LNG, Gasum has become a regular supplier of Liquefied Biogas (LBG), supporting the ambitious decarbonization agenda of a series of customers.”
Five people lost their lives on Saturday in New Zealand after a small charter boat they were on capsized, the authorities reported, in what could be a collision with a whale.
Another six individuals who were on the boat were rescued.
Police mentioned that the 8.5-meter boat overturned when it was close to the Island town of Kaikōura in the South. Police said they were continuing to inspect the actual cause of the accident.
A Kaikōura Police Sergeant named Matt Boyce mentioned it was a devastating event.
The thoughts are with all those involved, including the deceased and their beloved family members, the local communities, and the emergency services staff, Boyce mentioned.
He mentioned that the police divers were able to recover the bodies of the deceased individuals. He added that all six survivors were examined, and they are stable. One was transferred to a hospital in Christchurch as a precautionary measure.
Kaikōura Mayor Craig Mackle informed The Associated Press that the water at the accident site was dead calm when the accident happened, and it was assumed that a whale had surfaced from underneath the sailing boat.
He said there were a few sperm whales in that area and some humpback whales that travel through.
He said that the locals had helped with the ongoing rescue efforts all through the day, but the mood in the town was “sombre” as the water was so cold, and they feared for the outcome of any victim who had fallen overboard.
Mackle said he had previously thought about the possibility of a boat colliding with a whale, given the significant number of whales found in that region.
He said it plays on one’s mind that it could happen, adding that he had not heard of such accidents earlier.
Mackle informed me the boat was a charter vessel typically used for fishing. News agency Stuff‘s report mention that the passengers belonged to a group of bird enthusiasts.
Kaikōura is a trendy destination for whale watching. The seafloor is known to drop away precipitously from the coast, making for deep waters close to the shore. Several businesses offer helicopter or boat trips so that the tourists can spot the whales, dolphins, and other kinds of sea creatures up close.
Police said they were still trying to inform the relatives of those who lost their lives in the accident and could not yet publicly name all the victims.
Vanessa Chapman informed Stuff that she and a group of friends had watched the rescue efforts progress from Goose Bay, located close to Kaikōura.
She further added that as she reached the lookout spot, she saw an individual atop an overturned boat waving arms.
She reported that two rescue helicopters and a third local one circled before two expert divers jumped out. She informed Stuff that the individual atop the boat was successfully rescued, and a second individual appeared to have been pulled from the water.
The compliance agency dubbed Maritime New Zealand said it had sent two investigators to the scene and was expected to conduct a thorough investigation once the recovery operations were over.
Tracy Phillips, the Principal Investigator, reported that the agency offers heartfelt condolences to the loved ones of those who have passed away.
The technology group Wärtsilä will supply the propulsion machinery for four new fishing vessels being built at Karstensens Shipyard in Denmark. These orders emphasise Wärtsilä’s leading position in delivering propulsion solutions for the fishing sector, and strengthen even further the company’s close relationship with the Karstensens yard. The orders were placed in March 2022.
The 75 metre-long purser/trawler vessels are being built for different owners. Two are for Icelandic fishing and processing companies, namely Skinney-Thinganes and Gjögur, while the other two are for Norwegian owners, Veibust Fiskeriselskap and Ronald Ervik.
Credits: Wärtsilä
Each of these vessels will operate with the highly efficient Wärtsilä 31 main engine. Wärtsilä will also supply the gearbox fitted with ‘take-me-home’ functionality, the controllable pitch propeller (CPP), the propulsion shaft lines including seals and bearings, the shaft generator, and Wärtsilä’s ProTouch propulsion control system.
The Wärtsilä 31 has been recognised by Guinness World Records as being the world’s most efficient 4-stroke diesel engine. Its output power has been increased to 5200 kW, thus enhancing its performance even further.
“We are very familiar with Wärtsilä’s propulsion offering and have opted for their products on many of our newbuild projects. In particular, the Wärtsilä 31’s efficiency and reliability is ideally suited for fishing vessels operating in these challenging North Atlantic waters,” says Kent Damgaard, Director, Karstensens Shipyard.
“Wärtsilä has a long-standing relationship with Karstensens Shipyard and we are proud and pleased to be again selected as the propulsion provider for this series of modern purser/trawlers. Repeat orders are always a good indicator of customer satisfaction, and are a validation of our focus on efficiency, reliability, and environmental sustainability,” adds Jens Karlsson, GM Sales, Large Projects, Wärtsilä Marine Power.
The Wärtsilä equipment is scheduled for delivery to the yard during 2023, and the vessels are expected to be ready for delivery in 2024.
A VLCC in ballast was approaching port for anchoring. The pilot was confirmed for 10:00. Weather conditions were good with a northerly wind of about 10 knots, good visibility and slight sea conditions. A tidal stream was running in the WSW direction at about 1.8 knots. The engine was put to dead slow ahead to drop off speed and adjust vessel’s arrival at the pilot boarding area for the prearranged time.
At 09:37, the Master asked the OOW if he had established a visual contact with the pilot boat. The OOW responded positively. The bridge team was confident that the pilot boat would be at the designated position before their vessel, so no action to further slow or stop the vessel was taken. Several minutes later, with the vessel steering 300 degrees and with a speed of 5.8 knots, the remaining distance to the pilot station was about 1.2nm.
Credits: The Nautical Institute
At 09:50, the vessel was heading 315 degrees at a speed of about 5.3 knots and the distance from the pilot station was now only about 0.7nm. The Master stopped the engine. The vessel continued to slow and the heading now increased slowly to starboard. The vessel was closing on a buoy. At 10:00 the speed was about 4 knots and the pilot boat had not yet arrived. The Master ordered hard starboard and set the main engine to dead slow ahead in order to avoid the buoy but to no avail; they struck the buoy about four minutes later on the port side near midships. The buoy slid down the vessel’s port side and cleared the stern with only minor damage.
But now, as the vessel drifted with a Speed Over Ground (SOG) of 3.4 knots, their trajectory was towards a nearby anchored vessel. The Master attempted to stop the vessel but the distance to the anchored vessel was now only 0.5 nm. The Master quickly concluded that it was not feasible to stop the vessel. Instead, by putting “Full Ahead” on the engine in combination with a succession of wheel alterations (hard to starboard and then hard to port) they managed to avoid contact with the anchored vessel.
About 20 minutes later, the pilot boarded and subsequently safely anchored the vessel in the anchorage area.
The company report found, among others that;
The passage plan lacked the appropriate precautions and contingency arrangements. Specifically, the speed of approach and the waiting area for the approach were not adequately planned.
The large drift angle and the proximity of navigational hazards was not determined at an early stage.
The current’s effect on vessel’s drift was not effectively monitored and assessed. As result, the bridge team did not adjust the vessel’s course and speed in a timely manner while approaching the pilot boarding station.
BRM was less than adequate. The Master did not explicitly inform the ship’s bridge team about his intentions related to approaching and manoeuvring. As the ship progressed, the OOW’s comprehension of the situation did not trigger any actions for clarification or corrective action.
The OOW did not provide sufficient information related to the pilot boat approaching. Instead, he confirmed that the pilot boat was approaching without informing the Master of the actual distance from the vessel and the required time to arrive alongside. As a result, the Master wrongly assumed that the pilot boat was closer than it actually was, so he continued on instead of stopping.
THE Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) has suspended the passenger ship safety certificate (PSSC) of the damaged merchant vessel OceanJet 168.
Engineer Emmanuel Carpio, Marina Regional Office 7 (MRO 7) director, said the vessel suffered damage in its starboard side propeller when it hit a coral reef while traversing Bohol to Siquijor.
“Considering the integrity of the hull, and her machinery have been compromised, the PSSC of MV OceanJet 168, is hereby suspended,” he said.
The suspension was based on Administrative Order 11-19 or the “Guidelines on the Suspension of Safety Certificates and Issuance of Lifting Order of Ships” involved in maritime casualties and incident; Marina MC 152 and PMMRR 1997; and Republic Act 9295 and its implementing rules and regulations in relation to the ship survey system.
Marina’s suspension will last until an order was given and upon favorable recommendation after a thorough inspection and evaluation of the vessel’s seaworthiness.
The vessel is owned by Ocean Fast Ferries Inc., a wholly owned Filipino corporation which operates fastcraft serving strategic routes in Luzon, the Visayas and soon, in Mindanao areas.
The negotiating period for a contract dispute between America’s large railway carriers and two major rail labor unions will expire on Friday, raising concerns about the possibility of serious freight disruptions. Affected rail carriers are already suspending shipments for certain goods, and Amtrak has canceled passenger service on several long-haul routes in anticipation of a stoppage.
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) and the SMART Transportation Division say that they are close to a deal with the main carriers, except for one sticking point. The wages and benefits recently recommended by a White House-appointed review board are acceptable to all parties, but an unpopular points-based employee attendance policy – which effectively prevents medical leave, workers claim – could prompt a nationwide walkout. “Our members are being terminated for getting sick or for attending routine medical visits,” claimed BLET and SMART in a joint statement.
The unions are demanding that they be allowed to have unpaid medical leave beyond what is provided for in the points-based system. Dennis Pierce, BLET’s president, accused carriers BNSF and Union Pacific of holding up the deal over this final sticking point, an accusation BNSF categorically denied.
Rail carriers have begun issuing bans on specific cargo classes in advance of the Friday deadline, anticipating a shutdown (or a lockout). Some of these cargoes are essential to industry or agriculture, like ammonia, a key fertilizer ingredient. The carriers assert that this is for safety purposes to ensure that hazardous goods are not stranded in the event of a labor action; however, union officials accuse the rail lines of “using shippers, consumers, and the supply chain” to apply pressure to political leaders and to union negotiators to force a deal.
Congressional leaders and the Biden administration are well aware of the looming deadline and the risk of additional transport disruption. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) has committed to legislating a solution to stop a strike if needed, and two Republican senators have written a resolution endorsing the review board’s proposed pay package as written. At the White House, President Joe Biden has spoken with both sides to urge them to accept an agreement.
“We are working with other modes of transportation, including shippers and truckers, air freight, to see how they can step in and keep goods moving in case of this rail shutdown,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said at a press conference Tuesday.
The impact of a rail shutdown would be felt at container ports on the U.S. West Coast, where rail capacity has been a key limiting factor for throughput in recent months. It would also impact grain shipments right at harvest time, according to the National Grain and Feed Association.
Since the invasion of Ukraine, there has been extensive attention to the numerous bulkers that were caught in the Black Sea ports, but now comes a report from Latvian State TV of a bulker caught in a legal trap due to the sanctions against Russian interests. The 62,500 dwt Asian Majesty, registered in Singapore and operated U-Ming Marine of Taiwan, has been anchored in the Gulf of Riga, Latvia since March 2022 caught in limbo with even the Latvia authorities unable to find a path to release the ship.
The bulker arrived in Riga in March after having partially loaded a cargo of potassium chloride fertilizer in Saint Petersburg, Russia. The vessel continued loading at the Riga fertilizer terminal. With a full load of approximately 55,000 tons of fertilizer loaded the vessel moved to the anchorage waiting for the final export permits. While other ships came and went, the Asian Majesty found herself caught.
The Latvian customs office explains the issue is not the cargo but the ownership of the cargo. They believe it to be owned by a company controlled by Russian oligarch Dmitry Mazepin, who was among the individuals and businesses sanctioned by the European Union after the invasion. Latvia believes the cargo is owned by a Mauritius-based company, United Fertilizers Company Limited, which in turn is controlled by Mazepin. Latvia’s State Environment Service (VVD) is refusing the export permit based on its belief that it is not permitted to release cargo that would financially benefit the sanctioned oligarch.
In August, Latvian TV reports the crew of the vessel issued an appeal for assistance. They reported that they were running low on fuel, and drinking water and had accumulated waste to remove from the ship. While the authorities assisted the crew, and highlight the crew and the ship is not sanctioned, the problem remains on how to release the ship. Latvia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, State Environment Service, Finance and Capital Market Commission, VDD, and Freeport of Riga authority are all cooperating trying to assist the ship.
Officials report while Latvia seeks to assist the ship they have no direct contact with either the owners of the vessel or the owner of the cargo. There is no local ownership or involvement of Latvia companies, which is also complicating the situation.
The solution that was proposed was to offload the cargo into a bonded EU warehouse where it could be held. The Riga fertilizer terminal however reports it can not assist because it was only built to handle the loading of ships. It has no equipment to offload the fertilizer. It is possible that the cargo could be offloaded at an alternative port but then comes the question of the financial cost and who would be responsible.
They are estimating the value of the cargo aboard the Asian Majesty at $17 million. Latvian officials told the local outlet that they are continuing to search for a potential solution and in the meantime, the Asian Majesty and her crew remain at anchor caught in limbo.
BEIJING, Sept. 13, 2022 /CNW/ –An initiative was released on Friday at the 2022 Silk Road Maritime International Cooperation Forum kicking off Thursday in Xiamen, southeast China’s Fujian Province, calling on shipping logistics firms to strive to maintain unimpeded supply chains and serve the domestic and international economic flows.
To achieve the goals, the 2022 Silk Road Maritime International Cooperation Forum Xiamen Initiative, jointly released by related organizations from shipping logistics sectors around the world, proposes to further build a multi-cooperation pattern and a multi-party cooperation mechanism to better serve domestic and international economic connectivity and exchanges.
It also proposes to strengthen infrastructure construction and management and collaboration to jointly promote the construction of the Silk Road Maritime platform and give full play to the roles of ports as hubs, pursue digital and green development, build first-class logistics facilities and shipping hubs, enhance innovation, and vigorously improve service capabilities and professional levels, so as to better serve the domestic market and a higher-level opening-up.
Silk Road Maritime is a shipping-themed international comprehensive logistics service brand and platform for the Belt and Road construction, and is founded on December 2018. The Silk Road Maritime International Cooperation Forum has been held for four consecutive sessions since 2019, and strives to become an international exchange and cooperation platform serving the joint construction of the Belt and Road.
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