Maritime Reporter, August 2006

<BODY> <div> August 2006 13 unique features to the cruising industry. For example, the Samsara Spa, at 2,104 sq. m., is reportedly the largest wellness center ever built on a cruise ship. The Costa Concordia is also the first ship to have two swimming pools under a retractable glass roof: one astern and the other amidships on the same deck. This is reportedly the largest enclosable out- door area on any cruise ship (3500 sq. m.), enabling use of the pools also on winter cruises in the Mediterranean, where the ship will be operating until 2007. In addition, the central pool area is fitted with a giant 18 sq. m. movie screen, which can be used for daytime projection of video clips and similar entertainment as well as nighttime film screenings. The delivery of the Costa Concordia brings to 11 the number of ships in the Costa fleet, with total capacity of around 20,500 berths in double occupancy cab- ins. Costa Crociere has commissioned four more newbuildings, of which one is on option, all from Fincantieri. The Sestri Ponente yard will build two sister ships of the Costa Concordia: the Costa Serena, due to enter service in May 2007, and a second vessel, still to be named, which will be delivered in sum- mer 2009. Meanwhile, an order has been placed at Fincantieri's Marghera shipyard for a 92,700 gt cruise vessel, with an option for a sister ship; these running mates are expected to enter service in spring 2009 and fall 2010, respectively. Omega Receives Two Product Tankers Omega Navigation Enterprises Inc. took delivery of two product tankers, which will be renamed Omega Princess and Omega Lady Sarah. Omega said so far it has taken delivery of five double hull product tankers and has agreements to acquire one addition- al double hull product tanker with expected delivery by the end of July 2006. Aker Kværner Expands FPSO Ops Aker Kvaerner and the Norwegian ship owner Aktieselskabet Borgestad ASA established a new company named Aker Borgestad Operations AS, which will operate oil and gas production ves- sels on behalf of Aker Floating Production, a company which owns sev- eral Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) units. The company, Aker Kvaerner Operations AS and Aktieselskabet Borgestad ASA will each own 45 percent of the shares in Aker Borgestad Operations, while Aker Floating Production ASA and Aker Yards ASA will own five percent each. Aker Floating Production has so far acquired three tankers which will be converted to FPSOs. The company plans to develop and own a minimum of four FPSO's. OSG Named Co-defendant in Indictment Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc. was indicted on July 19, 2006 by a federal grand jury in Beaumont, Texas for alleged violations of law concerning maintenance of books and records with respect to the handling of waste oils on the Pacific Ruby, one of the company's ADVERTORIAL Trust Dual Shield ® for consistent performance. Time after time, weld after weld, ESAB brings you products that meet your precise specifications. For shipbuilding applications, Dual Shield mild steel cored wires combine excellent all-position arc characteristics and high deposition rates with exceptionally low fume generation and very low spatter. Dual Shield wire combined with an ESAB Weatherguard 653E cvcc power source and a MobileFeed wire feeder creates a hardworking, reliable package for consistently superior welds. A trusted partner of industry for 100 years, ESAB backs its products with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Ask for ESAB by name. 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News MR AUGUST2006 #2 (9-16).qxd 8/2/2006 5:16 PM Page 13 </div> <span id="lblContents"></span> <br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.digitalwavepublishing.com/" title="Digital Magazine">Digital Wave Publishing</a> </BODY>