#CruiseBerth - The Dun Laoghaire Combined Clubs (DLCC) are seeking donations from members to cover some €100,000 in legal costs associated with participation in the oral hearing over the proposed cruise liner terminal for Dun Laoghaire Harbour.

The hearings hosted by An Bord Pleanála, which began on 14 October, ran 10 days over the expected seven-day duration and saw some heated exchanges regarding the controversial plans.

Costs remained broadly in line with original predictions, according to a waterfront Commodore, one of the six member clubs of the DLCC.

However, as a letter of appeal from DLCC convenor Liam Owens underlines, "it was always understood that the clubs had neither the resources nor the mandate to commit to this undertaking" alone, particularly after the four main clubs covered the €20,000 cost of the original objection.

While an application for full costs has been submitted to An Bord Pleanála, it may not be granted – making an appeal for contributions from all harbour users all the more necessary.

Owens writes: "I want you to demonstrate your appreciation by sending a payment to the DLCC now for whatever you can afford. Some individuals among the sailing community have already donated significant sums.

"I believe we have achieved something very significant and I know you love your harbour," he adds

An Bord Pleanála's decision on the matter is due next month.

#ECOcruiseship? - Solar panelled covered sails, tanks that run on kitchen waste and an on-board garden fed by rainwater, this striking vessel has been described as the world’s “greenest” cruise ship, so writes The Telegraph.

Designs for what has been labelled the world’s “greenest” cruise ship have been finalised – while an announcement regarding dates for its maiden voyage, pencilled in for 2020, is expected at the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris this month.

The 55,000-ton Ecoship was developed by a team of more than 30 engineers and experts and features a host of environmentally-friendly features, the most striking of which are 10 retractable sails covered in solar panels. 

For more click here in addition to an artists impression and technical line drawings. 

#HurtigrutenHybrid - Hurtigruten, the Norwegian coastal and polar cruise line, has confirmed its ambition to offer expedition voyages on ships powered by battery technology and algae fuel.

“The cruise and the maritime transport industries must accept greater environmental responsibility. Hurtigruten is already strongly committed. Rapid progress also requires appropriate political framework and the obligation from the maritime sector as a whole”, says Hurtigruten’s CEO Daniel Skjeldam from the Paris climate change conference.

To deliver what has been achieved for instance in the car sector in recent years, he calls for brave and innovative politicians. “We need political carrots and sticks to stimulate the market in utilising green technology.”

Hurtigruten has recently partnered with the Bellona Foundation, a Norwegian leading international environmental NGO, to explore how the vison of offering zero emission explorer cruises may materialise.

“We consider Hurtigruten’s reach-out to be a very credible and inspiring expression of their willingness to contribute to achieving the objective of emission-free global shipping and sea travel” says Bellona President Frederic Hauge.

The foundation is working alongside Hurtigruten to conduct a feasibility study to learn more about how the current fleet can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and how in future Hurtigruten hybrid ships can be developed.

Anthony Daniels, Head of sales for UK and Ireland commented “These are exciting times for Hurtigruten. We are an ambitious business with plans for growth, but our goal is to work with the industry to deliver that in a sustainable and responsible way.”

We’ve all been told how very self-manoeuvrable modern smaller cruise liners can be, and so they are. But nevertheless it still needs a certain minimum of space, as demonstrated here in Hamilton, Bermuda. How do you think this might work out in Dun Laoghaire with a Water Wag race under way at the same time...?  

#NewestShip - An 'Arctic Interior' makeover is how Hurtigruten have described the theme for the new look refurbishment on board four of their Norwegian coastal ships previously reported on Afloat.ie.

In addition the newest vessel MS Spitsbergen will join the fleet in 2016 as Hurtigruten have confirmed that her refurbishment will be completed in time for her to operate from 8 May.

Facilities on MS Spitsbergen will be similar to those already offered across the fleet and she will offer suites with a private balcony and full length windows - offering passengers their own private space from which to watch the northern lights or midnight sun.

For the first few months of operation, MS Spitsbergen will plot a parallel route alongside the MS Lofoten. However, while MS Lofoten will follow her regular schedule, MS Spitsbergen will not stop overnight, leaving her more time to spend in selected ports during the daylight hours. All of the regular excursions such as rib-boat rides, whale watching, horse-riding and sea eagle safaris will all be on offer.

She will also be the latest ship to offer Hurtigruten’s new Coastal Expedition concept, with a lecture programme, regular hikes and expedition team on-board. The new product will operate on three other coastal ships from 1 January 2016.

Prices for MS Spitsbergen will be the same as for the rest of the coastal fleet with the Classic Round Voyage starting from €2,670 (£2,202) per person (for the 15 August departure, based on 2 sharing an inside cabin on full board basis). Flights are not included.

From September, MS Spitsbergen will take the place of MS Midnatsol, will head south to Antarctica for the winter season. At that point she will operate the traditional Hurtigruten schedule, as a working ship.

The refurbishment work is being undertaken by the Norwegian Fosen Yard, who won the contract following an international tender process.

#BoudiccaBalconies - Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ 880-guest Boudicca is currently undergoing refurbishment in a drydock at Lloyd Werft's shipyard in Bremerhaven, Germany, in preparation for the forthcoming 2016/17 cruise season.

The 28,55I tonnes Boudicca docked in Bremerhaven last week from the Port of Tyne, Newcastle, following a 16-night ‘Mysterious Morocco & Seductive Spain’ cruise. The same North Sea port is where Boudicca had completed a round trip cruise themed ‘Myths & Legends of Ireland & UK’ as previously reported on Afloat.ie.

During the dry dock, Boudicca will also see 28 cabins on Lido Deck 7 fitted with terrace balconies. These new terrace balcony cabins will extend out 1.2 metres from the ship’s bulkhead, and will provide guests with an increased choice of cost-effective balcony cabins, with access to the outside.

In addition, Boudicca will undergo various engineering work, general refurbishment and interior and exterior painting. 

Mike Rodwell, Managing Director of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said: “We experience extremely high demand for balcony cabins across our fleet, in particular on a smaller-sized ship such as Boudicca, and our new terrace balcony cabins are an innovative response to this.

“We installed the new terrace balcony cabins on sister ship Black Watch during her dry dock last Autumn, and these have proved very popular with our guests.”

Following her dry dock, Boudicca will commence her cruise season from the South Essex port of Tilbury, with a 14-night ‘Landscapes of Morocco, Madeira & the Canaries’ voyage, departing at the end of this month on 30th November.

During the 2016/17 cruise season, Fred. Olsen’s fleet of four ships – Balmoral, Braemar, Boudicca and Black Watch  will be visiting a record 253 destinations in 84 countries around the globe.

#Hurtigruten – Norwegian operator, Hurtigruten has announced a refurbishment programme that will see four of its coastal ships under-going a total ‘Arctic Interior’ makeover in 2016.

The company is already undertaking a total refurbishment of the newly acquired MS Spitsbergen as previously reported on Afloat.ie is a former ferry built for the Azores but never went into service. 

Also announced are plans to operate MS Spitbergen as an additional ship on the Norwegian coastal route next summer, before she officially takes the place of MS Midnatsol in autumn 2016.

“We are a first mover company and we are now reinventing the Hurtigruten experience. By combining tradition, innovation and sustainability, we aim to ensure the position as world leader in nature-based explorer travels in polar waters”, says Hurtigruten CEO Daniel Skjeldam.

MS Polarlys will be the first ship to be refurbished in January 2016, during a 22 day programme of round the clock works. Upgrading of MS Kong Harald, MS Nordkapp and MS Nordnorge will follow.

The ships will be fitted with a modern Scandinavian interior, reflecting the coastal landscapes of the Arctic.

“The interior will reflect the breath-taking coastal landscapes we sail past. We have made it stylish and yet unpretentious. The colours are earthy and from the coast and the sea. Many of the materials are natural, such as wood, slate and leather” says Magnus Zetterberg, Managing Director of Hurtigruten UK.

All common areas of the ships will see changes with the reception areas, cafes, bistro areas and the aft deck all to be renovated.

One of the highlights of any Coastal voyage with Hurtigruten is the local Norwegian cuisine served in the restaurant, with menus changing every day to reflect the specialities of the area the ship is sailing through.

The new, stylish restaurants with a modern Nordic feel, will provide an ideal setting for the menus. A range of fresh pastries baked on board will be served and a new feature will be barbecue stands out on deck.

Facilities on MS Spitsbergen will be similar to those already offered across the fleet and she will offer suites with a private balcony and full length windows - offering passengers their own private space from which to watch the northern lights or midnight sun.

#CostaConcordia - Work is progressing on the dismantling of the Costa Concordia at a shipyard in Genoa, as a new photo gallery at gCaptain attests.

As many as 200 workers are involved in removing internal fittings and structures from the ill-fated cruise liner, which was refloated in July 2014 in a complex operation some two-and-a-half years after sinking off Tuscany.

An Irish couple were among the more than 4,000 passengers and crew rescued from the vessel on the night of 13 January 2012 in a tragic incident that claimed 32 lives.

Earlier this year the ship's disgraced former captain Francesco Schettino was convicted on multiple counts of manslaughter and sentenced to 16 years after evidence that he abandoned ship during the rescue effort.

The remains of the vessel are now nearing the final stage of demolition with the removal of the first steel sponsons, used to keep the wreck buoyant for the stripping of its internal decks.

#CouncilsCruiseCosts- An allocated €1.5m by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council was made towards the planning costs of a large-scale cruise berth in Dún Laoghaire harbour, reports the Irish Times.

The planning costs were carried out by DLRCC in the hope of a significant economic payback, but is no longer able to defend that position, a planning inquiry has been told.

Dún Laoghaire TD Richard Boyd Barrett told the An Bord Pleanála inquiry he wanted to question the council’s support for Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company’s application for a 400m cruiser berth and dredging scheme in and outside the harbour.

However, he was told by Rhona Naughton – senior planner with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council – there was no one present at the inquiry to answer questions on the basis for the contention that the cruise ships would provide an economic uplift.

Mr Boyd Barrett said he was disappointed as county management had proposed the allocation of €1.5 million, telling councillors cruise ships would represent a “substantial economic benefit to the town and the region”. But he said “we have no one from the council willing to back up that assertion”.

Mr Barrett also told by Ms Naughton that moves by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown county councillors to halt the harbour development have no legal standing.

A majority of councillors voted in recent weeks to insert a ban on cruise ships longer than 250m in the draft county development plan, as well as a provision to encourage the development of the harbour as a centre for national and international water sports.

But Ms Naughton said the draft county development plan would not come into force until April 2016. And there was no certainty at this stage that the ban on larger cruise ships would survive the ongoing drafting process.

She said the council support of the planning application was “within the confines” of the county development plan 2010 – 2016 and she could not comment on what might be included in the draft plan when it becomes law.

For much more on the story, click for the newspaper link here.

#CruiseCostAnalysis - At the planning inquiry on Wednesday, heated exchanges arose into Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company’s proposed cruise ship berth, reports The Irish Times.

The harbour company is seeking planning permission for a 400m berth to accommodate some of the world’s largest cruise ships, with ancillary facilities, including the dredging of an approach channel inside and outside the harbour walls.

Answering questions on the €18 million investment associated with the project, Annette Hughes of DKM Economic Consultants, on behalf of the harbour company, said a cost-benefit analysis of the project had not been carried out as one “was not required”.

She said the fact DKM had carried out a cost-benefit assessment on a redevelopment project at Galway docks was “entirely irrelevant”, and objected to a line of questioning on the matter from Dr Pat McCloughan, who represented Dún Laoghaire Harbour combined sailing and yacht clubs.

Further coverage by the newspaper of the inquiry can be read by clicking here.