News

The 'Akamalik', previously owned by the Royal Greenland, has been be sold to a Canadian company and was to be renamed 'Newfoundland Pioneer'. The factory ship entered the port of Saint-John's on Sep 22, 2026.

The "Norwegian Sky" will operate as the "Cordelia Sky" for the Indian cruise line Cordelia Cruises. Cruises departing from Mumbai and Chennai were planned after the ship has joined the fleet in late 2027, along with the "Cordelia Empress", the former Royal Caribbean vessel "Empress of the Seas". The "Norwegian Sky" has berthed at a shipyard in Yalova for refurbishment on Sep 13, 2026, and will operate for the Indian cruise line Cordelia Cruises, which has acquired the cruise ship from the US-based Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL). The ship had been in service for NCL for 27 years and was acquired under a long-term lease agreement. A 23-day delivery voyage to the Middle East had originally been planned prior to the handover. This was cancelled due to security concerns in the region. Operations of the ship were due to start on Oct 23. Initial plans include two- to five-day voyages to destinations in India, including Lakshadweep and Goa. Starting in June 2027, seven-day cruises between Chennai and Singapore were to be offered, calling at destinations in Malaysia and Thailand along the way. The "Norwegian Sun" is also slated to join the fleet in late 2027. Built by Lloyd Werft Bremerhaven in 2001, the ship is a half-sister to the "Norwegian Sky."

Ambassador Cruise Line was planning to enter the German market with the former 'Sirena'. The UK company acquired the ship from Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings. It was to be leased back to Oceania Cruises through spring 2028. The vessel was to be renamed 'Ambella', before joining the company’s new Ambassador Kreuzfahrten brand. From summer 2028, the ship will offer a new adults-only experience tailored for the German market. Germany joins the company’s existing markets of the UK, served by its Ambassador brand, and France, served by the recently acquired CFC brand which has recently been renamed Ambassador Croisière.

The 'Nooitgedacht-YE 148' has arrived at a ship-breaking yard in Kampen. It is the former 'YE 4' of skipper Jeroen Vette, who navigated through a massive breach in the dike at Ouwerkerk as the 2nd skipper, along with skipper Hubrecht Koster, in the flood on Jan 31, 1953, to help people. The role played by the skippers from Yerseke during the disaster was featured in a book, titled 'Het water is kwaad' (The Water is Angry). The author, Anneke Jumelet, the daughter of Hubrecht Koster, decided to take immediate action. She found out which scrapyard had received the ship and sent an email, asking if the cutter could be spared for the time being. It was promised to keep it intact for a while, and she was now trying to find a new purpose for the ship as quickly as possible. Several parties have since shown interest. Jumelet contacted the Flood Museum (Watersnoodmuseum) in Ouwerkerk, among others. Jean Dhooge of De Oesterij in Yerseke has expressed a willingness to help brainstorm ideas. Another interested party has offered to transport the ship by truck if necessary. A location where the cutter could be moored for free is also said to be available. The ship, however, did not necessarily have to be preserved entirely in its current state. Jumelet hopes a concrete plan for preserving the ship will emerge soon. Ideally, she would like to see it return to Yerseke, though she believed a spot at the Flood Museum would also be fitting. Several parties have since contacted Jumelet. Now it remained to be seen who will ultimately succeed in saving the vessel from the scrapyard. Report with photos: https://www.omroepzeeland.nl/nieuws/18735109/reddingkotter-watersnoodramp-moet-naar-de-sloop-maar-anneke-grijpt-in

On Sep 16, 2026, the 'YE-139-Elizabeth' was towed away from Colijnsplaat by a pusher tug. The destination for the 41-year-old eurocutter, owned and skippered by Erwin Sinke from Yerseke/Goes, was the Treffers ship-breaking yard in Haarlem. Its foremast and mainmast had already been taken down. In recent years, the vessel had spent long periods moored at the quayside for various reasons. The same week, Lenie Hoekman announced that another Euro-cutter, the 'TH-119-Deo Volente', was also leaving Zeeland waters. The cutter, owned by Arie de Niet from Scheveningen, has been sold to Malta, where it was to be converted into a longliner for swordfish fishing, and left Stellendam on Sep 15.