New ship(s) for Saga

[pete cain]

Just passing through, very busy at moment, but, as a previous cruiser with Saga , have received a mail shot today, the link gives more detail
 
https://www.saga.co.uk/newsroom/press-releases/2015/september/new-ships-for-the-saga-cruise-fleet.aspxhttp://. It has Ruby,'s funnel.
See you soon

[June Ingram]

Hi Pete -

Thanks for the post and link.  The new Saga ship looks quite nice.

Hope you, Mrs. Pete, and Jim are well !

June   

[Brandon Sterkel]

The new Saga ship does look nice!
Love the Saga Ruby inspired funnel!

[Twynkle]

Thanks so much for this, Pete.
I wonder whether Saga thought of looking to a British yard for the build - Cammell Lairds might have been over the moon to get the contract, then there the East coast as well - Saga Ruby loved the Tyne, and it was evident they loved her too!

Hoping all's good with you - and enjoy the weekend!
Rosie

[Clydebuilt1971]

I wonder whether Saga thought of looking to a British yard for the build - Cammell Lairds might have been over the moon to get the contract, then there the East coast as well - Saga Ruby loved the Tyne, and it was evident they loved her too!

Hi Rosie,

Unfortunately I wouldn't think any British yard would have even tendered. The capability to build large sophisticated ships like this has been lost in the UK (for now) - Meyer Werft are huge in this industry and have a clear track record with this type of build.

Maybe a UK capability may surface in the future but the likes Meyer, Fincantieri and STX have the monopoly on these builds for now.

Gav

[Greg Rudd]

Apparently Cammell Laid did win a tender to build a liner in 2000 but lost out due to the guarantees required from the purchaser that were far in excess of what the UK government would provide.
Of all the UK builders in my opinion, Cammell Laird would be most able at this point in time to be able engineer and build a "smaller" cruse ship of say 50-60 thousand tons. (I have no doubt their quality would be higher than Fincantieri)

The only thing that I can see that holds back either Cammell Laird and H&W attempting to gain passenger business would be the guarantees required from the client due to these yards not having constructed a liner/cruise ship since the 60's
From what I understand UK industry policy is geared more to supporting the "Financial Services Industry" than manufacturing.

The fact that H&W came close with the QM2 bid, shows that a UK yard could put themselves back in the game if both government and business are serious. Basically the UK government needs to understand that until a UK yard is "seen to gain experience" higher than normal guarantees from the ship owners will be required.

[Greg Rudd]

Hi Rosie,

Unfortunately I wouldn't think any British yard would have even tendered. The capability to build large sophisticated ships like this has been lost in the UK (for now) - Meyer Werft are huge in this industry and have a clear track record with this type of build.

Maybe a UK capability may surface in the future but the likes Meyer, Fincantieri and STX have the monopoly on these builds for now.

Gav

It is interesting that MHI in Japan (The only real non EU cruse ship builder) are potentially exiting the passenger business after taking a huge loss on the AIDA class ships. So there is potential for a UK yard to enter the business. Ironically AIDA is a subsidiary of Costa who due to contract issues with the  Costa Classica sent Cammell Laid to the wall in the early 2000's. Who would be very cautious to bid for work from Carnival.

I can't help but think heavy British industry could make a big come back with the right management/ownership out look. Just look at Jaguar, under TATA who have gone from strength to strength after being sold by Ford. Down at my local "live steam track" we had a service manager for Jaguar Australia come out and said strait out Tata have let the engineers and designers off the leash, compared to the Ford/BL days

MHI to spin off Cruise ship construction business.

http://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/12193.html

Cammell Laid Costa Classica

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/cammell-laird-costa-classica-model-3572159