As we approach year's end, this is our final Vessel Feature Week for 2021. After this, we will be announcing our much sought-after Baird Maritime Awards. For us, they are the hardest part of the year, particularly this year with 250 mostly very impressive vessels reviewed. Deciding on which vessels impressed us most is always difficult.
The 2021 crop of passenger vessels has been notably distinctive. The quality, innovation and capabilities of passenger vessels of almost all kinds keeps lifting, seemingly exponentially. They represent a particularly exciting sector. It has certainly taken the world's Covid difficulties in its stride.
As through the previous eleven months, our Passenger Vessel Weeks have presented a wide range of ferries, tourist boats and cruise ships from all over the world. This week, for example, we will present anything from small, 50-pax, hybrid powered vessels for the Venice Lagoon to a massive Austal Philippines-built Ro-Pax trimaran for Fred Olsen's Canary Islands fleet and a 124-metre Arctic cruise ship for National Geographic Expeditions.
Electric and semi-electric (hybrid) propulsion systems are becoming increasingly common. This week we will feature at least three. We are now starting to see enough such vessels in actual use as to be able to analyse whether or not they are actually worth their added complexity and expense.
Next year promises to be equally interesting. There are many exciting and innovative new passenger vessels on the way. We at Baird Maritime invite you to keep reading.
– "Originally designed to transport 700 passengers on short sailings between Turkey and Greece, the ferry has now been converted to accommodate up to 50 guests on one-week itineraries in Scotland's lochs, canals, and inter-island routes."
– "The tests utilised the 11,410GT ferry Sunflower Shiretoko, thus validating the compatibility of the system with large vessels."
Remember to come back every day to see the latest news, opinion and vessel reviews!
Any news or views about the global maritime tourism, ferry and cruise industries? Send it through to editor@bairdmaritime.com ASAP (between now and December 10), so we can add it to this current edition of Passenger Vessel Week!
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