An embarassing incident for China’s first luxury cruise ship, the Henna, when she was arrested at a port on the South Korean island of Jeju.

The Henna sailed from Tianjin on 11th September with 1,659 passengers and 650 crew for a six-day voyage.

She was due to leave Jeju for Incheon on 13th September, but was prevented from leaving port after Shagang Shipping, a Hong Kong-based service company, obtained a writ from a local court.

Read more: Arrest of First Chinese Cruise Ship

The pending closure of the Rauma shipyard of STX Finland with the loss of around 700 out of 750 workers comes as the Korean STX empire is stripped down to pare back huge debts.

Read more: STX Troubles Felt in Finland

Tahiti's freighter cruise line, Aranui, is inviting Australians to spend 2014 like the explorers and artists of yesteryear on a cruise adventure to French Polynesia’s mysterious Marquesas Islands.

Read more: Exploring Tahiti’s Hidden Gems with Aranui

User Rating: / 1
PoorBest 

Cunard has announced details of its 2015 world voyage programme, featuring a Royal Rendezvous of the Queen Mary 2 and the Queen Victoria in Sydney on 12 March.

Of note for Australians and New Zealanders is a special visit by the Queen Elizabeth to the waters off Gallipoli to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the WWI campaign. In Australia, the Queen Elizabeth will make her maiden call to Yorkey’s Knob off Cairns on 9 March.

Read more: Sydney Royal Rendezvous in Cunard’s 2015 Programme

Australia has replaced its century-old maritime laws with new and stricter requirements for commercial seafarers and vessels to reflect the expectations of a modern shipping industry.

Read more: Australia Toughens Marine Safety and Environment Laws

The arrest in Panama of the North Korean ship Chong Chon Gang followed what was thought to be just another ship inspection.

Read more: Weapons Cache Discovered Bound For North Korea