The Cruise Lines International Association, the European Cruise Council, the Passenger Shipping Association and other cruise industry associations around the world, continue to closely monitor the situation regarding the Costa Concordia.

First and foremost, we extend our deepest sympathies to the passengers and crew who were on board and especially to the families of passengers and crew who lost loved ones.

On behalf of the global cruise ship Industry, we would also like to pay tribute to all those who worked tirelessly to evacuate the ship to help minimise casualties.

We would also like to reassure other cruise ship passengers that all our member lines are subject to the highest safety standards around the world according to international maritime requirements.

We will continue to work closely with all interested parties, as the facts are fully developed in this matter, to learn from this tragic event and continue our efforts to further enhance the safety of cruise ships worldwide.

Accidents such as this one are an extremely rare occurrence in the cruise industry, and cruising continues to be one of safest means of travel among all types of vacationing.

PASSENGER SHIPPING ASSOCIATION

Prize draw winner, Michael Archer, brought his best friend Chris Nolan to the London Cruise Terminal on Saturday to board Marco Polo for a mini-cruise to the Christmas markets at Amsterdam and Antwerp.

Cruise & Maritime Voyages, operators of Marco Polo, had kindly donated the trip for two to the Tilbury Riverside Project, which was raffled to support funding for the Tilbury Christmas lights and their Operations Manager, Helen Mitchener, greeted them in the passenger lounge with their winning tickets and celebratory bottle of champagne prior to boarding.

Port of Tilbury sponsored the Christmas light switch on event held at the Civic Square on Friday 2nd December, where Cruise Co-ordinator, Lynda Viccars, joined Chief Operating Officer, Perry Glading, on stage to draw the winning ticket. Lynda said: “Tickets were sold at various community events throughout November and December for £1 each and it is great that a Tilbury lad won. Our thanks to Cruise & Maritime for their donation which has helped to support a local tradition giving pleasure to the community throughout the Christmas period.”

The London Cruise Terminal at Tilbury has been enjoying the festive season thanks to Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV). The cruise line specialises in traditional no fly cruises aboard and has made the London Cruise Terminal at Tilbury their home port for the elegant and traditional style cruise ship Marco Polo.

A couple of years ago I went to Thameside Theatre at Grays in Thurrock to see Theatre Is in action.

From my home in north Kent this is just a quick trip via the Dartford Crossing and yet, when you get there, it’s like another world. The very stage the enthusiastic youngsters — with the adults who were leading them — were hip hopping on is, for example, the exact spot used not long before by Nick Griffin to campaign for the British National Party, which is alarmingly strong in this area.

Now, this weekend, Theatre Is, a company based in The Hat Factory in Luton, is again fulfilling its mission to enable young people “to create theatre in unlikely places” in the same area. And the result is very much a case of “by the young people of Thurrock for the people of Thurrock.”

A TILBURY worker who has boosted tourism in the region by helping to greet thousands of passengers arriving at Tilbury Dock tirelessly over the past seven years has been hailed an “ambassador for Essex” by rail bosses.

Marion Bridge, of National Express train operator c2c, has brought about a transformation since coming to work at Tilbury Town station, for in a few short years she has improved the visitor experience for tens of thousands of tourists who pass through the nearby London Cruise Terminal each year.

Since joining c2c seven years ago Marion has worked closely with the Cruise co-ordinator at the London Cruise Terminal in Tilbury, to make sure cruise and rail services are as co- ordinated as possible and that cruise- ship passengers have all of the information they need to make the most of their visit.

A CRUISE line operating from Tilbury has been nominated for two top accolades in the British Travel Awards 2011.
Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV) has been shortlisted in both the Best UK Departure Cruise Line and Best Niche Cruise Line categories.
Mike Hall, marketing manager, said: "This is great news for us to be among the big name ships and cruise lines.  Repeat business and recommendation has been the cornerstone of our operation and now these award nominations really are the icing on the cake."
The British Travel Awards (BTA) which are the Oscars of the travel industry, are the largest awards programme in the UK. BTA chief executive, Lorraine Barnes Burton, said:  "The awards are the benchmark for excellence for finding the best in the travel business."
CMV was set up last January by Chris Coates and Richard Bastow, who between them have more than 40 years' cruise organising experience.
The company operates two cruise ships - the Marco Polo and the Ocean Countess - and the London Cruise Terminal at Tilbury is used as the major port for its thousands of passengers.
The cruise line will now go through to the consumer voting stage of the British Travel Awards with the winners due to be announced at a ceremony in London in November.  For more information about the British Travel Awards visit www.britishtravelawards.com.

by Paul Peterson
Thurrock Yellow Advertiser

A MAN who was shipped to Australia as an 8 year old orphan made an emotional return to Tilbury last week.

David Lister had no idea he was being used to help stock Australia with new blood when he was put on board the recently launched SS Arcadia in 1954.

He, and five other orphans from an Enfield home, were told they were going on holiday, but were quickly moved from the ship, when it docked in Freemantle, to a Catholic orphanage in Perth.

A small cruise liner which makes port at Tilbury has been voted among the best in the business.

The Marco Polo, operated by Cruise and Maritime Voyages, has been voted one of the top five small cruise ships in the Cruisers' Choice Awards.

CMV has also been shortlisted in two categories in the British Travel Awards, for Best UK Departure Cruise Line and Best Niche Cruise Line.

The operator's marketing manager, Mike Hall, is thrilled. He said: "We are delighted to be up there with several big name ships and cruise lines.

It goes to show what the public want is excellent food, service and top entertainment at value for money prices."

As part of its 125th year anniversary, students from Palmer’s College studying A level photography were invited into the Port of Tilbury throughout January to take photographs capturing people at work and the use of modern equipment and technology throughout the Port.

To commemorate the 125th anniversary, an Open Day will be held at the London Cruise Terminal on Sunday 17th April where the students’ work will form part of an exhibition of photography of a modern diverse port, contrasted alongside archive photographs of traditional dock workers. A project on twilight photography from local artist, Maureen Holley, will also be exhibited. Jonathan Catton, Thurrock Heritage & Museum Officer, is supporting the event with displays from the museum, presentations and Pathe News Clips.