The luxury cruise ship MS Europa, owned by German operator Hapag-Lloyd Kreuzfahrten, called at the Ports of Trincomalee, Galle and Colombo recently with a total of 355 passengers and 280 crew on board.

Aitken Spence Maritime is the local agent for Hapag-Lloyd, considered one of the largest container shipping lines in the world. MS Europa, which has been awarded the rating of 5-stars-plus for the 14th time in a row by the Berlitz Cruise Guide, is said to be designed as an “all outside concept”. Adorned with a 204 passenger suites, the cruise is considered as one of the most spacious cruise ships on the market and is intended for the luxury cruise segment of the German speaking market. Every year the MS Europa sets sail on its journey around the world to visit ports that are unreachable by other ships due to its size. “Hapag-Lloyd Kreuzfahrten has decided to have more frequent callers to Trincomalee, Galle and Colombo and have included the Port of Hambantota in their schedule for 2015/16. We intend in selecting Sri Lanka Ports for our start and end voyages, where the passengers will embark and disembark in Sri Lanka,” said Lalith Witanachchi, General Manager of Hapag-Lloyd Lanka.

Hapag-Lloyd’s local agents Aitken Spence Maritime, a pioneer in the industry, is the first in Sri Lanka to undertake port efficiency enhancement management overseas with its entry into the African continent and then the South Pacific Islands. The company handles all areas of maritime services – from ship agents and cargo handlers, to liner agency, cruise vessel, port management and development, chartering services and maritime education. With the Group’s involvement in the leisure industry, the company is able to offer comprehensive synergised services to cruise operators.
On MS Europa’s voyage to Sri Lanka, the cruise ship called at the Port of Trincomalee and Galle prior to her calling at the Port of Colombo on 7 April. To commemorate her inaugural call a ceremony was held onboard at the Trincomalee Port where the staff Captain Alexander Sokacic of MS Europa was handed a plaque by the officials of Hapag-Lloyd Lanka Lalith Witanachchi and Chathura Nissanka. From the Sri Lanka Ports Authority K. Nanathilake – Residence Manager Trincomalee Port also attended the ceremony to mark this commemorative occasion.

Source : http://www.ft.lk/2014/04/10/aitken-spence-facilitates-ms-europacall-on-three-ports-in-sri-lanka/