Passenger Vessel News Roundup | August 29 – Newbuild US catamaran cruise ship, a Chinese electric tour boat and more
NAVAL ARCHITECTURE WEEK
A new catamaran cruise ship has been delivered to a US operator while a Russian inland luxury liner enters its final leg of sea trials. A new sightseeing boat for the Chinese city of Fuzhou is launched into the water for the first time. Finally, a Puerto Rico-based transit authority places an order for four inter-island ferries.
American Cruise Lines christens lead ship of new catamaran series
American Cruise Lines (ACL) has formally named its newest catamaran cruise ship, the 241-foot (73.4-metre) American Eagle.
Prior to the christening, the vessel had already completed its inaugural cruise by sailing on an eight-day Cape Cod itinerary beginning and ending at Boston and including stops at Martha’s Vineyard, the Massachusetts towns of Gloucester, Plymouth, and Provincetown, and Newport in Rhode Island.
Built by Chesapeake Shipbuilding of Maryland, American Eagle has accommodations for 100 passengers and 50 crewmembers in single rooms, standard rooms, and suites. There are also observation areas, a forward lounge, and space for kayaks and a tender.
The catamaran is the first in a series of 12 designed to be small enough to navigate New England’s harbours and stable enough for the Alaska Inside Passage. Their draughts will meanwhile enable them to sail along the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway.
Russian river cruise ship to enter final sea trials
Russia’s United Shipbuilding Corporation, via its Lotos Shipyard division, has completed the main construction phase of the Project PV300VD river cruise ship Pyotr Velikiy (“Peter the Great”) and is preparing the vessel for its final series of sea trials.
The trials are scheduled to be concluded by the end of December 2023, shortly after which the vessel will be handed over to Moscow River Shipping Company. The operating company will be Mosturflot.
The 141- by 16-metre ship will be able to house 310 guests in 155 all-balcony staterooms upon completion. Other facilities include an observation lounge, a sun deck, a pool, and a bar.
New Chinese electric tour boat hits the water
Chinese shipbuilder Funing Heavy Industry has launched a new electric sightseeing vessel ordered by Fuzhou Liangjiang Sian Passenger Transport Company.
Upon completion, Molihao (“Jasmine”) will have an LOA of 27.66 metres, a beam of seven metres, and space for 102 passengers across two decks. A full charge of the 840kWh lithium battery will allow the vessel to sail up to 70 kilometres.
The vessel will be operated in the city of Fuzhou with a route covering Shangxiahang, Yantaishan, and Jiangxin Island.
Molihao was built in compliance to China Classification Society rules.
Louisiana yard secures ferry orders from Puerto Rico transit authority
The Puerto Rico Maritime Transport Authority (PRMTA) has awarded Conrad Shipyard of Morgan City, Louisiana, a contract for the construction of four cargo and passenger ferries in a series.
The vessels will each have capacities for 300 passengers and 300 tons (272 tonnes) of cargo. They will be operated between the Municipality of Ceiba and the Municipality Islands of Vieques and Culebra in Puerto Rico.
Conrad Shipyard expects to deliver the first ferry to the PRMTA in late 2024.
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