Passenger Vessel News Roundup | May 18 – Russian river cruise ship, French Polynesian fast ferry and more

Passenger Vessel News Roundup | May 18 – Russian river cruise ship, French Polynesian fast ferry and more

PASSENGER VESSEL WEEK

Deliveries include two resort tenders and an ocean-going luxury ship, all for US-based operators. Construction is nearly complete on a fast ferry ordered by a French Polynesian owner. Finally, a new Russian river cruise ship takes to the water for the first time.

Norwegian Cruise Lines acquires passenger tender newbuilds

Photo: Incat Crowther

Norwegian Cruise Lines (NCL) has taken delivery of two new passenger tenders in a series built by a shipyard in Singapore.

Stationed at NCL’s base at Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas, the tenders are each capable of transporting 354 passengers in comfort and safety from the company’s cruise ships to its private island resort.

The main deck on each tender has seating for 164 passengers and two wheelchair-accesible spaces. Of the three toilets in this area, one is wheelchair-accessible.

Each vessel’s upper deck meanwhile has 188 indoor passenger seats and a covered outdoor area also fitted with seats.

Oceania Cruises takes delivery of first Allura-class ship

Photo: MarineTraffic.com/Mak

Oceania Cruises, a brand under Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, recently welcomed the lead vessel of a new series of two luxury cruise ships to its fleet.

Built by Italy’s Fincantieri, Vista displaces approximately 67,000 tonnes and can accommodate 1,200 passengers and 800 crewmembers.

The ship departed Rome on its inaugural cruise on Saturday, May 13. The seven-day cruise will include stops at Messina, Corfu, Dubrovnik, and Zadar before reaching its final destination of Venice.

Vietnamese yard floats out new fast catamaran for French Polynesian operator

Photo: Austal

Austal Vietnam has launched a new high-speed catamaran built at the company’s shipyard in Vung Tau for shipowner the Degage Group of French Polynesia.

The 66-metre Apetahi Express is undergoing final fit-out prior to sea trials, which are due to commence before the end of the month. The vessel is scheduled for delivery in June.

The catamaran can accommodate 574 passengers on two decks. A sun deck has additional seating for up to 80 passengers.

Passenger access is via four ramps while two cranes are used to load and offload cargo totalling 16 tonnes.

Four diesel engines driving waterjets will propel Apetahi Express to a maximum speed of 35.8 knots.

New Russian river cruise ship hits the water

Photo: United Shipbuilding Corporation

Russia’s Southern Centre for Shipbuilding and Ship Repair, a division under United Shipbuilding Corporation, has launched a new river cruise ship ordered by compatriot operator Mashpromlizing.

Aurum belongs to the Project PKS-180 series of river cruise ships. Once completed, it will have a length of 81.6 metres, a beam of 13.83 metres, and accommodations for 180 passengers on three decks.

Design work on the vessel was provided by local engineering firm META-COM in compliance to Russian River Register requirements.

Click here to read other news stories, features, opinion articles, and vessel reviews as part of this month’s Passenger Vessel Week.


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