Seatrade Cruise News is part of the Informa Markets Division of Informa PLC

This site is operated by a business or businesses owned by Informa PLC and all copyright resides with them. Informa PLC's registered office is 5 Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG. Registered in England and Wales. Number 8860726.

In Focus: China

SunStone celebrates keel laying for Ocean Victory and steel cutting for Ocean Explorer at China Merchants

Steel cutting for Ocean Explorer
Steel cutting ceremony in China for Ocean Explorer
SunStone Ships oversaw the keel laying ceremony of its third Infinity-class vessel, Ocean Victory and the steel cutting of Ocean Explorer, the fourth vessel in the class, at China Merchants Heavy Industry yard in Haimen.

SunStone President and CEO, Niels-Erik Lund, commented, ‘We are very pleased with the quality and high building standards of China Merchants Heavy Industry, which are fully at the level of European Shipyards. We are looking forward to continuing our relationships with all our partners in the Infinity-class project and we are moving fast forward as planned at very satisfactory speed, safety and quality level.’

Representatives from the owner, charterers - American Queen Steamboat Company and Albatros Expeditions - participated in the Ocean Victory keel laying event.

Antarctica in winter, Alaska in summer

The 104mtr long ship is due to be launched in April 2020 and to be delivered in October 2020 and commence Antarctica cruises from December 22, 2020 for Albatros Expeditions and for the summer season American Queen Steamboat Company will operate the vessel in Alaska.

The Infinity-class ships are Ice Class 1A, Polar Code 6 and are being built with Safe Return to Port, Dynamic Positioning and Zero Speed Stabilizers. The Vessels are featuring Ulstein’s patented X-Bow design.

One delivered, six to go

The first Infinity-class ship, Greg Mortimer, was delivered earlier this month with Ocean Victory coming in next October. Ocean Explorer follows in January 2021 with a seventh vessel (to be named) delivering in September 2021. Ocean Odyssey is due for delivery in March 2022, Ocean Discoverer in September 2022 and Ocean Albatros in October 2022.

All vessels ordered have long-term charter agreements in place.

In addition to the seven vessels already ordered, SunStone has options to build another three Infinity-class vessels.