CMHI Lays Keel, Cuts 1st Steel for SunStone Ships
China Merchants Heavy Industry (CMHI) has made further progress in the construction of polar expedition cruise vessels ordered by US-based SunStone Ships.
On September 5, 2019, CMHI held in Haimen a keel-laying ceremony for SunStone’s third Infinity-class ship, Ocean Victory.
Moreover, the shipyard cut the first steel for SunStone’s fourth new vessel, Ocean Explorer.
Designed by Ulstein Design & Solutions, Infinity-class X-Bow vessels are 104 meters long and 18 meters wide. They feature a capacity of up to 200 passengers and 115 crew members.
The vessels are Ice Class 1A, Polar Code 6 and are being built with Safe Return to Port, Dynamic Positioning, and Zero Speed stabilizers.
SunStone Ships has placed orders for up to ten expedition cruise vessels in the Infinity series at the CMHI yard. The vessels will be delivered between 2019 and 2022.
The first expedition ship in the series, Greg Mortimer, is scheduled to be named on September 6, according to Ulstein. The newbuild will be chartered by Aurora Expeditions.
