By
Alice Chambers |
SunStone Ships held a keel-laying ceremony for its new expedition cruise vessel, Ocean Albatros, at the China Merchants Heavy Industry (CMHI) shipyard, in Haimen, China.
Ocean Albatros is the sixth vessel in the Infinity class designed by Ulstein Design & Solutions for Sunstone. The ships are the first series of cruise vessels to be built in China. Three of the Infinity-class newbuilds, Greg Mortimer, Ocean Explorer and Ocean Victory, are already in operation.
Ocean Albatros will be delivered in March 2023, featuring 95 staterooms and suites with unobstructed sea views. She has been designated as a Polar Class six vessel, allowing for summer and autumn operation in medium first-year ice on Arctic and Antarctic voyages.
“We are very pleased that even with the very difficult situation with the Covid pandemic, our Infinity new building series is moving forward at a satisfactory pace,” said Niels-Erik Lund, chairman at SunStone. “Having three Infinity vessels in operation, taking delivery of the next two Infinity vessels in spring of 2022, and now the keel laying of the sixth vessel, is a very satisfactory accomplishment.”
The Infinity-class fleet features Ulstein’s X-Bow hull design and is designed for low-energy consumption and reduced emissions. Each vessel is 104 metres long and 18 metres wide. Onboard facilities include a swimming pool, bar and restaurants, lounges, a boutique, gym and spa.