By
Alex Smith |
SunStone Ships has taken delivery of Ocean Explorer, the second of its Infinity-class vessels, from shipbuilder China Merchants Heavy Industry.
“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,” said Niels-Erik Lund, CEO of SunStone Ships. “We are looking forward to continuing our relationships with all our partners in the Infinity-class project and we, even considering the Covid-19 crisis, are moving forward as planned at very satisfactory speed, safety and quality level.”
Ocean Explorer will sail year-round expedition cruises for Vantage Travel. She will now depart the shipyard in Haimen, China, to Manilla in The Philippines to pick up crew, before sailing to the Mediterranean for hotel crew and supplies. Finally, the ship will travel to Poole in the UK, where she will begin cruising in late August.
Infinity-class vessels are 104 metres long, with capacity for between 130-200 passengers and 85-115 crew. They are Ice Class 1A and Polar Code 6, and feature the X-Bow hull design from Ulstein Design and Solutions.
Five further Infinity-class ships are currently under construction by China Merchants Heavy Industry. Ocean Victory and Sylvia Earle are scheduled for delivery in 2021, to be followed by Ocean Odyssey and Ocean Albatros in 2022 and Ocean Discoverer in 2023.