SunStone to build four expedition ships in China

MARCH 20, 217 — Miami, FL, headquartered SunStone Ships, Inc, has signed a framework agreement with China Merchants Industry Holdings Co., Ltd (CMIH), a shipbuilding subsidiary of the China Merchants Group, covering the construction of four expedition vessels with options for an additional six vessels.

SunStone is the largest tonnage provider of expedition vessels to the cruise and travel industry, with an existing fleet of ten small cruise vessels on charter to companies within the expedition market, and this new order positions the company as the leading tonnage provider in this segment of the cruise industry.

CMIH has entered into an agreement with Ulstein Design & Solutions, who will supply the vessel’s design and equipment package, as well as the supervision for the building of the vessels.

CMIH has also entered into an agreement with Mäkinen, Finland, one of the leading contractors of cabin and interior public spaces for cruise vessels. Mäkinen will establish a cabin assembly plant and interior workshop at the shipyard’s facilities, and will be responsible for all interior spaces on the newbuilds.

The vessels’ main specifications are as follows:

• Passenger cabins 80 – 95
• Length 104 m
• Width 18.2 m
• Draft 5.1 m
• Speed 15-knots
• Class Ice Class 1A
• Polar Code PC 6
• Classification Society Bureau Veritas
• Flag Bahamas

The vessels will be part of the SunStone Fleet and chartered to new and existing clients.

The hotel design of the fleet, will be done by Tomas Tillberg Design International, one of the most recognized names in the passenger vessel design world. The firm has been working with Sunstone for many years with ongoing projects for many years on its existing fleet.

The project was brought together by Tillberg and Reyes Group Co. Ltd., which acted as broker.