Chinese shipyard to build Damen sightseeing ferry

Liuzhou Yinliu Hotel Management Co. Ltd., China, has ordered a first-of-its kind luxury sightseeing ferry from Afai Southern Shipyard (China). To be built to Damen Ferry 3508 design, the 35 m aluminum-hulled ferry will be used by the municipal government of Guangxi Liuzhou. Liuzhou is the main business port of the Guangxi Zhuang region and the ferry will be used to host government and industry representatives for official meetings and sightseeing tours along the Liujiang River. Delivery is scheduled in the first quarter of 2013.

Specifically designed for this client and this application, the DFe 3508 has a passenger capacity of 100 persons and will have a conference room, a VIP-room and spacious passenger rooms with extensive catering facilities.

Henk Grunstra, Product Director Fast Ferries at Damen’s HQ in Gorinchem, The Netherlands, says the newbuild is a good example of european-asian cooperation.  As well as having its own shipyard in China, Damen has been cooperating with a number of Chinese yards.

Mr. Grunstra says that Afai Southern’s production capacity and capability has grown and that they “match with Damen’s vessel designs and our approach to shipbuilding.”

Damen has been cooperating with Afai Southern on the building of aluminum vessels since 2001 and results of the partnership have included the two biggest aluminum vessels built in China, a pair of 8 m RoPax ferries delivered to Turkish ferry operator IDO.

March 6, 2012