Classification society RINA has signed an agreement with Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding (SWS) to classify the largest cruise ship to be built in China
The 140,000-gt ship will be 341 m long and accommodate more than 6,500 passengers and crew.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, SWS chairman Wang Qi said “The Chinese cruise ship industry is expanding rapidly, and the new vessel is being designed to respond to that growth as well as Chinese tastes. China’s burgeoning economy is providing increased demand for leisure activities encouraged by the Chinese Government, while its large geographic area and population promise sustained demand and no shortage of potential routes.”
RINA Asia marine senior director Mario Moretti said “The Chinese shipbuilding industry has been the number one in the world for some time. But this has historically been focused on merchant and cargo vessels. We are very pleased to be working closely with SWS in building China’s largest-ever passenger ship. The agreement represents a milestone in Chinese shipbuilding as it expands into the passenger sector responding to the growth of seaborne tourism.”
RINA added the cruise project will be built according to “the highest standards ever applied in China for environmental protection” with additional RINA class notations Green Plus and High Voltage Shore Connection.
The ship’s design and equipment will follow the RINA notation Biosafe Ship, aiming to control and prevent possible onboard infection outbreaks. The vessel is expected to be delivered by December 2025.
SWS, a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) set up a specialised team for the design of large cruise ships in 2019 and is building the first two cruise ships to be constructed in China to operate for a new brand, CSSC Carnival Cruise.
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