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passengers, where ? ve years ago, there out to Aurora Cruises, Australia, and has about having battery-powered ships with lenges to running a pro? table, ef? cient were basically no Chinese passengers been named the M/V Greg Mortimer. the ability to operate 10-20 minutes on cruise operation today?

onboard our ships; today it is the second batteries; however, in our opinion, this is From a cost point of view, some of largest nationality. The Chinese market Technically speaking, what is special still too short a period of time to make the challenges in operating small ships is expanding dramatically in all aspects about the new vessels? any difference and do not believe that the are the need for a ? eet of vessels to have of cruising. Culturally the Chinese like The new vessels have quite a num- battery power is fully developed enough an ef? cient operation. Having one or two to travel in large groups and therefore ber of features not existing on the cur- at this time to be practical for expedition ships makes it almost impossible to have they often charter the entire vessel with rent expedition ? eet. First, the design vessels. an in-house operation as the cost of the 100-250 passengers. We expect to see is primarily focused on safety, comfort shore-based organization, insurances, this market grow even further, as well as and green operation. From a safety point Looking at the actual ship/maritime lack of purchasing power, and the in- the emergence of new nationalities, for of view, INFINITY has Safe Return to operations, what technology/technolo- ability to ? nd of? cers and crew, makes example India, into this market segment. Port, Polar Code 6, Ice Class 1A, and gies do you see as the most in? uential for a complicated and costly operation. ful? ll all the newest SOLAS regulations in helping you to grow your business. There will also be challenges in the fu-

Do you have any plans to revamp your as well as all known SOLAS regulations The expedition market is mainly ture to ? nd of? cers with quali? cation to ? eet? coming into effect in the future. From a about destinations; getting to very re- sail in these regions, as in many areas, For a number of years SunStone has comfort point of view, the vessels have mote destinations in a safe and comfort- an Ice Master is required, or of? cers been working on a newbuilding program zero speed stabilizers, X-bow and dy- able way. In today’s market there are no with separate pilot licenses; and with to replace the existing ? eet of 10 expe- namic positioning, and is an all-balcony other ways than with small cruise ves- the expanded ? eet, and more companies dition vessels, as well as to expand the suite ship, with much more public space sels, and we do not foresee this chang- coming into this market segment, there capacity. For years work was done on per passenger than most of the existing ing in the next 10 to 12 years. These re- will be a need for the constant education ‘Projected Unlimited,’ where a 200-pas- expedition ? eet. mote areas will be protected from mass and training of new of? cers to operate in senger vessel was designed for both cold The vessels will be equipped with tourism as well as from infrastructure these remote areas. It is also becoming a and warm water cruising. However, a diesel/electric system with Tier III en- building, therefore small, environmen- challenge to provide a high quality ho- mainly for pricing reasons, the project gines, the most environmentally friendly tally friendly vessels with small Zodiacs tel product, as this requires having large was reworked into a slightly smaller ves- engines in today’s market, as long the or other landing crafts will be the way storage capabilities onboard, as there are sel and more speci? cally suited for either vessels are operating on Marine Gas Oil. of the future to see these parts of the cruises of up to 20 days where provision- cold or warm water operation, even if it In our opinion, based on the very remote Antarctic, the Arctic, or small uninhab- ing is impossible. Companies have to be could still do both. This design is now areas of operation, as well as the need ited islands in Polynesia, Micronesia or very creative with menus and a good ho- called the INFINITY series of ships, with for long-range, from a practical point of many of the reefs and islands worldwide. tel crew to minimize waste and that even the ? rst vessel now under construction view, there are no alternatives than the with a small ship with reduced storage in China with a delivery in September best possible diesel engines. Looking at the business today, what and galley spaces, a ? ve-star product can 2019. The ? rst vessel has been chartered There are some owners talking do you consider to be the biggest chal- still be delivered.

Image Courtesy: Sunstone Ships Inc.

36 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • FEBRUARY 2018

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