Charterer backs state-of-the-art SunStone expedition cruiseship

Aurora Expeditions’ three shareholders have bought a 50% stake in an ice-class expedition cruiseship it is chartering from SunStone Ships.

Aurora managing director Robert Halfpenny tells TradeWinds that SunStone, which ordered the 7,400-gt, state-of-the-art ice-class 1A cruiseship at China Merchant Industry Holdings (CMIH), has also allowed Aurora to play a key role in the vessel’s design.

Sunstone forged a framework agreement with CMIH in March for a series of 160 to 200-passenger expedition cruiseships that will be the first to use Ulstein’s patented X-bow technology, which can pierce waves with much greater stability, an important consideration for ships crossing notoriously rough seas to the polar regions.