CHONGQING (CQNEWS) -- Recently, along with a long whistle at night, the new model of Yangtze River’s luxury cruise ship “Victoria Sabrina” started its maiden voyage from Chaotianmen Pier in Chongqing. The cruise ship was surveyed by China Classification Society and delivered on schedule on September 28 at the quay of Chongqing Chuandong Shipbuilding Industry Co., Ltd.

Cruise ship “Victoria Sabrina” (Photographed by Qin Lehong)

“Victoria Sabrina” is an energy-saving and environment-friendly demonstration cruise ship, with an overall length of 149.99 meters, a molded breadth of 21.8 meters, a molded depth of 4.6 meters, a gross tonnage of 15,065, a passenger load of 690, and a CCS classification. It is the first and only high-end cruise ship in the inland waterways to adopt a DC network electric propulsion system. The smooth delivery of the cruise ship represents a new era of luxury cruise ships on the Yangtze River and also marks a new breakthrough in the construction and inspection of luxury cruise ships in inland waterways by China Classification Society.

Earlier, the plan to launch the cruise ship in May this year was repeatedly postponed due to the COVID-19 epidemic. In August this year, cruise ships along the Yangtze River were allowed to resume operations. In order to start the operation in time for the Golden Week, the ship-owner eagerly hoped to complete the construction work of “Victoria Sabrina” within nearly one month. To this end, Chongqing Branch of China Classification Society set up a special steering group and assigned additional project team to ensure quality, promote progress and fully support the ship-owner to resume work and production. After 29 days of hard work, the project team worked overtime and took the initiative to coordinate all affairs in important nodes or projects such as material control, inclination test, navigation test, DC network commissioning and electrical insulation test to ensure the smooth delivery of the cruise ship on schedule.

Staff of Chongqing Branch of China Classification Society working overtime to deliver the cruise ship as scheduled (Photographed by Qin Lehong)

Routes of the cruise ship

4-day-and-3-night tour from Chongqing to Yichang: Maiden voyage launched on October 1; embarkation at Chaotianmen Pier in Chongqing at 18:00-20:00 on October 1; arrival in Yichang at 13:30 on October 4.

5-day-and-4-night tour from Yichang to Chongqing: Maiden voyage launched on October 4; embarkation at Maoping Port by bus from Yichang City at 18:00 on October 4; arrival in Chaotianmen Pier, Chongqing at 09:00 a.m. on October 8.

Attractions included: Fengdu Shuanggui Mountain, Goddess Stream, Three Gorges Dam; cruise tour of the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River (Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge, Xiling Gorge). (Translated by Wang Huixin, Fathom Language Limited)