China launches maiden voyage of indigenous large cruise ship

Shanghai, The Gulf Observer: On Monday afternoon, the Adora Magic City, China’s inaugural domestically constructed large cruise ship, departed from a port in Shanghai for its inaugural commercial voyage. This landmark event marks the commencement of a new era in both the nation’s shipbuilding and cruise industries. The departure of the Adora Magic City signifies a significant milestone, symbolizing China’s technological prowess and capacity to create and operate large-scale cruise vessels. This achievement stands as a testament to the country’s commitment to advancing its maritime capabilities and establishing a robust presence within the global cruise industry.

Carrying more than 3,000 passengers, the ship set off from the Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal and is expected to reach Northeast Asian tourist destinations, including Japan and the Republic of Korea, before returning on Sunday.

The Adora Magic City is 323.6 meters in length, has a gross weight of 135,500 tonnes and can accommodate up to 5,246 passengers across a total of 2,125 guest rooms, according to its builder, the China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co., Ltd (SWS).

It has 16 floors and a total of 40,000 square meters of public living and recreational space.

The building of large cruise ships like the Adora Magic City marked a leap in China’s overall shipbuilding capacity, said Chen Gang, general manager of the SWS.

After eight years of scientific research and five years of design and construction, the ship was delivered in November.