MALE, Maldives (28 Dec 2001) -- Image Marine announced it has started construction on a 39m/128ft liveaboard dive vessel for operation in the Maldives. The state-of-the-art triple deck catamaran vessel has been designed to accommodate a maximum of just 20 guests in huge staterooms that are unprecedented in the liveaboard dive travel industry. Image Marine's Sales Manager, Mark Stothard, told CDNN the vessel will be operated by the Four Seasons Hotel, one of the world's leading luxury hotel operators. "Guests have come to expect uncompromising standards of excellence from the Four Seasons," said Stothard. "In keeping with its commitment to impeccable quality, management of the Four Seasons opted for huge staterooms that give this vessel the quality of a luxury mini-floating hotel." A staff of 10, including professional dive guides, will crew the new liveaboard, which will support divers with four rigid hull inflatables. Vessel dimensions are an overall length of 39 meters, beam of 12 meters, and a draft of 1.90 meters. The vessel will cruise at 14 knots with twin MTU diesels and fixed pitch propellers. A Seastate Motion Control System further enhances the innate stability of the big cat. | | Raising the bar on luxury liveaboards The new liveaboard is scheduled for delivery to the Maldives in mid-2002. © CDNN - CYBER DIVER NEWS NETWORK |
