Steel Processing for largest Sail Boat Begins

 

Processing of steel for Hull 483 started on sheet-cutting machine in Shipbuilding Industry Split on 22 September 2015. It is the largest square-rigged ship contracted for a Monaco buyer, the company Star Clippers Ltd.

It will be 162 meters long and 18.5 meters wide, with deadweight of 2000 tons, five masts and sails with overall surface of 6.347 square meters. The type of Clipper sailing boat with such sail-plan is called barque. Marine platform that will be at the the stern will be equipped with the mechanism for opening and lowering until the sea level so that the passengers will have the direct sea access. The ship will have steel construction while the deck will be fully covered by the highest quality teak.

- Because of increased global demand for cruise travelling, particularly on ships with sails, the buyer Star Clippers Ltd. will widen the existing fleet, currently consisting of three such ships - Royal Clipper, Star Clipper and Star Flyer. The successfull execution of this Agreement, by support from Croatian Bank for Reconstruction and Development, will contribute to sustainable business operation of Brodosplit Group and preservation of its core business activity while at the same time ensuring winning of relevant references and entrance of Brodosplit on the growing sailing boat market, pointed out by Tomislav Debeljak, Brodosplit Chief Executive Officer.

Three swimming-pools with fresh or sea water and underwater lights, heating and bubbles are planned on the ship as well. One of the pools could be used for diving, 50 cubic meters of water will be the volume of the largest swimming pool. There will be five decks, with accomodation for 450 persons, 300 passengers in 150 luxury cabins, and 74 crew cabins for 150 crew members.

It will be decorated in a luxury-style, but with style and atmosphere reminding of old sailing boats, there will be a library, large salons, one of which will extend over three decks with rails and piano. The most state of the art navigation and communication equipment will be installed on the clipper, each cabin will have Internet access, telephone, television, music and other entertainment facilities, the entire ship will be covered with Wi-Fi signal. There will be three bars on the open decks and galley extending over three decks. Air conditioning on the ship will be executed in accordance with high quality standards in order to satisfy the comfort of passengers in all climate conditions.

Specificity of the ship are its sails that will be operated by only few crew members, but also by passengers if they wish. The ship is intended exclusively for sailing although it will have two fully independent electric propulsion engines. It will have the Safe Return to Port system that will be installed in Croatia for the first time. This is a novelty in Croatian market and there have been new standards for increased safety of passenger ships, passengers and crew since 2010. This system actually means that all key equipment on the ship will be duplicated therefore there will be two engine rooms built with all electric energy and water supply plants and all fuel and oil systems with additional bridge. Everything will be literally doubled on the ship so that in case of any defect, fire or flooding of any space or zone on the ship, the ship will be able to return safely to port from the distance of almost 2000 NM which is the farthest point from land to sea. 

It is planned that the ship will be able to sea in all seas of the world, even in the Arctic and Antarctic regions so it will be built to comply with Ice Class Requirements. The ship's speed with the sails will be about 16 knots, and it is envisaged that it will be able to navigate up to 20 knots under the favourable weather conditions and operated by capable crew. It will navigate at 16 knots of speed powered by its two engines, it will have pitch propellers, bow thruster and two rudders enabling it with extreme manouevring abilities. There will be six life boats that will be used as tender boats for transport of passengers to smaller ports or beaches, eight rafts, four sports boats and two smaller boats. 

Star Clippers Ltd. is present at European and American markets and is known for ships that are faithfull replica of classic sailing boats. The newly built ship will be built on the model of the ship  France II from 1911.