On Sunday, China's first domestically produced large cruise ship, the Adora Magic City, began its trial voyage from the Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal in Shanghai, laying the foundation for its official maiden voyage scheduled for January 1st.
The ship will undergo another sea trial before January 1st, with passengers on board.
Yang Guobing, Chairman of China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation Cruise Technology Development Co., Ltd. and its subsidiary Adora Cruise Company, stated that the inaugural voyage is an important exercise for cruise ships before commercial operations begin.
According to Yang, large cruise ships are the only high-value vessels that Chinese shipyards have not yet built. The operation of this ship will make China the only country in the world to master the technology of building aircraft carriers, large liquefied natural gas transport ships, and large cruise ships.
Wang Hong, Dean and Professor of Management at China Europe International Business School, said, "The maiden voyage of this ship made in China not only represents a huge breakthrough in China's high-end manufacturing technology, but also represents the pursuit and demand of the Chinese people for a better life.".
Wang stated that by the end of 2019, China had become the world's second-largest cruise market. Adora Mordor is the latest measure to explore new growth points of China's consumption mode after COVID-19. The services provided by about 1300 sailors from 30 countries and regions are expected to create unique attraction for Chinese people.
At the inaugural ceremony held after the maritime conference, Gu Huiquan, the General Manager of Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal, exchanged plaques with Nicholas Peterstam, the captain of the Adola Modu, and held a flag raising ceremony. Sun Wei, the Vice President of China Shipbuilding Corporation, presented the Adola flag to the fleet led by Peterstam.
This giant ship with a total tonnage of 135500 tons can accommodate up to 5246 passengers in 2125 guest rooms. The ship has a living and entertainment area of over 40000 square meters and is known as a modern city on the sea.
