Yantai Raffles Shipyard signed a shipbuilding agreement with Casino Vegas Del Mare to build up to 40 casino ships, which at 450,000 GT will be the largest passenger ships built over the next 20 years, at a cost of $2 Billion each. Although the contract for the Casino vessels is signed, the activation will depend on receipt of the 1st payment. Each ship will be 430m long, with beam of 100m and will have 21 decks able to accommodate 9,600 passengers in 3,000 suites ranging in size from 90 to 360 sq.m.
In addition, each vessel will be able to take onboard another 10,000 day-passengers who will be ferried by four fast catamarans acting as tenders with a carrying capacity of 1,500 passengers. The concept behind this project is that these casino ships will be positioned in international waters close to a host country. It is also proposed that local ferry companies in the host countries will be allowed to convey day-trippers to the casino ships where, in addition to gambling, the availability of duty-free facilities will act as an extra incentive.
The vessels will be powered by four gas turbines mounted in pods on the top deck for ease of access and indications are that the choice will be made between Rolls Royce and General Electric. Four azimuthing propulsion units will enable the ships to move at 8 knots. The ships will have facilities for re-fuelling at sea. Construction will be based on a modular system involving seven sections to be built by subcontractors and assembled at Yantai's huge new dockyard. The first unit is scheduled to enter service in 2003 with subsequent deliveries taking place at nine-month intervals. Bureau Veritas has been appointed to supervise ships’ construction.
Casino Vegas del Mare Inc
Yantai Raffles Shipyard Pte
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