COSCO Pens Its First Cruise Ship Conversion Project

COSCO (Zhoushan) Shipyard, a subsidiary of the COSCO Shipyard Group, and QE2 Holdings Ltd, have entered into a contract for the refurbishment of the legendary cruise ship Queen Elizabeth 2 into a luxury five-star floating hotel.

This is the first cruise ship conversion project COSCO Shipyard has undertaken, it is also the first time project of such kind and scale was assigned to a Chinese Shipyard, marking the successful entrance of Chinese Shipyards into the international cruise ship conversion market.

The Oceanic Group, COSCO Shipyard, Drydocks World and QE2 Holdings executives, as well as guests from the shipping, tourism and hotel operations industry attended the signing ceremony.

The cruise ship, which hosted kings, queens, presidents, prime ministers and celebrities throughout its legendary 40-year history, will depart from Dubai and arrive in COSCO Shipyard’s facility in Zhoushan, Zhejiang Province.

Once there, it will receive a thorough revitalization and makeover that is scheduled for completion by 2015. The existing 990 staterooms onboard the cruise ship will be converted into 400 premium all-suites ranging from 60 to 150 square metres.

COSCO Shipyard will be responsible for all the technical repairs and coordinate with an appointed interior renovation contractor to revamp the accommodation and ballroom, as well as the refitting of seven restaurants, 10 lounges, a cinema, a maritime museum displaying QE2 memorabilia, and a shopping mall. In the near future, °Queen Elizabeth 2″ will become one of Asia’s major waterfront tourist attractions, a new symbol of luxury, magnificence and appealing life.

[mappress]

Press Release, October 22, 2013