On September 24, China Classification Society (CCS) issued the ship certificates to ZHAO SHANG YI DUN, the first luxury cruise vessel flying Chinese flag, allowing for its maiden voyage from Shenzhen to Sanya!

China Merchants Group Limited and China Merchants Viking Cruises Limited held the naming ceremony for the cruise ship ZHAO SHANG YI DUN in Shekou, Shenzhen on June 26. Mo Jianhui, the President of CCS, sent a congratulatory letter, and Chen Shi, the Director of CCS Shanghai Rules & Research Institute attended the ceremony and read the congratulatory letter on behalf of the President.

Mo conveyed in his congratulatory letter that "The naming of ZHAO SHANG YI DUN marks a new era for China's cruise industry and provides new connotation for China Merchants Group as the pioneer of national industry and commerce. This is the inheritance of the national responsibility implied by the M.V.ADEN, a vessel operated by China Merchants in 1870s, and marks a new leap and breakthrough in the cruise industry of China Merchants Group. The survey and certification of ZHAO SHANG YI DUN is another achievement of cooperation between both parties."

ZHAO SHANG YI DUN, the first luxury cruise ship flying Chinese flag, is equipped with high-end leisure facilities (for example, a winter garden with movable roof), embodies international advanced cruise designs and construction technologies and will be put into service on China's coastal routes.

CCS has established a long-term strategic partnership with China Merchants Group and carried out all-round cooperation in cruise design, construction, operation and supply chain. Many technical services provided by CCS for ZHAO SHANG YI DUN are the first practice in China, including import inspection, change of flag and transfer of class survey, advanced design evaluation, and safety management system. All of those strongly supports its smooth settlement in Shenzhen and boosts China Merchants Group to promote the construction of China's cruise industry ecology and meet the growing needs of the Chinese people for a better life.

ZHAO SHANG YI DUN is a modern cruise ship utilizing enormous advanced technologies and equipment and applying multiple alternative designs. At the end of 2020, CCS set up a capable team composed of cruise project team, CCS Shanghai Rules & Research Institute, the Headquarters Classification Division, Shenzhen Branch, Hamburg Branch and many other departments, and called up many cadres including experts specialized in fire protection and life-saving rules research, senior on-site ship surveyors and auditors to carry out preliminary services.

During the survey, CCS survey team overcame various difficulties, closely cooperated with the owner, planned the survey items in advance, negotiated the survey methods with the owner, shipyard and other parties, and minimized the time cost and process of survey on the premise of ensuring the implementation of various survey requirements.

In the future, CCS will continue to carry out cruise technology research, expand survey human resources, make full use of its advantages to provide better services for Chinese cruise ship owners, and make prominent contributions to the development of China's cruise industry.