The cruise ship, M V Discovery, dropped anchor in Muara Port yesterday. It has four decks and capable of carrying 650 passengers and 300 crew. Picture: BT/Syazwan Sadikin
CRUISE vessel M V Discovery arrived at Muara Port yesterday on her maiden voyage to the Sultanate from her last port of call in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.
Present to welcome the vessel was Acting Director of Ports Department, Hj Bujang Hj Tinkong.
This was followed by an exchange of plaque to commemorate the event which was Discovery’s Master, Captain Derrick Kemp.
The cruise vessel, built in 1972, was first known as the Island Princess and was later renamed M V Discovery when it was refurbished in 2003.
The vessel weighs 20,000 tonnes, is 168.73 metres in length with four decks capable of carrying 650 passengers and 300 crew.
The ship is also known as “Voyages of Discovery” and was awarded the “Best Value in the Speciality Cruises” for 2006, 2007 and 2008 from the World Ocean and Cruise Liner Society.
The liner was also voted winner of the “Favourite Niche Cruise Line” at the British Travel Agent Awards in 2007 and 2008.
The arrival of M V Discovery is yet another milestone for the Ports Department in its efforts to attract more cruise vessels making call at Muara Port and increasing connectivity with other major tourist destinations in the region, said a statement from the department.
In 2009, 23 cruise vessels called to the port with 20,243 passengers and 9,917 crew. For this year, there are 26 vessels scheduled to call at Muara Port.
The Ports Department is expected to increase the frequency of vessels calling to Muara Port from two to three per month to six to seven calls per month by 2010.
The Brunei Times
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