This article needs to be updated.(July 2022) |
History | |
---|---|
Name | Utopia |
Owner | Utopia Residences |
Operator | Utopia Residences |
Port of registry | Bahamas |
Route | Circumnavigation of the world |
Ordered | November 20, 2009 (amended in 2012) |
Builder | Samsung Heavy Industries |
Cost | US$1.1 billion |
Notes | [1] |
General characteristics | |
Type | Residential cruise ship |
Tonnage | 108,000 GT |
Length | 296 m (971 ft) |
Beam | 36 m (118 ft) |
Height | 50 m (160 ft) |
Draught | 8.3 m (27 ft) |
Decks | 16 |
Installed power | 50,400KW 6 × Wärtsilä diesel engines |
Propulsion |
|
Speed | 22 KN |
Capacity |
|
Crew | 600 |
Notes | [1] |
Utopia is a planned luxury residential ocean liner project. A formal marketing launch of the ship, reportedly costing US$1.1 billion, was expected in 2021. [2] The ship was originally planned to launch in 2017 but lack of funding got in the way and the binding letter of intent to build Utopia was amended in 2017. [3] The ship was to be built by Samsung Heavy Industries, one of the largest shipbuilders in the world. [4] [5] The Finnish engineering company Elomatic Marine is credited for the design concept of the vessel, with architectural design by Tillberg Design U.S. [1]
The original business plan called for residences with prices from US$3.9 million to US$30 million, but as of 2018 Utopia increased its prices to $36 million. [6]
It is one of several residence cruise ships that are under construction or planned, including Njord, [7] Dark Island [8] and MV Narrative . [9] MS The World and Villa Vie Odyssey are the only resident-owned cruise vessels currently in service as of 2024.
The 296 m (971 ft), 108,000 GT, ship will have 190 residences ranging in size from 130 to 613 m2 (1,400 to 6,600 sq ft). [10] The ship will also have 175-room hotel, casino, 16,000 sq ft spa, night club, and many other amenities typical of large-scale commercial ocean-cruise liners. The company recently received regulatory approval for open floor plans and open-air kitchens (a first of its kind milestone for the passenger ship industry), which allows the kitchens to resemble the open-concept kitchens in modern North American land-based homes.[ citation needed ]
The ship will be largely financed by the Frontier Group, a private equity firm with offices in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. Frontier will put up most of the funds to cover the US$1.1 billion in construction costs. [11] In 2018, Frontier reported that the financing contingencies have been removed, clearing the path for the project to continue forward.[ citation needed ] In 2014, Utopia Residences shipbuilding contract was suspended due to insufficient funding. In 2017, a letter of intent was amended with Samsung Heavy Industries reflecting the vessel has been ordered with planned delivery and launch in 2022. [12]
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