Wartsila Completes Conversion And Refurbishment Of S/S Monterey To Luxury-Class Cruise Liner

Wartsila Marine Industries has completed the conversion and refurbishment of the S/S Monterey at its Turku Repair Yard, and the vessel has been re-delivered to her owners, Aloha Pacific Cruises, Alexandria, Va.

The 564-foot-long Monterey will transit via Kristiansand, Norway, where it will be bunkered for the Atlantic crossing to Bethlehem Steel Corporation's Sparrows Point yard in Maryland, for installation of new stabilizers.

The Monterey was originally built by Bethlehem Steel at Sparrows Point in 1952 as the first of five Mariner-type cargo vessels.

As required by the Jones Act, structural steel work in connection with the conversion has been given to U.S. yards and the outfitting and interior work was done in Finland. After the conversion, the vessel will fulfill the present pollution prevention rules and regulations.

The work included refurbishing the old passenger cabins, addition of 127 new cabins and 22 crew cabins, and extension of public room and technical systems to serve the increased number of passengers. A new conference center, veranda lounge, pool area with jacuzzis, lounge and other amenities have been added, and other public rooms were completely renewed. Also, the latest navigation and communication equipment was installed.

After a cruise around the U.S. coast to Hawaii, the Monterey will start operating in the interisland Hawaiian cruise market.

For literature containing full information on the facilities and capabilities of Wartsila Marine,