Aranui 5 Dual-Purpose Passenger/Cargo Ship

Aranui 5 is a custom-built dual purpose ship being built by Huanghai shipyard in China. Image: courtesy of Compagnie Polynesienne de Transport Maritime (CPTM).

Aranui 5 will be operated in the Island of French Polynesia in France. Image: courtesy of Compagnie Polynesienne de Transport Maritime (CPTM).

Half of Aranui 5 will be dedicated to the carrying of freight. Image: courtesy of Compagnie Polynesienne de Transport Maritime (CPTM).

The ship will transport food supplies to the remote islands of the South Pacific Ocean. Image: courtesy of Compagnie Polynesienne de Transport Maritime (CPTM).

Aranui 5 will have the capacity to accommodate up to 254 passengers. Image: courtesy of Compagnie Polynesienne de Transport Maritime (CPTM).

The Veranda bar on Aranui 5 passenger / cargo ship. Image: courtesy of Compagnie Polynesienne de Transport Maritime (CPTM).

Presidential suite is one of the premium suites on the Aranui 5 ship. Image: courtesy of Compagnie Polynesienne de Transport Maritime (CPTM).

Aranui will feature 40 staterooms with picture windows. Image: courtesy of Compagnie Polynesienne de Transport Maritime (CPTM).

The suites of Aranui 5 will feature a queen-size bed and a sofa bed. Image: courtesy of Compagnie Polynesienne de Transport Maritime (CPTM).

Aranui 5 will feature 12 superior deluxe suites. Image: courtesy of Compagnie Polynesienne de Transport Maritime (CPTM).

Aranui 5 is a custom-built, dual-purpose passenger / cargo ship under construction at the Huanghai Shipbuilding facility, located in Shandong province, China. The new vessel will replace its predecessor Aranui 3, which entered service in 2003.

The vessel will be operated by Compagnie Polynesienne de Transport Maritime (CPTM), a maritime company based in French Polynesia.

Aranui 5 will carry cruise passengers, as well as supplies between the remote islands of the South Pacific Ocean. It was launched in February 2015 and is scheduled to sail on its maiden voyage in 2016 from Tahiti Island in French Polynesia to the most remote archipelago in the world, the Marquesas Islands in the South Pacific Ocean.

Aranui 5 operates under building and safety guidelines, including the international Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and the French Coast Guard (CCS) regulations.

Aranui 5 passenger-freighter cruise ship design

The Aranui 5 will be 126m long and 22m wide, which makes it slightly larger than its predecessor. It will have a draught of 5.2m and dead weight capacity of 3,200t. The ship cruise at a speed of 15k to safely navigate the smaller harbours of the islands.

Unlike other cruise ships, half of the deck space towards the bow is dedicated to the carrying of food, fuel, and other supplies that will be delivered monthly to the islands of the Marquesas. The bow deck is fitted with carnage for cargo loading / off-loading, whereas the other half of the ship is meant for passengers visiting the same remote islands of the South Pacific Ocean.

Accommodation aboard Aranui 5

Aranui 5 will offer a variety of accommodation facilities, including suites, superior deluxe rooms, cabins, staterooms, and Class C accommodation. Classified as a small vessel, the ship can accommodates up to 299 passengers.

It will feature a total of 32 suites with balconies, 31 deluxe suites with balconies, 40 staterooms with picture windows, four dormitories of 12.5m² each, and a single dormitory with a porthole, housing eight persons.

Each suite will feature a queen-size bed and a sofa bed, and can accommodate up to three people. Staterooms will be available for single, double or quadruple occupancy. Private bathrooms with showers will be included in each guest room.

The four Class C dormitories aboard the ship will accommodate 24 passengers, while a dedicated deck space will house 45 local passengers.

Deck details of the Aranui 5 passenger / cargo ship

Aranui 5 will feature eight guest decks, which include a sky bar deck, as well as a sun deck, veranda, boat, and upper deck, as well as a main deck and deck 2. The sky bar area will have nine superior deluxe suites, two deluxe suites, one presidential suite, a sky bar, and a lounge.

The sun deck will feature 12 superior deluxe suites, two deluxe suites and two royal suites. The pool region will have eleven premium suites, three deluxe suites and two royal suites. The veranda deck will feature ten premium suites, two junior suites, and two royal suites, whilst the boat deck will have 12 staterooms and two royal suites.

The upper deck will feature two deluxe suites and five C class rooms, and the main area features a superior deluxe room for disabled passengers and eight staterooms. Deck 2 will have a total of 20 staterooms.

Deck interiors will reflect the Polynesian heritage. Other facilities will include two lounges, two conference rooms, one dining room, four bars, including one panoramic sky bar, an outdoor pool, a boutique, a massage room, and a gym.

All the passenger areas and indoor public spaces will be fully-air-conditioned. The restaurant aboard the ship will offer meals served in casual sitting.

Aranui 5 itineraries

The maiden voyage of Aranui 5 will include a 14-day round-trip around the islands of French Polynesia.

Aranui 5 will depart from the capital Papeete, on the island of Tahiti, and sail through Tuamotu Archipelago in the Takapoto Islands, Nuku Hiva, the Marquesas Archipelago, Tahuata and Hiva Oa, Fatu Hiva island, Hiva Oa, Ua Huka, Nuku Hiva, Rangiroa in the Tuamotu Islands, and Society Archipelago in Bora Bora, to finally reach Pappete on the 14th day.