MS Asuka II

Asuka II moored at Kobe, Japan in September 2006.
Career
Name: 1990–2006: Crystal Harmony
2006 onwards: Asuka II (飛鳥II)
Owner: 1990–2006: Crystal Cruises
2006 onwards: Nippon Yusen Kaisha[1]
Operator: 1990–2006: Crystal Cruises
2006 onwards: Nippon Yusen Kaisha[1]
Port of registry: 1990–2006: Nassau,  Bahamas
2006–2013: Yokohama,  Japan
Builder: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Nagasaki, Japan[1]
Yard number: 2100[1]
Launched: 30 September 1989[1]
Acquired: July 1990[1]
Identification: IMO number: 8806204[1]
MMSI number: 432545000
Call sign 7JBI
Status: In service
General characteristics
Type:Cruise ship
Tonnage:50,142 GT[2]
8,642 DWT[1]
Length:241 m (790 ft 8 in)[2]
Beam:29.6 m (97 ft 1 in)[2]
Draught:7.8 m (25 ft 7 in)[2]
Decks:8[3]
Installed power:Four MAN diesel Engines
32,800 kW (combined)[4]
Speed:21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph)[2]
Capacity:960 passengers[4]
Crew:545[4]
MS Asuka II berthed at Port Louis - April 2012

MS Asuka II (飛鳥II) is a cruise ship owned and operated by Nippon Yusen Kaisha. It was originally built by the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries shipyard in Nagasaki, Japan, as Crystal Harmony for Crystal Cruises. In 2006, Crystal Harmony was transferred from the fleet of Crystal Cruises to that of Crystal's parent company, Nippon Yusen Kaisha, and entered service under her current name.[1] As of February 2009, it was the largest cruise ship in Japan.

Service history

1990–2006: Crystal Harmony

During the Crystal Harmony '​s maiden voyage in the South American/Caribbean waters, the ship caught on fire due to water entering her engine system. The Crystal Harmony drifted afloat for three days and, after passengers debarked in Panama,she sailed to the island of Curaçao, escorted by a tugboat.

2006 onwards: Asuka II

The Crystal Harmony was retired from the Crystal fleet in 2005. It was transferred to the parent company Nippon Yusen Kaisha, underwent some renovations, and re-entered service as Asuka II.

Features

Asuka II features 8 passenger accessible decks. The ship has 2 swimming pools, 8 bars, a casino and fitness centre. There is also a 277 seat theatre. There are 461 outside cabins, 260 of which have private balconies. There are 19 inside cabins.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Asklander, Micke. "M/S Crystal Harmony (1990)". Fakta om Fartyg (in Swedish). Retrieved 2009-03-09.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "Asuka II – Ship Outline" (in Japanese). NYK Cruises Co., Ltd. Retrieved 2010-05-06.
  3. "Asuka II". 20th Century Ships. Retrieved 2009-03-09.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 Larsen, Robert. "M/S Asuka II". Skip-siden (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2009-03-09.

External links