Alanzo I, a Luxury Junk, Seeks Investment and Project Partners

Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Germany based company, Club Alanzo VIP Cruises GmbH, is seeking € 6.5m ($10m) from private equity investors to fund a luxury cruiseship project or a project partner. The Chinese junk, a traditional wooden ship based on the fleet of the 15th century Chinese Admiral Zheng He, is a reproduction of a historic and pirate junk ship 'The Red Dragon', built during 1805-1834.

The initial ship in the fleet, Alanzo I, the largest junk in the world, is already under construction near Ghodbunder in Thane District at the Classicraft Marine Works shipyard in Mumbai. The ship is being built using timber including Teak, Balau, Sal, Camphor Wood and Babool. Designs for the ship were drawn up by a local company called CyberMarine Knowledge Systems, with interiors by Indian designer Fali Unwalla, at the behest of a Hamburg born conceptualiser, Mr. Alanzo Langecker.

Major shareholders of Alanzo I, Alanzo Langecker and Juergen Wolff, say that the company has explored funding through the German KG model of financing. It is now actively looking at private equity finance or a project partner from the US, UK, Middle East or India.

The junk will have a draught of upto 3 m, enabling it to access areas which are inaccessible to larger ships.

Measuring 49.5 m in length and 9.8 m across the beam, the 600 GT Alanzo I will carry 17 crew and 12 passengers in nine cabins. Equipped with two 450 BHP Volvo D16 diesel engines, two propellers and one bow thruster, the new vessel will offer outstanding maneuverability as well as "excellent handling under sail". Cabins will include two 540 sq ft owners' cabins, and a further seven 320 sq ft cabins, as well as a mess room, a salon and a roof restaurant. Cabins are to be decorated in a variety of styles, ranging from Japanese to Indian, Moroccan and Baroque. Each cabin has its own specialty and different interior design to offer". Mr. Langecker said.

Mr. Wolff stated that "A traditional construction techniques are used for construction of this fully air-conditioned wooden cruiseship, treated with fire retardant chemicals to meet International class requirements. The cruiseship is equipped with the latest electronic gadgets and navigation equipments on board. The hull of the ship is built as per standards of the International Maritime Organisation with three masts and a large sail area. Powered by the Volvo engine, ship will sail with a speed of 10 knots per hour and will fly Panamanian flag. As strategised by our solicitors LEX Nexus/ Hathi & Partners from India and Von Pereira Rechtsanwalte from Germany, we would be transferring ownership to Club Alanzo VIP Cruises GmbH from Mr. Alanzo Langecker, before the ship sails out of India".

Solicitor Mr. Shrikant Hathi says that the ship will be repositioned at Europe and will be based in Barcelona for cruises to Nice, Cannes, Monaco or the Balearic Islands. From January to the end of May, the Alanzo I is mainly to be used in the Caribbean before it moves to the Mediterranean. From October to December, it is expected to be chartered out.

The best ship builder, architect, designer, suppliers including law firm are working closely together for building of the junk under direct supervision of Mr. Juergen Wolff and their local manager to maintain quality right from inception stage.

Hotel partners for the project include Dubai's iconic Burj Al Arab and the Sandy Lane hotel in St James, Barbados. The emphasis remains largely on the luxury end of the market.

On completion of this junk, more ships are planned to emulate the 15th century junks built during the Ming Dynasty and used during voyages taken by Admiral Zheng He, over a 30-year period from 1405. This could well include a replica of the admiral's nine-masted 400 ft-plus treasure ships.

For more details, please visit http://lexnexus.com/alanzo.php

To view the photographs, please click on the link given below:

Alanzo I Picture

Source: Lex Nexus (Business Wire India)

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