Assam Bengal Navigation (ABN) has started construction on its latest ship in Kolkata.  The ship will join the existing fleet of ABN Charaidew and ABN Sukapha. The vessel has been designed specifically for conditions on the Ganges River with extra-shallow draught and reduced air draught providing an advantage over more conventional designs in these waters.

The ship will have 22 cabins, all with French balconies, and will feature a spa in addition to saloon, dining room and large sundeck. Four of the cabins will be singles, for which no supplement will be charged. The new ship will take over a program of cruises on the Ganges and the Hugli and will enter service in February 2014. Initial schedules and prices, which start from $195 plus tax per person per night.

The new ship will enable the eventual return of ABN Sukapha to join ABN Charaidew on the Brahmaputra. With ABN’s two small shallow-draught ships, the company said it will be well placed to provide much-needed extra capacity for cruises in Assam.