Asia Star
Radical in design and one of a kind, the Asia Star (ex-Omar Star, ex-Radisson Diamond) has no comparison in the world of cruse ships
Design
Often described as a catamaran, the Asia Star is actually a SWATH. SWATH stands for: Small Waterplane Area Twin Hull. This differs from a catamaran in the way the twin hulls extend into the water. Catamaran hulls are vertically straight and extend down without much variation except at the bow or stern. With a SWATH design, the hull narrows at the water line and then bulges out under the surface. Imagine two separate parallel submarines hulls attached underwater on either side of the ship and you get the concept. Additionally underwater, each hull, on the inward side, has 2 stabilizing fins (4 in total) designed to help control roll and pitch making the Asia Star very stable.
Vital Statistics
Name: | Asia Star (ex-Omar Star, ex-Radisson Diamond) |
IMO: | 9008407 |
Call Sign: | C6OP6 |
Builder: | Finnyards (Rauma, Finland), now STX Europe |
| Yard Number: | 310 |
Delivery: | April, 1992 |
Tonnage: | 20,295 |
Length: | 131m (430 ft) |
Beam: | 32m (106 ft) |
Draft: | 8.4m (27.5 ft) |
Passengers: | 354 lower (177 cabins), 383 max |
Propulsion: | 2 variable pitch propellers - 4 blades each -12 ft diameter with nozzels (no rudders) |
| Engines: | Wärtsilä, 2 father (8 cyl) and 2 son (6 cyl) arrangement with a total 15,442 HP |
| Thrusters: | 2 bow - 6 ft diameter - total 2,720 HP |
Speed: | 12.5 knots cruising (max 14 knots) |
The design of the Asia Star is definitely unique. The original concept was bold and the fact that all cabins are outside and 70% have balconies was a great innovation when she was introduced in 1992. Without arguing her exterior aesthetics, two shortcomings in her original design were; 1) cabins on Deck 8 do not have balconies, 2) many of her public rooms on Deck 8 and Deck 9 do not receive any natural light being in the center of the ship.
History
Built for Diamond Cruises Ltd (a conglomerate of Finnish banks), the ship was leased to Carlson Companies, the parent of Radisson Cruises and Hotels. Named the Radisson Diamond, the ship was constructed by Finnyards (now STX Europe) and delivered in 1992. The Finnish owners decided to sell the ship in late 2004 to Hong Kong casino magnet, Stanley Ho, who listed the ship with Conning Shipping. The ship underwent a conversion where most of her public rooms, other than the Grand Dining Room on Deck 8, where transformed into gambling related venues. The Radisson Diamond emerged in Hong Kong as the Omar Star in 2005 and within 4 months, her name was changed to her current, Asia Star. Finally, in 2007, she changed hands again and her ownership was transferred to Treasure Ocean Ltd of Hong Kong.
Current & Future
Since 2005, the Asia Star has been based in Hong Kong. As a result of the economic crisis and subsequent slow down of gambling in China, the Asia Star was repositioned to Singapore in July of 2009. Like many other gambling ships in South East Asia, the Asia Star spends the majority of her time loitering in the Straits of Singapore while punters seek gambling Valhalla within her steel walls.
The fact that the Radisson Diamond ended up as the gambling ship Asia Star after a scant 13 years cruising was a surprise. Should the ship come on the market, her value would still be strong so we should expect to see her around for many more years.
To see more images of the Asia Star in Singapore, visit our gallery here.
Clayton Shipping would like to thank Tiina Taponen of STX Europe for her contribution to this article.