Aranui 3

For this passenger-cargo ship's 2015 replacement, see Aranui 5.

Aranui 3 at anchor in the Marquesas, November 2009
History
France, Cayman Islands
Name	2003–2016: Aranui 3 from 2016: M2
Owner	2003–2016: Compagnie Polynesienne de Transport Maritime from 2016: M2 Vessel Ltd
Operator	2003–2016: Aranui Cruises from 2016: Al Seer Marine
Port of registry	2003–2016: Papeete, French Polynesia from 2016: George Town
Builder	Severnav shipyard, Drobeta-Turnu Severin, Romania[1]
Yard number	170
Launched	9 March 2002
Completed	24 December 2002
Identification	IMO number: 9245354 2003–2016: Call sign FNTU, MMSI Number 546001000 from 2016: Call sign ZGGB7, MMSI number: 319104800[2]
Status	In service
General characteristics
Type	2003–2016: Passenger-cargo ship from 2016: Superyacht support ship
Tonnage	7,325 GT 2,197 NT 3,200 DWT[1]
Length	117 m (383 ft 10 in)[1]
Beam	17.6 m (57 ft 9 in)[1]
Draught	5.5 m (18 ft 1 in)[1]
Depth	9.9 m (32 ft 6 in)[1]
Decks	8
Propulsion	3,840 kW (5,150 hp) MaK 8M32 engine[1]
Speed	15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)[1]
Capacity	2003–2016: 208 passengers[1]

M/V Aranui 3 was a dual passenger-cargo ship that operated between Tahiti and the Marquesas Islands. With a homeport of Papeete, French Polynesia, Aranui 3 was registered as a passenger ship under the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), for international operation. She was constructed in Romania and entered service in 2003 with Compagnie Polynesienne de Transport Maritime (CPTM).[1]

Apart from supplying cargo to the six ports in the Marquesas Islands, Aranui 3 also operated a passenger service and tourist cruise, as Aranui Cruises, within its 14-day itinerary. It also called at the islands of Rangiroa and Fakarava in the Tuamotu Islands.

The ship ended her French Polynesia voyages on 4 December 2015 and was replaced by the Aranui 5 for the 12 December 2015 inaugural sailing. Aranui 3 was sold by CPTM to M2 Vessel Ltd, under the management of Al Seer Marine, Abu Dhabi, and converted to the superyacht support ship M2.[2][3]

References

1. "Aranui 3". Marine marchande. 2016. Archived from the original on 23 October 2019. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
2. "M2 (9245354)". Equasis. Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
3. Spicknell, Sophie (7 August 2023). "The world's largest yacht support vessels". Superyacht Times. Amsterdam. Retrieved 20 April 2024.

External links

• Aranui official website