MYANMAR RIVER CRUISES

RV Pandaw

• Why “AYRAVATA” River Cruises
• The Story of the River Vessel Pandaw
• Historic Technical Details
• Safety On Board
• Liability Insurance for Passengers
• What’s Old
• Ship Plan

WHY “AYRAVATA” RIVER CRUISES?

The name of IRRAWADDY (AYEYARWADDY) River is believed to derive from the Sanskrit term "airavati", meaning "Elephant River".

In Hinduism, Airavata is a white elephant whom the god Indra rides. It has four tusks that are like mountains. He also stands at the entrance to Svarga,
Indra's palace.

In a cave at Bhaja not far from Mumbai [Bombay] that was the site of a Buddhist monastery around 200 BCE, there is a stone relief showing Indra, king of the gods. He is seated upon Airavata [or Ayravata] his elephant. This Divine Elephant is thought of as the progenitor of all earthly elephants and is understood as the embodiment of the huge clouds pregnant with the monsoon rains.

THE STORY OF THE RIVER VESSEL “PANDAW”

The RV Pandaw and other 5 similar so called “class P” design vessels was commissioned after the end of the Second World War by the Inland Water Transport Board of the Union of Burma government with the technical expertise of the Irrawaddy Flotilla Company at that time acting as Agents to the I.W.T. Board.

Rv Pandaw was built in Scotland on the Clyde by the famous ships builder Yarrow & Co on 1947 with the same design of the pre-war Quarter Wheeler steamers of the Irrawaddy Flotilla Company. After being boarded up in order to protect her from the sea waves, she left Scotland for the delivery voyage to Burma on 1950. On the 12th January 1951 she started to serve the Inland Water Transport (Irrawaddy Flotilla was nationalized on the 1st of June 1948) on the route Mandalay-Bhamo for both cargo and passengers transportation. In the 1998 she was converted into a 16 cabins luxurious river cruise vessel by the revived Irrawaddy Flotilla Company founded by the Historian Mr. Paul Strachan. IFC has operated the vessel in the rivers of Myanmar for 5 years until 2003 In the second half of the 2003 Interconnection Co. Ltd signed the charter agreement with IWT and the RV PANDAW underwent a major renovation at the Yangon Dalla Dockyards. As far as the Hotel side is concerned new furniture has been specially designed and new Food and Beverage equipment have been bought.

Historic Technical Details

The principal original dimensions of these 6 class "P" vessels were 130 feet by 34 feet and the design draft was 4 feet. The carrying capacity was 476 passengers and the cargo capacity was 210 Tons. The propulsion system was originally fitted with Quarter wheels propelled by slow speed diesel engine. The engine, reverse reduction gear box seated in forward of amid ship and worm gears box, paddle wheels fitted in extreme aft of the vessel for even keel condition. The light draft of the vessel is 2 feet only and fully loaded condition is nearly 4 feet. The hull form is box shape with round bilge, spoon bow and cut up stern for paddle wheels access. According to the spare parts scarcity, the main engine and propulsion system was reinstalled with outboard propulsion system after thirty years of service. It was over 1980 that our Rv Pandaw 1947 was major repaired in Dalla Dockyard and re-engines with Hydromaster Outboard propulsion system. The main engine is a Dorman 250Hp and transmission is Hydromaster produced in UK. At that time the hull structure was renovated and the engine room converted into cargo hold and a new propulsion system was installed in the extreme aft of the vessel. The new length is now 148 Feet, breadth and width same as before. Due to the re-powering, the vessel could be able to carry more passengers and cargos due to weight saving. Seventeen years after re-powering the vessel was converted into a tourist pleasure cruise vessel in the Myanma Shipyard (Sinmalike) by the revived Irrawaddy Flotilla Company Ltd. and during their management docking was performed annually at the Dalla Dockyard. In the 2003 under the management of Interconnection Co Ltd the ship underwent a major refitting.

Rv Pandaw is listed in the "The international register of Historic Ships" of the WORLD SHIP TRUST and the most popular in Myanmar river cruises.

SAFETY ON BOARD

Fire Protection

The Rv Pandaw1947 is fitted with 21 smoke detectors (one in each rooms, Bar, Dining Room and staff areas), 4 heat detectors (2 in the engine room and 2 in the kitchen), 8 manual fire alarms located along the promenade decks outside the cabins and public areas, 20 fire extinguishers and 8 fire hose cabinets. The "Silent Knight" (Made in USA brand) control panel is situated in the Manager Room. 
For safety reason Passengers are required not to smoke except in the outside areas (Sundeck and Promenade)

Life Jackets

These can be found in your cabin wardrobe one for each passenger.

Medical Facilities

We have on board a first aid equipment kit supplied by SOS INTERNATIONAL COMPANY. Our Ship Manager and other senior staff have attended a First Aid Course at the Red Cross in Yangon.

LIABILITY INSURANCE FOR PASSENGERS

INTERCONNECTION CO. LTD, the management and cruise operator Company has entered a Protection & Indemnity insurance covering the liability for passengers of RV PANDAW1947. The underwriter is a Mutual Protection and Indemnity Association. The liability coverage is up to USD5.000.000 (5 millions) each incident in accordance with the Article 7 of the Strasbourg Convention on the Limitation of Liability of Owners of Inland Navigation Vessels (CLNI) signed by the Swiss Confederation, Germany, France, Holland, Belgium, Luxemburg. For more information about the insurance conditions and if you may need a copy of the Insurance Certificate of Entry please contact us.

WHAT'S OLD

• The charme of an Original Colonial Style Steamer built in Scotland on 1947 by Yarrow & Co. and delivered to the Inland Water Transport in the 1948
• 16 Twin Bedded Cabins each with Private Facilities / Hot Water Shower
• All cabins are outward facing and guests can enjoy the river view sitting on the promenade in front of their cabins Semi Circular Saloon Bar located in the bow with several windows
• Spacious airy dining Room
• Sundeck or Observation Deck furnished with Teak steamchairs and Sunbeds
• Colonial Style Brass Outfitting
• Teakwood and Pyinkadoe (Iron Wood) Deck floor
• The fascinating landscape and the river Banks Life of the Irrawaddy River
  SMOKING IS ALLOWED IN THE OUTSIDE AREAS ONLY

FEATURES AND PLAN

Built in Scotland 1947 (by Yarrow & Co. Scotland), converted to Pleasure Cruise Vessel 1997 by Irrawaddy Flotilla Co. Refitted and Renovated 2003-04 by IWT (Inland Water Transport) & Interconnection Co. Ltd (Ayravata Cruises)

WHAT'S NEW

• Boutique Cruising Hotel Concept
• "East meets West” style Furniture in Burmese Teak and Rattan specially designed for Pandaw1947
• Handcrafted Burmese statues, Paintings, Old Magazines and Newspapers, Old Photos, Fine Burmese Lacquer ware Accessories and Handmade pottery in the public areas and 
  inside your cabins
• Natural Handmade Soap and Essence Burner in the cabin
• New state of the art Air Condition units in each cabins
• New Water Desedimantation and water Treatment System
• New 2 Silent Generators
• New Reverse Osmosis Water Purification System for Kitchen
• State of the art Fire Detection System