On January 14, 2019, on the event of the cruise line’s first visit to Pitcairn Island, Aranui Cruises (Compagnie Polynesienne de Transport Maritime or CPTM), announced it is ordering a new cruise ship from the Chinese Hunghai Shipyard, the same that completed Aranui 5 in 2015. The passenger-cargo vessel replaced Aranui 3 (inaugurated in 2003) and has since been purchased by Middle East owners.
With additional demand for Aranui 5, CPTM decided to order another cruise ship (Aranui 6), directed more to the passenger trade, with probably some residual capacity for cargo. The “Aranui 6” project is due to result in a smaller-sized cruise ship.
Construction is scheduled to begin next summer, with a view to placing the newbuild into service in 2022. The ship will carry around 400 passengers in 200 staterooms.