LUI takes delivery of Birka Princess

Louis Public Company Ltd announced that the delivery of cruise ship Birka Princess, which has changed its name to Sea Diamond, has been completed on Friday, March 17, 2006. The new ship, which was acquired against the sum of $35 mln, was constructed in Finland in 1986 and has been fully refurbished against $26 mln in 1999. It is of 22,412 tons and carries 1537 passengers in 584 cabins. It has all amenities and systems of a modern cruise ship.

The “Sea Diamond” will start 3-day and 4-day cruises from the port of Piraeus for account of Louis Hellenic Cruises, which is expected to contribute significantly to the Company’s profitability.

The fleet of Louis is now composed of twelve ships, 3 of which are chartered to the British Thomson Cruises (that belongs to TUI Group, the world’s largest tour operator) and one cruiser to the German Transocean. Two ships make three to seven-day cruises from the port of Piraeus, two from Genova/Marseille, one from London and three from Cyprus.