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Aitken Spence Shipping welcomes AIDAstella on her maiden call to Sri Lanka

Super luxury passenger vessel M.V. AIDAstella of AIDA Cruises, with 2,139 passengers and 640 crew on board, made her maiden call at the Port of Colombo on 11th December 2024.

To mark the maiden call of the vessel at the Port of Colombo, plaque exchanges were held between the Master of the vessel, Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) and local agents Aitken Spence Shipping Ltd.

Expressing views at the occasion, the Chairman of Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) – Admiral Sirimewan Ranasinghe (Rtd.) said that the Port of Colombo was honoured by the presence of AIDAstella in Colombo.

AIDA Cruises is a German cruise line offering cruise holidays around Europe, the Caribbean and Asia. AIDAstella is approximately 253 meters in length and 38 meters wide, having 1097 state rooms with a capacity to accommodate up to 2,700 passengers.

AIDAstella commenced its voyage from South Africa, calling at Port Elizabeth, Durban, and moving onto Mauritius, Seychelles, Oman, UAE, and the Maldives on her way to Sri Lanka. Thereafter, the cruise will journey towards Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, and several other Far East ports.

The vessel, which cruises under the flag of Italy, called Colombo from Male, Maldives and her next port of call is to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Aitken Spence Shipping Ltd. will continue to offer comprehensive, synergised services to cruise operators that will boost tourism in the country. The company is part of the leading conglomerate in Sri Lanka, Aitken Spence PLC and has grown to great heights, such as with its involvement in port efficiency enhancement projects in new markets has helped to successfully pursue a long-term directional shift from being service-related to becoming an investment-driven operation.

Plaque exchange between the Master of the AIDAstella vessel and the Chairman of Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) – Admiral Sirimewan Ranasinghe (Rtd.) alongside the local agents, Aitken Spence Shipping Ltd.

Plaque exchange between the Master of the AIDAstella vessel and Bevin Mack – Assistant Vice President, (Maritime segment) alongside the team from Aitken Spence Shipping Ltd.

AIDAstella Vessel