Floating resort liner arrives in Belfast

Belfast harbour may not have seen its like for 90 years or so, but when the world's most curious maritime vessel anchored today it brought some of the world's richest passengers with it.

'The World' of ResidenSea, which is a floating apartment block and "resort" permanently at sea, was built at a cost of £185 million and was christened in Venice on May 17. The liner's visit today marks a one-day stop in the province.

A spokesperson for the company which developed the enterprise – ResidenSea – said before its launch that it "is the world's first ocean-going luxury resort. Think of it as a big yacht for more than one owner". The many owners of the vessel are the stateless mega-rich millionaire residents, who do not now have to pay tax whilst resident aboard the boat – as they now "own a home in over 100 countries", according to the company PR. The liner will spend around 250 days a year in ports around the globe.

There will be much to divert the moneyed passengers sharing the 110 apartments which can be bought or rented, and the 88 guest suites which are also available.

The 43,00-tonne liner boasts a full-size tennis court, full-shot driving range and natural grass putting green, a water-sports marina, a 5,900 square-foot Clinique La Prairie spa, a gourmet market, and an on-board Concierge.

The average daily rental fee for a ResidenSea apartment is $550-$1900 per person. But if you want to buy out a residency on the liner it may also cost the world, prices begin at $2.25 million for an apartment.

The itinerary for the ship is designed to coincide with a number of major events across the globe. In Europe passengers have disembarked for the Cannes Film Festival, the Monaco Grand Prix and the British Open Golf championship in Scotland.

The 2002 itinerary will see the landfall at cities such as London, Barcelona, Venice, St Petersburg, Reykjavik, San Francisco and Honolulu.

'The World' left Northern Ireland at 4pm today, for a three-stop tour of Scotland and the Hebrides before returning to Londonderry on the 18th. By the end of the month, the ship will have crossed the Atlantic visiting Iceland en route.

(GMcG)