Launch of the RV Kalaw Pandaw

New Ultra Shallow Draft Ship for River Recces into Lost Burma

Pandaw are delighted to announce the launch of their latest ship in Yangon on the 2nd of January. This new K class vessel has a design draft of just 80cm and will be able to go where no other river cruise ship can go in Burma – far up the Chindwin and high up the Irrawaddy year round.

As more and more river cruise ships are announced, mainly for the now congested Pagan to Mandalay sector, Pandaw are maintaining their edge going further and deeper into the real Burma. As other ships get bigger and bigger Pandaw ships get smaller and smaller!

Pandaw is going back to how they started nearly twenty years, offering real river recces, utterly pioneering experiences into areas that have never seen tourists before.

In order to keep weight down there are just two decks with only twenty deluxe staterooms, a choice of indoor or outdoor bistro-style dining and all the traditional touches that make the Pandaw experience special.

The hull and steel work was completed with machinery installed in three months and outfitting will be completed by May well in time for deployment up river in July. The Kalaw’s sister ship, the Kindat Pandaw will be launched from the same yard in three weeks.