Ocean Grand, a 1991 built vessel of some 30,500 gross tons, has been placed with the management of Oceanic Group by its new operator Somerset Asia that plan to introduce the ship in service between Singapore and undisclosed ports in Malaysia, Oceanic Group said in a statement.

The vessel, which has been chartered out to Somerset Asia by its owners HTB Cruises is now in Busan in South Korea and it will then proceed to Guangzhou for dry docking. The first cruise is scheduled to take place on 1 April.

The 193 metre long vessel was built as Ferry Lavender in 1991, but it hastraded under the names ionian king and Ocean Rose prior to being renamed Ocean Grand. Its current passenger capacity of 950 will be increased to 1,600.