The Road to Mandalay riverboat will be out of service for one year due to damage sustained by the vessel during cyclone Nargis, said Mr Nicolas Rabier, the passenger services manager of Road to Mandalay Myanmar Hotels and Cruises Limited.

He said the suspension of service has been in effect since July, the month when the company normally starts running cruises on the Ayeyarwady River to Bhamo in Kachin State.

He said the boat was seriously damaged by the cyclone on May 3 as it was docked in Yangon.

“The boat had just arrived in Yangon before the storm hit and it was seriously damaged. The sub-frame was bent and twisted in its body. Fortunately the damage can be repaired but it will be a long process to repair and refurbish the boat,” Mr Rabier said.

He said that during the repair process, which will be carried out by foreign engineers, the company’s Yangon office will remain open to maintain its contacts with travel agents and local business partners.

The Road to Mandalay vessel began life as a Rhine River cruiser in Germany, making its maiden voyage on July 6, 1964. The ship was purchased by Orient Express Hotels, Trains and Cruises in 1994 following a period as a floating hotel in Dresden, Germany.

In 1995 the ship was transported via the English Channel and Suez Canal to Myanmar. Since then Road to Mandalay has been providing service on the Ayeyarwady River between Yangon, Mandalay, Bagan and Bhamo.