Pandaw has begun construction of a new, fourteen cabin, K-class ship for use in Myanmar.

The ultra-shallow twin decked K-class vessels can go where other ships cannot and are perfect for Pandaw’s style of soft adventure river expeditions.

Despite the political situation in Burma and a decline in mainstream routings the demand for small ship expeditions in Burma has actually increased.

With the recent departure of three K-class vessels to India it has proved necessary to order one more to meet this demand, principally on the Upper Irrawaddy, Chindwin and Delta expeditions into remoter untouristed parts of the country.

Many of these are now fully booked for the coming season and a support vessel urgently needed.

These much-loved, safari-style vessels offer outdoor or indoor dining, run-round promenades and ample indoor and outdoor living space.

The cabins are slightly smaller than on Pandaw’s larger ships but cleverly designed and very comfortable with roomy bathrooms.

Like all Pandaw’s expedition ships the Kanee will carry mountain bikes and is being aimed at a younger demographic and family travel into these remote reaches.

Pandaw founder, Paul Strachan, feels strongly about the company’s commitment to Burma.

He said: “We began in Burma twenty-five years ago and remain attached to the country and its people.

“Since we started the Pandaw Charity in 2008 the company has funded the Pandaw Clinics programme providing essential health care to a whole region of the country; to me it is a personal mission to ensure that our business in Burma, despite recent political setbacks, continues to prosper so that we can maintain these funding commitments.”