Vard wins order for expedition cruise ship

Vard 6 01

SEPTEMBER 11, 2017 — Vard Holdings Limited has secured a contract for the design and construction of an expedition cruise vessel for Coral Expeditions of Australia.

Developed by Vard Design in Norway in close cooperation with the customer, the vessel is specially designed for small ship expedition cruises to remote and exotic destinations in the regions of Asia-Pacific.

The vessel, of Vard 6 01 design, measuring a total length of 93.5 meters with a beam of 17.2 meters, will have a guest accommodation capacity of 120.

The ship environment is geared for daily shore expeditions, lectures and briefings, with high standards of comfort and care.

Delivery is scheduled from Vard’s Vung Tau shipyard in Vietnam in first quarter 2019.

“I would like to welcome Coral Expeditions to Vard,” said CEO and Executive Director Roy Reite. “We are honored to be chosen as the preferred designer and shipbuilder for their new expedition cruise vessel. Vard’s highly experienced shipbuilders and our specialized subsidiaries in Norway and abroad look forward to working together with Coral’s team.”

Coral Expeditions says that the ship will be Australian flagged and will conform to the highest standards of build quality, operational redundancy, environmental compliance, and safety.

The new ship will feature several of Coral Expeditions most popular features:

• Twin Xplorer tenders mounted on hydraulic platforms that allow guests to embark and disembark for shore excursions without steps or waiting in line.
• A natural light-filled lecture lounge equipped with modern technology for daily presentations and briefings by expedition experts
• Facilities onboard to host scientific research missions and local exhibitors
• Spacious communal areas, including a relaxed dining area which seats all guests
• All outside-facing cabins with en-suite bathrooms; over half will have private balconies
• Open bridge policy and guest observation lounge overlooking the bridge
• Multiple indoor and outdoor bars
• The ship will have a modern Australian-designed interior with the colors and textures of tropical Queensland, the birthplace of the company.
• Accommodations will range from outside staterooms of 17 sq m (183 sq ft) to suites of 43 sq m (463 sq ft) with outside-facing bathrooms.
• Active stabilizers will ensure guest comfort in varied conditions.

The ship will join the Coral Expeditions fleet exploring the Kimberley region, Cape York and Arnhem Land, Papua New Guinea, the Spice Islands, Indonesia and the South Pacific.

She will be available for bookings in October 2017.