Cairns-headquartered
cruise line Coral Expeditions
has signed a contract
with shipbuilder Vard to
design and build its fourth
expedition cruise ship.
The new ship is due to be
delivered in mid-2019, with
a further vessel intended to
follow.
It will join the Coral
Expeditions’ fleet exploring
the Kimberley region,
Cape York and Arnhem
Land, Papua New Guinea,
Indonesia and the South
Pacific.
In the planning for more
than two years, this new
ship is designed for ocean
cruising to remote tropical
areas and Coral Expeditions
says it draws on the latest
technical advances as well
as the company’s 34 years of
experience.
Newly developed by Vard
Design in Norway in close
cooperation with Coral
Expeditions, the vessel is
specially designed for small
ship expedition cruises, with
an overall length of 93.5m
with a beam of 17.2m.
The new ship will carry a
maximum of only 120 guests
in 60 cabins, preserving
Coral Expeditions’
traditionally relaxed
and intimate onboard
atmosphere.
It will be Australian flaggedand “conform to the highest
standards of build quality,
operational redundancy,
environmental compliance,
and safety” according to the
company.
The new ship will feature
several features that have
proven successful on previous
vessels, including: twin
tendersmountedonhydraulic
platforms that allow guests
to embark and disembark for
shoreexcursionswithoutsteps,
queues or waiting; a lecture
lounge for daily presentations
byexpeditionexperts;facilities
onboard to host scientific
research missions and local
exhibitors;spaciouscommunal
areas; outside-facing cabinswith ensuite bathrooms;
open bridge policy and
guest observation lounge
overlooking the bridge; and
multiple indoor and outdoor
bars.
The new ship will feature a
modern Australian-designed
interior with the colours
and textures of tropical
Queensland, the birthplace
of the company.
Accommodations
will range from outside
staterooms of 17m^2 to suites
of 43m^2 with outside-facing
bathrooms.
Coral Expeditions current
fleet of three Australian-
flagged ships comprises two
oceangoing catamarans,CORAL EXPEDITIONS TO EXPAND FLEET
Engage Marine is a new
name in the Australian
towage and marine
services sector.
The company says it was
established to “lead change
in the way marine services
are delivered in Australia,
with a key focus on
collaboration, technology,
innovation and strategic
partnerships.”Mark Malone, chief
executive offi cer, said: “I am
pleased to announce the
establishment of Engage
Marine.
“Engage Marine has been
12 months in the making and
is built upon the success of
Westug, which has over 25
years’ experience in marine
operations in Western Australia.
“We believe there are betterways of doing things and we
want to make a diff erence.”
Westug has provided
a range of towage and
emergency response
services, including the
berthing and sailing of
Cape, Panamax and smaller
Handysize vessels.
The new company plans
to deliver a range of marine
services and capabilitiesacross its operations bases
throughout Australia.
This includes towage
operations, integrated
port operations, marine
consultancy, work vessels,
line boat services and draft
surveying.
It says it has a number
of strategic partnerships
in place in order to further
extend its capabilities.New name in towage
106 trade aboat.com.au
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