VARD delivers second cruise ship to Coral Expeditions
Following delivery of sister ship Coral Adventurer in 2019, Australia-based Coral Expeditions ordered a second VARD 6 01 expedition cruise vessel as part of its fleet expansion. Coral Geographer has arrived from Vard Vung Tau, VARD’s shipyard in Vietnam. Its maiden voyage with passengers will start from Cairns, Queensland, at the end of March.
The vessel’s VARD 6 01 design was developed by Vard Design in Norway in close co-operation with the customer. “It has been specially tailored for personalised expedition cruises to remote and exotic destinations in Asia and Oceania,” said a statement.
Coral Geographer is 93.7-m long with a beam of 17.2m. It has accommodation capacity for 120 guests. The onboard environment is “geared for daily shore expeditions, lectures, and briefings, while finished to a high standard of comfort”.
The vessel features public areas with ample open deck space. Staterooms with open balconies occupy over half of the vessel area. Original artwork sourced from indigenous communities in Australia visited by the company’s fleet grace the interiors. The ship features interior and ventilation systems provided by Vard Accommodation and is also equipped with Vard Electro’s SeaQ product series for navigation systems, integrated systems, marine electronics and electrical systems.
VARD offshore and specialised vessels business unit general manager Fredrik Hessen said “We highly appreciate the great co-operation between Coral Expeditions and VARD. Together we have developed two excellent vessels for exciting adventures. We wish Coral Expeditions all the best and look forward to continuing our relationship in the future.”
The sister vessels Coral Adventurer and Coral Geographer have been customised to meet Coral Expeditions’ expedition product requirements in the Australian cruise market.
VARD said in a statement “With a focus on intimacy, high-quality and optimal passenger experience, the vessels enable guests to experience exotic regional locations at close hand. Featuring advanced expedition tender capabilities and accommodation across four decks – from bridge deck balcony suites, bridge deck and explorer deck balcony staterooms, to Coral deck staterooms – the onboard environment is both comfortable and functional, allowing for relaxation, socialising, and daily shore expeditions.”
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