SINGAPORE - Singapore-listed shipbuilder Vard Holdings has won a contract to design and construct a small cruise vessel for expedition cruise operator Coral Expeditions of Australia.

The vessel is specially designed for small ship expedition cruises to remote and exotic destinations across the Asia-Pacific, said the mainboard-listed firm.

The value of the contract was not disclosed by the company.

The vessel is to be 93.5m-long and will be able to take 120 guests.

"True to the Coral Expeditions business concept, the ship environment is geared for daily shore expeditions, lectures and briefings, with high standards of comfort and care," Vard noted.

It is slated to be delivered from Vard Vung Tau in Vietnam in the first quarter of 2019.

Vard said: "Coral Expeditions is recognised as Australia's longest established and most awarded expedition cruise operator.Starting with environmentally sensitive cruises on the Great Barrier Reef, the fleet has grown to three Australian-flagged ships."