MV Coral Expeditions II

The 1985-built MV Coral Expeditions 2 (formerly “Coral Princess II”) is a catamaran cruising the Great Barrier Reef (Coral Sea, Australia). The vessel was constructed in Cairns, Queensland by NQEA Pty Ltd.

In 2025, following the termination of her charter with Coral Expeditions, the vessel (IMO 8409240) was renamed “Nassau Aggressor II” and reflagged to the Bahamas. Before this change, Coral Expeditions 2 sailed under the Australian flag (MMSI 503796000).

Until 2025, Coral Expeditions 2 was exclusively chartered by the Australian operator Coral Expeditions. Her itineraries featured coastal voyages to remote islands and pristine reefs inaccessible to day-trippers and larger ships. The company’s Great Barrier Reef programs operated between Darwin and Cairns, providing passengers with a deep exploration of the diverse ecosystems of the UNESCO-listed marine park.

The vessel’s catamaran design provides excellent stability in choppy seas, while her shallow draft (2.5 m / 8 ft) allows access to remote reef areas.

Coral Expeditions (formerly Coral Princess Cruises / fleet) was founded in 1984 by Captain Tony Briggs. The company’s first vessel was an ex–World War II Fairmile-class submarine chaser refitted to accommodate 24 passengers on short overnight Great Barrier Reef trips from Cairns. All Coral Expeditions ships are Australia-flagged, Australia-based and crewed by Australians, making the line one of the few truly Australian cruise operators. Its deployment spans New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Kimberley and Northern Australia, Tasmania and South Pacific destinations.

On December 15, 2014, Tony Briggs (Founder and Managing Director of Coral Princess Cruises Pty Ltd) announced that the Singapore-based Kallang Capital Holdings (part of PrimePartners Group Pte Ltd) had acquired a majority stake in the company.

In 2025, ownership changed again when Kallang Capital Holdings sold the vessel to a Cairns-based fishing company.

Shipboard facilities

Coral Expeditions 2 has 4 decks and 25 staterooms. She underwent a major refit in 1996 following her acquisition by Coral Princess Cruises Australia (now Coral Expeditions), and another significant refurbishment in 2015.

Coral Expeditions 2 is not a luxury vessel by modern standards. Extensive teak interiors create a warm, traditional maritime atmosphere in the staterooms and dining room. The Upper Deck features wraparound windows, while the Sun Deck—adjacent to the lounge—offers ample seating with tables and chairs. Additional loungers may be added during the next refurbishment, as the small spa pool is expected to be removed. As an expedition-focused ship, she offers no full-height windows or balcony cabins, though this is seldom an issue since passengers typically spend much of their time outdoors or ashore.