Seatrade Cruise News is part of the Informa Markets Division of Informa PLC

This site is operated by a business or businesses owned by Informa PLC and all copyright resides with them. Informa PLC's registered office is 5 Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG. Registered in England and Wales. Number 8860726.

Expedition catamaran under construction in Tasmania

CRUISE_Odalisque_III.jpg
A rendition of Odalisque III, which is to enter service in January 2023
A boutique expedition catamaran is being built by Richardson Devine Marine, just outside Hobart, for On Board Tasmanian Expedition Cruises, formally known as Tasmanian Boat Charters.

The company was founded in 1998 by former Tasmanian policeman Pieter van der Woude, who worked in diving search and rescue operations before becoming an abalone diver.

Van der Woude’s first two monohull vessels, Odalisque I and II, were built by Legend Boat Builders in Western Australia.

Odalisque I was van der Woude’s original workboat in his abalone diving days and operated his first charter.

Coming on line in January

The new Odalisque III will replace Odalisque II, which was custom-built for multi-day expedition voyages in 2014, when she enters service in January 2023.

She will carry 12 passengers and a crew of four — the skipper, a local expert guide, a host and a chef who will specialise in Tasmanian produce, including seafood freshly plucked from the ocean. There will be a comprehensive list of Tasmanian wine.

Tasmanian interior designer

Tasmanian interior designer Rebecca Kirkland is working on Odalisque III’s cabins and interior spaces in conjunction with the On Board team.

The vessel will feature large picture windows and each cabin will have an ensuite and walkaround queen-size beds. 

There will be improved access to tender vessels via waterline platforms on the stern.

World heritage-listed wilderness

Passengers are promised an ultra-comfortable base in the middle of world heritage-listed wilderness.  

The company’s four- and six-night  ‘Port Davey Escape’ round voyages from Hobart explore remote parts of Tasmania inaccessible by road.    

The four-night ‘East Coast Expedition’ operates from Hobart to Freycinet Peninsula and the four-night ‘South Coast Cruise’ travels from Hobart to Port Davey and Bathurst Harbour.

There is also a ‘Port Davey Photography Expedition.’ During this four-night round-trip from Hobart a photographic guide will seek out the best light, locations and compositions on daily tender and shore excursions.  

Exclusive charters are also available.