Ahoy Cruises

MV Andrea Australis
Designed, built and operated in Australia.
Named after Michael’s eldest daughter Andrea, and Australis after Aurora Australis, the Australian Research Ship working in Antartica that Michael, as a Naval Architectural student, inspected in Tomago, Newcastle where it was being built. In 1976 Michael came to Sydney from Zagreb, Croatia and instantly fell in love with Sydney Harbour, the ocean and started dreaming of building a boat. With fitting and mechanical engineering background, it wasn’t too hard for him to complete Naval Architecture in Sydney.

Built from 32 tonnes of cut steel and 3.5 tonnes of welding electrodes with 6 water tight compartments, she is extremely strong and sea worthy. He needed all the knowledge and power he had and his brother to act as a crane and a brain as MV Andrea was a bit longer than his back yard and a bit higher than his house. Approved and tested by Maritime Authority and licenced to carry 70 passengers in the harbour and 46 passengers offshore, says it all.

To build MV Andrea was a great effort, mentally, physically and financially and so he could never have achieved that on his own. Charmaine was the turbo charger in this process and without her, MV Andrea would be still high and dry. Michael now enjoys cruising the most beautiful harbour in the world and sharing the dolphins’ and whales’ playground offshore. You may ask Captain Michael a question or two about the boat and he would be more than happy to answer them for you while you cruise enjoying our beautiful harbour and relaxing with your favourite drink.

Miss Andrea on one of the
New Year’s Eve Cruises
She was a little girl
when Michael started
designing & building
MV Andrea Australis.