Halifax yard to build cruise ship

The Halifax Shipyard is getting back into building ships.

Irving Shipbuilding Inc. has won a contract to build a small cruise ship for Pearl Sea Cruises of Connecticut. Although there is no firm commitment on a second vessel, it is expected another ship will be also be built in Halifax.

Charles Robertson, president of Pearl Sea, an offshore affiliate of American Cruise Lines, said Monday the first vessel will accommodate 166 passengers and a second 210. It will be “very high-end cruising,” he said.