Austal has received an order for a 41 metre, high-speed catamaran to be built at the company’s new Vietnam shipyard.
The A$15.5 million contract has been awarded to Austal by The Comoros’ leading ferry company, SGTM, and will become effective when the required down payment is received, which is expected in the next few days.
The new vessel is based on an existing and proven Austal Australia design, with customer defined design modifications to be undertaken in Vietnam before construction commences there by March.
Austal Chief Executive Officer David Singleton said the new contract will provide production continuity to Austal Vietnam as it completes the fabrication of a 94-metre ferry for a customer in Trinidad and Tobago.
“We’re very excited to be building this new ship for SGTM, our first destined for the Comoros Islands, and especially pleased that our proven vessel design continues to evolve to meet the needs of operators worldwide,” Mr Singleton added.
“In the highly competitive 40–50 metre high-speed catamaran market, Austal has led the global marketplace, with 80 vessels now built by the Company since the early 1990s.”
The Passenger Express 41 catamaran features a length overall of 41.2 metres and is capable of accommodating 400 passengers and mixed cargo of up to 20 tonnes over two decks.
The vessel will be fitted with Austal’s renowned Motion Control System and will be able to achieve speed of up to 31.5 knots, with a range of approximately 370 nautical miles.
