Tasmanian shipbuilder Incat Tasmania Pty Ltd has announced that it has won a contract to build a large fast vehicle ferry for Danish company Mols-Linien A/S.
According to the company’s announcement, the ferry will be the fourth Incat vessel in the Mols Linien fleet.
Work on the new ship will commence immediately. The ferry is scheduled for delivery in the first quarter of 2017.
“A large ship order to a repeat customer is proof positive of the quality and reliability of the vessels our team build in Tasmania. This is the third Incat ship that Mols Linien has added to their fleet in a period of just four years,” said Incat Chairman, Robert Clifford, in Copenhagen Denmark at the Interferry Conference.
“We have been working on the project for some time, and although the design team still have some finer details to complete, construction will commence immediately. The 250 production staff is currently building four passenger vessels for Manly Fast Ferries, with another 6 boat order for Sydney Ferries to commence in 2016. This new large ship order will secure work for an expanded workforce for at least a further two years,” added Incat Tasmania Managing Director Simon Carter.
Tasmanian Premier Will Hodgman welcomed the company’s announcement.
“Today’s announcement that Incat Tasmania has secured a large ship building contract for Danish company Mols-Linien A/S is another vote of confidence in the iconic company, its workforce and the State economy. This contract secures an expanded workforce at the Hobart shipyards for another two years and is the latest in a string of successes for the company,” the Premier said in a statement.
“The eyes of the world are on Tasmania and we are backing our competitive strengths in advanced manufacturing and maritime industry. Tasmanian manufacturing expertise is recognised and valued across Australia and the world and there are a number of world-class Tasmanian manufacturing companies which have tremendous capability in shipbuilding and repair services.”
This is the second major contract for Incat in a month. Two weeks ago, the company announced that it had won a $50 million contract to build 6 new ferries for Sydney Harbour.
