Austal delivers new 50-metre catamaran ferry

Australian shipbuilder, Austal (ASX: ASB) has delivered a 50 metre high-speed catamaran ferry to Taiwan’s Brave Line.

The 550 passenger ferry, the first of two being delivered to Brave Line, is the company’s first-ever commercial delivery to a Taiwanese customer.

It was built at the company’s Philippines shipyard in Balamban, Cebu.

Austal CEO David Singleton said the delivery was a further milestone in the development of its Philippines operations.

“We have recently trebled construction capacity at the shipyard to provide the capability to build the largest ferries in Austal’s portfolio.

“Our Philippines shipyard now employs more than 800 highly skilled local employees in a broad range of professional, technical and trade roles.”

The yard was opened in 2012, and has successfully developed local SME industry supply chains.

All Austal ships built overseas have a high level of Australian content from major components such as stabilisers to intellectual property, especially in hull optimisation.

Upgrades to the Philippines shipyard have included construction of a new assembly hall measuring 120 metres long, 40 metres wide and 42 metres high.

This enables Austal Philippines to build large ferries including the next generation, technologically advanced 109 metre high speed Catamaran for Fjord Line of Norway, which is currently under construction.

Picture: Austal

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