Auto Express News

Austal Philippines has launched the 115-meter, high speed vehicle-passenger ferry Express 5, for Molslinjen of Denmark, utilizing a new vessel transportation system designed by Austal.The Auto Express 115 high-speed catamaran ferry is the largest ferry (by volume) constructed by an Austal shipyard and was transported onto Austal Philippines’ floating dock by a new, rail-based system called ‘ANTS’, featuring self-drive trollies with variable geometry to suit any hull configuration.Austal…

Fred. Olsen Express has taken delivery of a new high-speed ferry, Bañaderos Express, built by Austal Philippines. Captain Juan Antonio Rojas and the crew of Bañaderos Express formally accepted the vessel from Austal Philippines president and general manager Wayne Murray at a COVID-safe ceremony held at the company’s Balamban, Cebu shipyard.The Austal Auto Express 118 trimaran is the second and final vessel in a A$190 million series ordered by the Canary Islands operator in 2018. The first vessel, Bajamar Express was constructed by Austal Australia and delivered in July 2020.

The second of two Austal Auto Express 118 trimarans constructed for Fred. Olsen Express of the Canary Islands has completed sea trials off the coast of Balamban, Cebu, in the Philippines. Launched in April, Bañaderos Express (Austal Hull 395) is planned for delivery in September 2021.Bañaderos Express has achieved contract speed of 37.5 knots during multiple trials, the vessel's builder Austal said. Austal Limited chief executive officer Paddy Gregg said, “Austal’s proven trimaran hull design and integrated smart-ship technology…

Austal Philippines in April launched the high-speed trimaran ferry Bañaderos Express for Fred. Olsen Express in Balamban, Cebu.The newbuild is the second in a series of two 118-foot Auto Express ferries ordered by the Canary Islands-based operator under a A$190 million contract that has already seen sister vessel Bajamar Express delivered by Austal Australia in July 2020.Scheduled for delivery in the second half of CY2021, Bañaderos Express is the first vessel to be completed using Austal Philippines’ new floating dry dock…

Shipbuilding group Austal announced Friday that its Vietnam yard opened in 2018 has delivered its first vessel fully constructed at the Vung Tau shipyard.The 94-meter high-speed catamaran A.P.T James was officially handed over from Austal Vietnam to the National Infrastructure Development Company (NIDCo), to be used for maritime transport services on the Trinidad and Tobago ‘sea bridge’ route between the islands.The Auto Express 94 vehicle-passenger ferry was designed at Austal Australia and features the company’s signature raked bow and optimized hull design.

The first of two Austal Auto Express 118 trimarans under construction for Fred. Olsen Express of the Canary Islands has completed sea trials in Western Australia. Launched in February, the Bajamar Express (Austal Hull 394) is scheduled to be delivered this month.Over the past weeks, Bajamar Express has achieved an average speed of 37.6 knots at 85% MCR (power), carrying 80% from maximum deadweight (cargo capacity), shipbuilder Austal said.Austal CEO David Singleton said the results of the Bajamar Express sea trials…

Australia-based shipbuilding group Austal Limited said its Vũng Tàu, Vietnam shipyard launched its first vessel, a 94 -high-speed catamaran for the National Infrastructure Development Company (NIDCo) of Trinidad and Tobago.The vehicle-passenger ferry, to be named APT James, is the first vessel to be constructed by Austal Vietnam since the shipyard was officially opened in November 2018.The Austal Auto Express 94 is an all-new aluminum catamaran design, with capacity for 926 passengers and 250 cars, capable of traveling at speeds up to 37.5 knots.

Perth-based ship manufacturer, Austal has penned a contract for the design and construction of a 115 meter, high-speed catamaran for Molslinjen of Denmark.The contract worth A$136 million is a follow-up order to the 109 meter high-speed catamaran Express 4, delivered to Molslinjen in January 2019, the new Auto Express 115 will be the largest ferry (by volume) ever built by Austal.The vessel will be fitted with a new generation of medium speed engines that are LNG compatible, and is designed with the potential to upgrade to LNG fuel in the future.Construction will commence in the third quarter of 2020 and delivery of the vessel will be in the first quarter of 2022.

The propulsion system and power generation specialist, Tognum, has won a contract for its Engines business unit from the Australian shipyard Austal to supply four large diesel engines. The 20V 8000 M71L-model MTU engines, each capable of 9,100 kW (12,376 PS), will provide the main propulsion for the new catamaran ferry Jean de la Valetta operated by Virtu Ferries from Malta. The vessel will also use four on-board gensets powered by S60 engines. Virtu Ferries operates high-speed catamaran ferry services between Italy and Malta.

Austal has successfully completed its largest individual ferry contract to date following the delivery of two 226.4 ft vehicle-passenger catamaran ferries Jazan and Farasanto the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. With the capacity to carry 650 passengers, 50 cars and 15 trucks, the two aluminum catamarans are part of a group of four Austal vehicle-passenger ferries ordered by the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Finance in 2007. The 288.7 ft Riyadh and Cairo were delivered to Saudi Arabia in December last year and later gifted to the Egyptian Government to improve ferry services across the Red Sea.

Austal’s Auto Express catamaran ferry Shinas, built for the Sultanate of Oman, has achieved a record service speed of 52 knots during sea trials. The vessel’s confirmed service speed of 52 knots exceeds contract requirements by one knot, with the vessel also reaching a peak speed of 55.9 knots (103.5 km/h) during its recently completed sea trials. Shinas is the first of two identical vessels being built for the Sultanate of Oman at Austal’s facilities in Henderson, Western Australia - showcasing the world-class ability of the Austal design and construction team. The Sultanate’s requirements challenged Austal’s experienced team of Naval Architects to develop a new…

Austal’s 213 ft. (65 meter) Auto Express catamaran ferry “Shinas”, built for the Sultanate of Oman, has achieved a record service speed of 52 knots during sea trials, making it the fastest diesel-powered vehicle-passenger ferry currently in commercial service. The vessel’s confirmed service speed of 52 knots exceeds contract requirements by one knot, with the vessel also reaching a peak speed of 55.9 knots (103.5 km/h) during its recently completed sea trials. “Shinas” is the first of two identical vessels being built for the Sultanate of Oman at Austal’s facilities in Henderson.

The world's largest diesel powered fast catamaran ferry has entered service for Spanish operator Euroferrys and is now working on a route between Algeciras in southern Spain and Ceuta the Spanish principality on the north African coast, across the strait of Gibraltar. Euroferrys Pacifica is a 331 ft. (101 m) car ferry, which is the largest of Austal's flagship Auto Express type vessel and the largest high-speed catamaran in the world with diesel propulsion. With an immersed hull length of 291 ft. (88.7 m), molded beam of 87 ft. (26.6 m) and hull draft of 14 ft. (4.2 m), Euroferrys Pacifica has a passenger capacity of 951 passengers and 251 cars. The propulsion package comprises 4 x Caterpillar 3618 engines, 4 x Reintjes VLJ6831 gearboxes and 4 x Kamewa 125 SII waterjets.

Reflecting the its existing Austal catamarans, Hong Kong based New World First Ferry Services (Macau) Limited [“First Ferry (Macau)”] has signed its third contract with Austal Ships in two years. The latest order is for two 47.5 metre passenger catamarans that will take the total number of vessels built by Austal for the group to seven. Austal subsidiary Image Marine will shortly deliver two 41 metre harbour cruise vessels to New World First Travel Services Limited, a member of NWS Holdings Limited, and will also build the two new catamarans.

Even a cursory analysis of the performance and capacity specifications of the Auto Express 66 catamaran “Bocayna Express” makes it obvious that Austal Ships has provided Fred. Olsen, SA with a class-leading ferry that reflects each company’s position at the forefront of the international fast ferry industry. Now that the 66 metre vehicle-passenger catamaran has completed sea trials and been handed over, the Australian shipbuilder and Spanish ferry operator are pleased to confirm that both speed and deadweight are higher than previously revealed. During construction every effort was made to save weight and a significant reduction in displacement has resulted in a fantastic improvement in maximum deadweight, which is in excess of 300 tonnes.

Austal USA is making progress with their latest project, the 192-ft. vehicle passenger ferry for Lake Express. The tunnel has been stood and all of the piping and electrical wiring within the tunnel has been installed. Ninety percent of the hull frames have been stood in preparation for fitting to the main deck. The wheelhouse module is 90 percent complete and plating has started. Prefabrication work on the ferry is also in its early stages. This history-making ferry will run across Lake Michigan between Milwaukee…

Although it has diversified into other vessel types in recent years, Western Australian based shipbuilding group Austal still counts fast ferries as a core market. The last year has been no exception, with the biggest news being the June announcement of an order for what will be the world's largest high-speed multihull vessel. Even more significant than the vessel's 126.7 m length overall is the fact that the cargo-vehicle-passenger ferry will be based on slender stabilized monohull hullform (more commonly referred to as a trimaran). While the experienced high-speed builder from down under touts the commercial value of the project, ramifications for its military aspirations, particularly with the U.S. armed forces, are clear.

On March 20, Austal USA launched its seventh and largest vessel to date. Lake Express, a 192 ft. high-speed vehicle-passenger ferry rolled out of Austal’s purpose-built aluminum shipbuilding facility in Mobile, Ala., and into the Mobile River. “This project is a further step in building up capacity and capability at Austal USA which will stabilize our efforts to be a major contender in larger contracts in both the commercial and military markets,” said Austal USA CEO, Greg Metcalf. With capacity for 248 passengers (COI for 400) and 46 cars, the Auto Express 58 will be capable of 34 knots.

On March 20, Austal USA launched its seventh and largest vessel to date. Lake Express, a 192 ft. high-speed vehicle-passenger ferry rolled out of Austal's purpose-built aluminum shipbuilding facility in Mobile, Ala., and into the Mobile River. "This project is a further step in building up capacity and capability at Austal USA which will stabilize our efforts to be a major contender in larger contracts in both the commercial and military markets," said Austal USA CEO, Greg Metcalf. With capacity for 248 passengers (COI for 400) and 46 cars, the Auto Express 58 will be capable of 34 knots. It will link the cities of Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Muskegon in Michigan…

Building fast RoPax vessels is nothing new for Australia's Austal Ships. The company, founded just 16 years ago, has quickly crafted a reputation as one of the largest and best builders of aluminum craft in the world, and today boasts an annual turnover in excess of $250 million. Spirit of Ontario, however, is in a different league. The ship arrived last month from its birth place Down Under to start work for Canadian American Transportation System on the commuter route between Rochester, NY, and Toronto, ON. Its inaugural route to work took it on tours through the Hawaiian Islands and eventually to Pier 17 at New York City's South Street Seaport…

The new Austal Auto Express 58 catamaran “Lake Express” entered service on June 1. Operating between Milwaukee, Wis., and Muskegon, Mich., “Lake Express” provides a crossing time of 2.5 hours slicing in half the time it would take to drive around the southern tip of the lake, through a congested Chicago. Another Austal vessel, the Australian-built “Spirit of Ontario I”, is scheduled to begin service across Lake Ontario between Toronto and Rochester, New York, on June 18. The establishment of the Austal USA shipyard in Mobile…

Derecktor Shipyards delivered its 299 ft. (91 m) high speed catamaran, Flying Cloud, to Woods Hole & Martha's Vineyard Steamship Authority. Completed one week ahead of schedule, the vessel will be used for year-round passenger and vehicle ferry service to the islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. Attaining an excess of 39 knots during sea trials, Flying Cloud demonstrated high stability and ride comfort due to its dynamic ride control system. Its service speed of 36 knots will allow the ferry to cross from Hyannis Port to Nantucket Island in less than one hour - significantly lower than the conventional two hour crossing time. Flying Cloud is powered by Paxman 12VP185 diesel engines driving Kamewa 71SII waterjets.

The 101 m "Euroferrys Pacifica" has the distinction of not only being the largest of Austal's flagship Auto Express car ferries yet to be built, but is also the largest high speed catamaran in the world with diesel propulsion. Austal's Sales Director, Chris Norman, said "Austal's ability to fully customize, and without a doubt, the efficient vehicle handling of the Auto Express design, were principal reasons why Euroferrys chose Austal to develop this very exciting project, in particular, the bow door permits full utilization of the vessel's 340 freight lane meter (at 3.5-m width). The vessel has a sizeable 750 ton dwt and a new Austal design innovation in the garage - a hoistable vehicle ramp to facilitate a mix of vehicle and commercial/freight carriage.