Olsen Sa News

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…

Shipbuilder Austal Australia has delivered a new 118-meter fast ferry to Fred. Olsen Express.The high-speed trimaran ferry Bajamar Express is the first of two identical vessels ordered by Fred. Olsen Express in a €126 million ($142.8 million) contract in October 2017. The second vessel, Bañaderos Express, is under construction at Austal Philippines shipyard in Balamban, Cebu, and is scheduled for delivery in the first half of 2021.Capable of transporting 1,100 passengers and 276 cars at a cruising speed of more than 37 knots, the new trimaran ferries for Fred.

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…

Austal has launched a new addition to the proven MARINELINK product range, MARINELINK-Fleet.Building upon Austal’s original, proprietary MARINELINK on-board vessel monitoring, alarm and control system - and recent MARINELINK-Smart application that adds ‘smart ship’ capabilities -MARINELINK-Fleet offers ferry operators a live, integrated view of a fleet’s operating environment, schedule, comfort and fuel performance.MARINELINK-Fleet at the annual Interferry conference in London, Austal’s Technology Development Manager Max van Someren said the new product enables any ferry operator to more effectively monitor their fleet and achieve optimum vessel performance and customer experience.“MARINELINK-Fleet is available to any ferry operator and is suitable for use on any type of ship…

Two new high-speed ferries to be run by Spanish ferry operator Fred. Olsen, S.A. are each to be powered by four MTU 20-cylinder 8000 M71L engines and by Kamewa waterjets from Rolls-Royce. The ferries will be 117m trimarans, designed by Austal Australia, and are to ply the waters around the Canary Islands along with the world’s largest aluminum fast ferry in operation, the Benchijigua Express. It is also planned to sign a maintenance agreement for both new ferries for a period of up to 8 years and a maximum of 24,000 hours of operation.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Austal Australia and JR Kyushu Jet Ferry will see the two firms develop a new high speed trimaran passenger ferry concept for JR Kyushu Jet Ferry’s South Korea to Japan service, one of Japan’s busiest international routes. The companies will design and build the 80 meter trimaran based on Austal’s trimaran hull form, with the interior to be developed by leading Japanese designer, Eiji Mitooka of Don Design. The parties will now move toward a contract for the design…

Austal’s latest contract announcement for two 117 metre high speed vehicle passenger ferries, for Fred Olsen SA, not only sends a strong signal to the international market that ‘fast ferries are back’, but confirms Austal’s proven trimaran hull design as the most cost effective and highly capable vessel platform to deliver superior seakeeping and schedule performance. The €126million Euro (A$190million) contract, announced at Interferry 2017 in Split Croatia represents Fred Olsen SA’s largest ever ferry order. The two new ferries will add to the ‘Fred Olsen Express’ fleet of 6 vessels that transport more than 2.8 million passengers, 750,000 cars and more than 150,000 heavy vehicles over 5 routes in the Canary Islands each year.

Austal has announced a milestone contract, valued at €126 million (A$190 million), to design and build two 117 metre high-speed vehicle passenger trimaran ferries for long term customer Fred Olsen S.A. of the Canary Islands, Spain. The aluminium trimarans, designed by Austal Australia, will be the second and third trimarans to be delivered to Fred Olsen S.A. who already operate the world’s first and largest trimaran vehicle passenger ferry, the Benchijigua Express – designed and built by Austal in 2005.

The use of LNG in marine applications is becoming increasingly common. It offers a big potential in terms of operating costs and emission reduction. Diesel engines converted to dual-fuel show considerably reduced emissions in case of high conversion ratios. Depending on the emission standard which is required, expensive and unwieldy exhaust aftertreatment systems can become unnecessary or their implementation costs are significantly lower. The engine performance is comparable to gas engines. HEINZMANN, a specialist in engine and turbine management solutions, offers dual-fuel retrofit systems for a wide range of diesel engines to be converted to gas operation and at the same time providing all the safety features required for marine applications.

On Dec. 10, Austal unveiled its largest ever catamaran to date. The vessel, measuring 370.7 ft in length, was towed out of the shed at its shipyard in Henderson, Western Australia. At around 20 metres longer than a standard soccer pitch and weighing around 1000 tonnes, the vessel will be able to hold up to 1,400 passengers and 357 cars when complete and travel at speeds of up to 40 knots. The vessel is the heaviest Austal has ever built weighing slightly more than the 416.6 ft trimaran Benchijigua Express delivered to Fred. Olsen, S.A. in 2005.

Austal’s next generation 334.6 ft high speed trimaran has had its unique three-engine layout successfully installed ahead of the vessel’s launch next month. The vehicle-passenger ferry, which is being built at Austal’s Western Australian facilities and is currently available for purchase, is scheduled for completion by February 2010. Unique to the vessel is a patented three engine layout that combines with the trimaran’s hydrodynamic hull form to deliver fuel efficiency across a range of operating conditions.

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 Ships today announced a contract to build an 85 metre vehicle-passenger ferry for Greek operator Hellas Flying Dolphins (HFD). The catamaran is the fifth fast ferry HFD has ordered from Austal Ships, demonstrating ongoing confidence in Austal’s capabilities. HFD is Greece’s largest domestic ferry operator, transporting approximately 7 million passengers, 200,000 trucks and 800,000 cars every year. Due for delivery for the 2005 European summer and to be named “Highspeed 5”, the ferry will bring the total number of vessels in the HFD fleet to 24. Austal Sales and Product Development Manager Mr Glenn Williams said the contract rewarded the marketing effort the company has dedicated to the Greek market over many years.

On April 6 Austal Ships and MTU introduced what it calls the world’s most powerful diesel-powered high-speed catamaran, Spirit of Ontario, in New York. The 284-ft. vessel -- powered by four MTU 20 V 8000 diesel enginesallowing for a loaded speed of 45.7 knots (52 mph/84 kph) – can carry 774 passengers and up to 238 cars or 10 full size trucks. It will be deployed by Canadian American Transportation System between Rochester, NY, and Toronto, ON. According to a survey conducted by the Volpe National Transportation Systems Center in Cambridge…

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…

Austal has launched the largest aluminium ship ever built, the 127 metre trimaran ferry “Benchijigua Express” taking to the water for the first time early on September 25. It is the most significant ship to arrive on the world high speed vessel scene, not just in terms of size but due to its ability to give a substantially smoother ride to passengers in rough sea conditions thanks to its trimaran design. Construction of the ferry commenced at the Austal shipyard in Western Australia in September 2003. At the height of construction approximately 430 of the company’s 1200 staff were working on the project. When Austal signed the contract to build a second high speed vehicle–passenger ferry for European ferry operator Fred. Olsen, S.A.

The newest and most significant vessel yet to arrive on the world fast ferry scene was christened Benchijigua Express in a ceremony at the yard of high speed ship builder Austal in Henderson, Western Australia on November 5. Godmother of the vessel Mrs Juana Hernández Cabrera, wife of Fred. Olsen, S.A. Managing Director Mr Guillermo Van de Waal, cut the ribbon to christen the trimaran with a magnum of champagne across her bow. Also in attendance from Fred. Olsen, S.A. were Mr Fred Olsen Jnr, Chairman, the vessel’s senior officers and management from the company’s European offices. Powered by four diesel engines driving three waterjets the Auto Express 127 trimaran will be able to maintain Fred.

Australian shipbuilder Austal Ships and European ferry operator Fred. Olsen, S.A. have signed a historic contract for the world’s largest high-speed multihull vessel which will be based on a new hullform that will reportedly revolutionize fast sea transportation. When delivered in the second half of 2004, the 416-ft. (126.7-m) cargo-vehicle-passenger fast ferry will also be larger than any existing diesel-powered fast ferry – catamaran or monohull. It is also believed to be the world’s largest all-aluminium ship. For Austal Ships, the new 126-m ferry is a significant, but carefully planned and evaluated, progression in high-speed ship design that is based on the successful performance and stability…

Australian shipbuilder Austal Ships and European ferry operator Fred. Olsen, S.A. are delighted to announce the signing of an historic contract for the world’s largest high-speed multihull vessel which will be based on a new hullform. When delivered in the second half of 2004, the 126.7 metre cargo-vehicle-passenger fast ferry will also be larger than any existing diesel-powered fast ferry – catamaran or monohull. It is also believed to be the world’s largest all-aluminium ship. Confirmation of the order demonstrates both companies’ leadership in the global fast ship industry and is the outcome of a collaboration, involving more than three years of research and development effort, to produce the new design.

“Benchijigua Express”, the 127 metre high speed trimaran built by Austal for Fred Olsen, S.A. has arrived and entered service in the Canary Islands. Following her handover and departure from Fremantle, Australia on 13 April the vehicle-passenger ferry sailed to Tenerife via Cape Town arriving at 23:00 local time on Thursday 28 April, accomplishing the 9,250 mile journey in 15 days at an impressive average speed, including one scheduled stop, of 25 knots. During the delivery voyage, which included passing the notorious Cape of Good Hope, the vessel encountered severe weather conditions with combined sea and swell of up to eight metres. In the words of the seasoned delivery crew it was the “worst they had ever seen or experienced”.