Venetian Marketing Services Limited News

Austal is celebrating the completion of fourteen high speed passenger ferries for Hong Kong’s Venetian Marketing Services Limited (VMSL) following the successful, on-schedule delivery of the final four vessels. Recognizable for their exciting electric blue livery, each of the 155.8 ft aluminium CotaiJets are now in operation between Hong Kong and Macao, servicing the entertainment, gaming, convention and hotel facilities on The Cotai Strip. Combining speed, comfort and outstanding interior finishes, each vessel has the capacity to carry 413 passengers at a speed of 42 knots.

Austal has signed a contract for four additional 47.5 metre passenger catamarans with Cotai WaterJets (Macao) Ltd, adding to the initial ten-vessel contract signed in 2006 by sister company Venetian Marketing Services Limited (VMSL). The new vessels will be identical to those currently under construction at Austal’s Henderson shipyard and will be delivered in the first half of 2009. Completion of the entire 14-vessel order will see the number of Austal vessels delivered to China / Hong Kong waters grow to 52, reinforcing Austal’s success in the region.

Austal announces the recent multiple ferry orders are for Venetian Marketing Services Limited (VMSL). This represents ten 48 metre passenger catamaran ferries awarded following a competitive international tender process. Adding to its fleet of thirty six vessels delivered to China / Hong Kong waters Austal was able to deliver a proven solution and the best overall package. This included meeting a challenging delivery schedule for the boats to be in operation in 2007 and 2008. With the capacity to carry 411 passengers at a service speed of 42 knots, the ferries will provide a link from Hong Kong locations to the new Pac On Ferry Terminal being built by the Macau Government to provide a service to The Cotai Strip on Macau.