Four High Speed Craft at Austal with GL class

Pictured are Steve Murdoch (AUSTAL), George Spiliotis (GL) (sitting from left to right) and Derek Gill (AUSTAL), Jatin S.Grewal (GL) (standing) sign the classification contract.

Four auto express vehicle-passenger catamarans to be built by Austal shipyard will be classed by Germanischer Lloyd. The high speed craft for an undisclosed owner will be constructed to the new High Speed Craft Code 2000 and delivered in 2009. Two of the fast ferries will be 69 m and two 88 m long. The classification contract was signed by Austal's COO Steve Murdoch and Design Manager Derek Gill in presence of GL's Area Manager George Spiliotis and Station Manager Fremantle Jatin S. Grewal. The order represents Austal's largest individual contract to date. "This huge contract confirms our presence in a region with substantial growth opportunities for Austal", said John Rothwell, Austal Executive Chairman.