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- Austal (ASB) has delivered the first of two 118-metre trimarans to Fred. Olsen Express, a ferry company that operates in the Canary Islands in Spain
- The sale cost for each vessel sits at $95 million
- Fred. Olsen purchased Austal’s first commercial trimaran in 2005, the largest ever constructed at 127 metres long
- Fred. Olsen also has two Austal-built catamarans currently in service
- Austal shares are grey today, trading for $3.27 each
Austal Limited (ASB) has delivered the first of two 118-metre trimarans to Fred. Olsen Express, an inter-island ferry service operating in the Canary Islands in Spain.
The company was the first to ever put one of Austal’s trimaran ferry’s into service when it commissioned the Benchijgua Express in 2005.
Source: Austal
The newly delivered Bajamar Express, valued at approximately $95 million, will be the second Trimaran in Fred. Olsen’s fleet.
According to Austal, during sea trials, the Bajamar Express “achieved impressive speed, seakeeping and passenger comfort levels.”
The Bajamar Express is capable of reaching speeds in excess of 44 knots while maintaining passenger comfort.
The Bajamar Express is fitted with Austal’s new MARINELINK smart technology, which provides real-time analysis of the vessel’s performance to both the bridge, Fred. Olsen’s headquarters, and Austal.
The third Trimaran Austal is building for Fred. Olsen, the Banaderos Express, is currently under construction at Austal’s Philippines shipyard, and is due for completion in the first half of next year.
Austal’s Chief Operating Officer Patrick Gregg said the Bajamar Express was the second trimaran to be delivered to Fred. Olsen Express and the fourth Austal vessel to join the Fred. Olsen fleet.
“Fred. Olsen Express recognised the enormous potential of the trimaran hull form for high-speed craft and engaged Austal to develop the original and still the largest trimaran ferry operating in the world, the 127-metre Benchijgua Express,”Patrick stated.
“Based on that ship’s success, Fred. Olsen Express ordered two more trimarans in 2017 and today we celebrate the first of these vessels to be delivered,” he continued.
“Bajamar Express joins Benchijgua Express plus two Austal-built catamarans already operating in the Fred Olsen fleet, the Bocayna Express and the Betancuria Express,” Patrick concluded.
Austal announced in June that Patrick Grigg would take over as CEO at the end of this year, when long-serving CEO David Singleton moves on.
Austal shares are grey today, trading for $3.27 each at 11:30 am AEST.
