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- Australian shipbuilder Austal’s (ASB) subsidiary, Austal Philippines, has started building the company’s largest-ever ferry, the Express 5
- The new ship will be built for Danish ferry operator Molslinjen
- Express 5 will have the capacity for 1610 passengers and space for 450 cars
- Passengers onboard will enjoy leather reclining seats with USB ports, Wi-Fi, bistro and bar, children’s play area and multiple audio-visual screens
- Once built, the new ship will ferry passengers between Ystad and Rønne
- On the market this afternoon, Austal is up 1.54 per cent and is trading for $3.30 per share
Australian shipbuilder Austal’s (ASB) subsidiary, Austal Philippines, has commenced construction on its largest-ever ferry.
Austal started to create the newly designed, 11-metre, high-speed vehicle-passenger catamaran for Molslinjen, a Danish ferry operator.
The new ship will be named Express 5 and will be the largest ferry by volume ever built by the company.
This week, an aluminium plate-cutting ceremony was held at Balamban shipyard in the Philippines to celebrate the occasion.
Source: Austal
Austal CEO, David Singleton, says this is a significant milestone, not only for Austal Philippines but for the group as a whole.
“Express 5 is the biggest ferry ever constructed by Austal, and if that sounds familiar, it’s because the last two catamarans we have constructed in the Philippines and Australia, have also been our largest, at the time of construction,” he said.
Express 5 will have the capacity for 1610 passengers and space for 450 cars. It will operate at a service speed of 37 knots.
Passengers onboard will enjoy leather reclining seats with USB ports, Wi-Fi, a bistro and bar, children’s play area and multiple audio-visual screens.
Once built, the new ship will ferry passengers between Ystad and Rønne.
Austal Philippines President, Wayne Murray, is excited to be working with another record-breaking commercial shipbuilding project.
“This is the third large, high-speed ferry we have started in less than two years, including the largest ferry ever built in the Philippines – the 109-metre FSTR for Fjord Line,” he said.
“Following on from FSTR, and the 118-metre trimaran ferry, Banaderos Express, we’re constructing for Fred. Olsen Express, we’re very excited to be working on the very latest and greatest for Molslinjen,” he added.
Express 5 is expected to hit the water by 2022.
On the market this afternoon, Austal is up 1.54 per cent and is trading for $3.30 per share.
