DNV: Class orders at Austal

2009-04-30

Despite the global economic recession, significant orders to DNV Class have been placed with Australian shipbuilder Austal.

Despite the global economic recession, significant orders have been placed with Australian shipbuilder Austal. These include orders for two high speed vehicle-passenger ferries, as well as a series of 30m and 21.2m patrol craft - all to DNV class.

The first ferry has been ordered by Denmark’s Nordic ferry services, a joint venture between Bornholmstrafikken and Clipper Group. At 113m in length, it is the largest vehicle-passenger catamaran to be built by Austal and is designed to carry 1400 passengers and 357 cars at a maximum speed of 40 knots. The vessel will work on an established route running between Rønne on the Danish island of Bornholm and Ystad in south east Sweden. The vessel is scheduled for delivery in early 2011.

The latest contract signing is with Virtu Ferries for a 107m high speed vehicle-passenger ferry designed to carry 800 passengers and 230 cars at a speed of 39 knots. The ferry will run between Malta and Italy and is intended for delivery in mid 2010.

"These two contracts, both signed with commercial operators, give additional revenue to an industry which is now focused more and more on the naval and patrol boat market" says Denzal Hargraves, DNV's area manager in Australia. "In the past 12 months Austal has also won contracts to construct six 30m fast patrol craft for the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and four 21.2m Inshore Patrol Craft for the Armed Forces of Malta , both to DNV class. It is expected that this market will continue to grow despite the backdrop of the global economic recession."

These recent announcements further reinforce the ongoing partnerships that DNV has forged over its 25 years within the high speed ferry industry working with both owners, yards, designers and other parties.

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