The Swedish ferry operator Gotlandsbolaget has tasked Austal Australasia with designing and building a 130-metre ‘hydrogen ready’ vehicle passenger ferry under a contract valued approximately between A$265 and A$275 million.
The project, part of Gotlandsbolaget’s Horizon X program, marks a significant milestone in Austal’s shipbuilding portfolio as the largest vessel the company has ever constructed, Austal said in a news release.
The high-speed ROPAX catamaran will feature a combined cycle propulsion system that incorporates both gas and steam turbines.
It will have the capacity to transport up to 1,500 passengers, cargo and 400 vehicles.
The multi-fuel catamaran will be designed by Austal with construction at the Austal Philippines shipyard.
The construction is scheduled to start in the first half of CY2026, whilst completion of the construction is expected in mid-2028.
Austal and Gotlandsbolaget initially announced plans for the development of the 130-metre multi-fuel high speed vehicle passenger ferry design, with the flexibility to be able to operate on a variety of fuel types including hydrogen, in April 2023.
Since then, Austal and Gotland Tech Development, a part of Gotlandsbolaget, have engaged with technology providers from around the world to select preferred main equipment, and to define system arrangements.
This has included the development of the propulsion system arrangement that repurposes engine exhaust to contribute to vessel propulsion and reduce emissions.
Announcing the contract award, Austal Limited CEO, Paddy Gregg said: “The flexible fuel technology demonstrated in Horizon X is leading the transition to decarbonisation of commercial ferries, and we’re proud to be at the forefront, partnering with Gotlandsbolaget, to deliver this industry-leading new ferry.”
