Austal Vietnam delivers high speed cat to Trinidad and Tobago operator
Written by Marine Log Staff
Designed at Austal Australia, A.P. T. James is the first vessel fully constructed at the company’s Vung Tau shipyard in Vietnam.
Austal Limited (ASX:ASB) reports that Austal Vietnam has delivered the first vessel fully constructed at its Vung Tau shipyard — the A.P.T. James, a 94-meter high-speed catamaran built for the National Infrastructure Development Company (NIDCo) of Trinidad and Tobago.
The Auto Express 94 vehicle-passenger ferry will serve on the “sea bridge route between the islands of Trinidad and Tobago.
Designed at Austal Australia, the vessel features the company’s signature raked bow and optimized hull design. The all-aluminum high speed catamaran has a capacity for 926 passengers and 250 cars, traveling at speeds up to 37.5 knots.
Austal’s smart ship technology in the vessel includes an advanced motion control system, to deliver a more comfortable and stable ride for passengers and crew.
A.P.T James is named after the Tobago-born politician, best known as a fierce advocate for political, social and economic development in Tobago before and during his service on the Legislative Council of Trinidad and Tobago from 1946 to 1961.
Austal Vietnam is well advanced on the shipyard’s next project, a new 41 meter high speed catamaran ferry for SGTM of Mauritius, due for delivery in the first half of 2021.
Austal CEO David Singleton said the delivery of the first major commercial vessel from the Austal Vietnam shipyard in less than two years since its opening was both a testament to the skill and determination of the local workforce, and demonstrated success of the company’s Australasian strategy.
“This is an outstanding achievement for both Austal Vietnam and the Austal Group as we continue to focus and consolidate our defense and commercial vessel capabilities in strategic locations throughout Australasia,” said Singleton. “Austal Vietnam is now clearly a valuable asset in our commercial vessel shipbuilding network, building upon and complementing the growing capability in the Philippines, while also freeing up capacity in our Australian shipyard for additional defense contracts for the Royal Australian Navy and export markets.
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