Trinidad and Tobago Order Passenger Ferry Fleet
In its third significant commercial order for the year, Austal will design and construct four 41m high speed passenger catamaran ferries for the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Designed to carry 405 passengers at a speed of approximately 37 knots, the aluminium vessels are intended to help reduce road congestion in Trinidad and Tobago by establishing a water taxi service between San Fernando and Port of Spain in southwest Trinidad.
With a combined capacity of 1620 passengers, the four Austal high speed catamarans will reduce travel times between North and South Trinidad by almost two thirds. The reduction in the number of cars on the road will also deliver environmental benefits including reduced vehicle exhaust and noise emissions, and reduces the need to maintain and expand major roads and highways.
Construction of the four ferries will be shared across Austal’s Tasmanian and Western Australian shipyards, with delivery scheduled for late 2010. Included in the contract is a maintenance and training package which will see Austal deliver crew familiarisation and planned maintenance management.