Austal, a global defence prime contractor, confirmed that it has entered into an agreement with Euroferries Limited for a four-year charter of the 102 metre trimaran stock vessel securing the newly built 102m trimaran “Austal Hull 270”. Austal has received a security that enables further work to be undertaken to prepare the vessel for the charter since the vessel will be operating the high-speed service.
The Austal 102m state of the art design and sea keeping capabilities offer unprecedented levels of passenger comfort whilst travelling at speed across the channel.
The vessel will arrive in January 2013, with the service becoming fully operational between Boulogne and Ramsgate during February 2013.
The vessel is capable of achieving speeds in excess of 40 knots thus enabling Euroferries to provide one of the fastest cross channel crossings available.
Austal designs, constructs and maintains revolutionary platforms such as the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) and the Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV) for the United States Navy, as well as an extensive range of patrol and auxiliary vessels for defence forces and government agencies globally. Austal also designs, installs, integrates and maintains sophisticated communications, radar and command and control systems.
[mappress] Shipbuilding Tribune Staff, October 24, 2012