Austals new image

Austal, a name associated worldwide with aluminium vessels of the highest quality, will now also be directly associated with the world?s best designed and built live-aboard vessels. This follows the shipbuilder?s decision to unite marketing of all its products under the Austal name. Previously the live-aboards for the dive and adventure tourism markets have been promoted under the banner of Image Marine.

Sales Manager, Mark Stothard, says both existing and future owners of live-aboards built by the company stand to benefit from the prestigious worldwide reputation that Austal has acquired across a broad range of vessels, since commencing operations in 1988.

“Just as Image has been a byword for excellence within the live-aboard sector, the Austal name is synonymous with excellence throughout the broader international marine industry. Bringing the live-aboards under the Austal name will thus reinforce their existing reputation as a premium product to a wider audience,” he said.

Austal now builds a wide variety of vessels ranging from 15 metres upwards but its association with the live-aboard market dates back to the company?s formative years. In fact, the first vessel ever built by Austal was “Spoil Sport”, a 30 metre live-aboard built for Mike Ball Dive Expeditions. “Live-aboards have been part of our business from the outset and have remained so even as the company has expanded successfully into other sectors such as fast ferries, cruise vessels and patrol boats,” Managing Director Bob McKinnon said.