Austal wins mystery contract

Western Australia-based shipbuilder Austal Ltd has secured a $140 million contract with an overseas group to build multiple aluminium passenger ferries, with the option of further purchases.

The shipbuilder is under a strict customer confidentiality agreement and Austal executive chairman John Rothwell said the deal was a strong contribution to the company’s order book. “In our yards, both here in Perth and in Mobile, Alabama, we have three quarters of a billion dollars worth of ships under construction,” he said.

Due for a staggered delivery in 2007 and early 2008, these fast ferries will be built in Australia and provide the basis for the continuation of current high levels of production.