Austal expands Middle East service

The contract award follows the recent opening of Austal service hubs in Egypt and Oman, and a new regional headquarters in the United Arab Emirates (Dubai). Under the contract, Austal will provide rapid response to technical issues related to three large Austal vehicle ferries, including spare parts supply, for a period of up to five years.

The three vessels include the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s two 69m ropax ferries Jazan and Farasan, delivered in 2009, and 56m ropax ferry Fares 1, delivered in 2002. With the capacity to carry 650 passengers, 50 cars and 15 trucks, Jazan and Farasan were part of a group of four Austal vehicle-passenger ferries ordered by the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Finance in 2007. The 88m Riyadh and Cairo were delivered to Saudi Arabia in December 2008 and later gifted to the Egyptian Government to improve ferry services across the Red Sea.

Austal personnel recently completed the annual docking of the two 69m vessels, which was performed at Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah Shipyard. The docking included vessel modifications and preventative maintenance. Austal is also responsible for the maintenance and technical management of Egypt’s two 69m vessels.