End of an era for Tasmanian shipyard

The two 41m ferries are being loaded on a lifting-ship at Hobart’s Princes Wharf bound for Trinidad and Tobago. Austal’s Andrew Bellamy says construction was finished ahead of schedule. “It is unfortunately the end of Austal in Margate,” he said. “The equipment has been in the processes of being consolidated and packed up over the last few weeks and now the work has finished the yard will close.”

Earlier this year, Austal blamed the global financial crisis and falling demand for the decision to close, saying the market has changed to favour smaller ships which are built more efficiently at its Western Australian shipyard.