Feature 1 | FERRIES AND RO-RO VESSELS Austal establishes global service business


Te Australian fast ferry builder Austal aims to offer a global service network for the maintenance of a range of vessel types, including craſt manufactured by other yards.


maintenance and management services, securing more than 1000 jobs in 16 different countries over the past 12 months alone. Many of these contracts involve non-Austal vessels and range from refitting steel offshore support vessels to planned vessel maintenance of high speed aluminium patrol boats. Last month the company announced


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a vessel maintenance services contract with Oman’s National Ferries Company (NFC) for the maintenance of seven large high speed craft, including two Oman Coast Guard rescue boats. Notably, five of these vessels were built at other shipyards. Austal Service general manager,


Chris Pemberton, points out that: “Operators now recognise how our experience in designing and building more than 200 vessels over two decades translates to a more effective and efficient service offering. This includes contract maintenance, general refit and repair, spare parts, consultancy, ship management support services, and crew familiarisation training.” He also points out that Austal’s established global supply chain enables the company to source quality parts, particularly specialist parts, with a quick delivery and at a reasonable cost. The past year has seen Austal


undertake service related work all over the world, including Indonesia, Norway, Venezuela, Malaysia, Maldives, Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom, Egypt, United Arab Emirates and USA. In February, Austal successfully completed the annual docking of the 69m high speed catamaran Jazan, owned by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Performed by Austal personnel at Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah Shipyard, the


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ver the past few years Austal has established itself as a significant provider of vessel


The high speed ferry Jazan in drydock in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.


docking included vessel modifications and preventative maintenance and was completed in just 10 days. The annual docking of sister vessel Farasan was scheduled to take place in April 2010. Austal continues to build a permanent


service presence in the Middle East, having established hubs in the Red Sea, in Egypt, and in Oman. A further regional office in the UAE is due to open in the next few months. While Austal’s strength is not


surprisingly in ferry maintenance and repairs, its general refit and repair capabilities are demonstrated by recently completed refit work on the 82m, 3226dwt steel diving support vessel Nor Australis. The project involved sending a team of Austal engineers, naval architects and engineers to Karratha in Australia’s North West, where they successfully reduced noise and vibration onboard the vessel, resulting in improved working conditions for the crew. According to Mr Pemberton: “Austal


is known as a designer and builder of high speed aluminium vessels, but jobs such as this demonstrate how owners of other vessel types can benefit from our expertise. This is because our capabilities include naval architecture, mechanical, electrical and HVAC systems, not just fabrication.” In June this year, Austal will have


completed its ninth year of a contract to provide Ship Management Support Services to the 101m high speed theatre support vessel, WestPac Express, operated by the USA Marines and based in Okinawa, Japan. Meanwhile in Trinidad and Tobago, Austal Service has commenced its five year comprehensive maintenance and support services program for the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard’s six new 30m fast patrol craft. The programme includes scheduled planned and preventative maintenance support, unscheduled maintenance, management and performance of annual surveys and maintenance periods as well as shore based engineering support. SRCT


Shiprepair and Conversion Technology 2nd Quarter 2010


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