Aluminium Boats Australia (ABA) has broken into the Asian market with an order for a passenger ferry for Chinese owners.
The vessel is designed as a catamaran platform for crew transfer operations in Papua New Guinea. With capacity for 52 passengers plus two crew, the 19-metre craft will operate at a service speed of 22 knots with a full load deadweight of 6.95 tonnes.
The vessel's hull form has been designed by Sydney-based One2three Naval Architects and will aim to minimise fuel consumption and long-term maintenance costs.
The vessel allows seated passengers to be accommodated on the main deck internally with an open-plan deck arrangement.
