A 130-metre ‘hydrogen-ready’ catamaran is under development, with the capacity to transport up to 1,500 passengers with their cargo alongside 400 vehicles.

Australian firm Austal has been given a contract worth between A$265m and A$275m (£134m and £138m) to develop the vessel by Gotlandsbolaget, which operates Swedish ferry services.

The high-speed catamaran, dubbed Horizon X, will be the largest vessel ever constructed by Austal and feature a combined cycle propulsion system that includes both gas and steam turbines. This is a first for high-speed craft such as this, Austal says.

The craft is part of the long road to ultimately decarbonise commercial ferries to meet net zero goals for the maritime sector.

Horizon X will be built at Austal’s Philippines shipyard in the first half of next year utilising ‘green aluminium’ produced using energy efficient processes and technologies that use less carbon. Construction is not expected to be completed until mid-2028.

Austal CEO Paddy Gregg said...