Uploaded October 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
The high-speed ROPAX ferry market has long exceeded early expectations regarding the life and resilience of high-speed ferries - the second and third-hand markets continue to exhibit strong activity and new orders demonstrate the demand for faster or more efficient crossings on seasonal tourist or life-line routes. With the average age of the fleet approaching 25 years and the need for lower emission vessels to meet ambitious legislative decarbonisation requirements, it is fast becoming clear that a new generation of high-speed ROPAX ferries that can run on multiple fuels will be necessary.
For over 35 years, Austal has been successfully partnering with ferry operators to design, construct and support high-speed craft - demonstrating innovation and flexibility in developing customised solutions that meet individual requirements;
• In 1998, following consultation with a number of operators including IDO and Irish Ferries, Austal introduced MARINELINK to offer ferry operators a powerful, integrated monitoring and control system that has improved efficiency and operability, and evolved into one of the industry’s leading digital platforms, with a modern 3D interface.
• In 2000: Austal worked with Minoan Flying Dolphins to deliver the first vessel with a T Max high-speed steering system. This innovative Austal system takes over control from the vessel’s waterjets at cruising speed and uses less fuel than steering with waterjets only.
• 2004: Austal worked with Fred Olsen Express to design and build the award-winning 127 metre trimaran ‘Benchijigua Express’ which introduced a massive leap forward in seakeeping, stability and customer comfort.
• 2023: Austal worked with Molslinjen to design and build the 115-metre ‘Express 5’ featuring a for-but-not-with LNG-capable powerplant.
• Today, Austal is working with Gotlandsbolaget on a concept for a 130-metre catamaran, ‘Gotland Horizon X’, powered by a multi-fuel hydrogen-capable gas turbine combined cycle powerplant.
Austal’s technology, research and development teams are working with ferry operators to identify how new generation high-speed ROPAX ferries can meet their legislative and operational requirements, in a flexible way.
Interviewed in the lead up to Interferry 2024, Mr Sam Abbott, Austal’s Head of Research and Development said “One of the benefits of high-speed ferries is that the same features that are necessary for reaching high speeds, such as highly efficient hull forms and lightweight materials, also result in relatively lower fuel consumptions at more moderate speeds.
“When combined with low-emission or zero-emission maritime fuel technology, a new generation high-speed ROPAX ferry can be designed with an eye towards future compliance and lowering through-life operating costs.
“Looking to the future and ensuring flexibility are important considerations when it’s clear that multiple maritime fuels and technologies will be necessary for the decarbonisation of shipping.
“Electrification is an exciting technology for high-speed ROPAX ferries, but it cannot be the only maritime fuel considered, as it is simply not practical for many ferry operators today.
“To get the most out of an electric high-speed ROPAX ferry, a high level of optimisation to a specific route will be necessary, which for some operators may mean losing the flexibility of moving vessels within their fleet,” explained Abbott.
Abbott went further to say that new generation ferries will need to be flexible, both in terms of the maritime fuels that they use and their ability to accept or be reconfigured for future technologies.
“Every ferry operator is different, and looking to differentiate from their competitors, so why should we expect high-speed ROPAX ferries to be the same? The future high-speed ROPAX ferry market has to be made up of different maritime fuels and technologies to suit the different requirements of ferry operators.
“In the last 12 months alone, we’ve worked with ferry operators on concepts at varying technology readiness levels for electric, hydrogen, methanol, different biodiesel types and hybrid solutions.”
Talk to Austal today about flexible fuel solutions for your next high speed ferry build - and benefit from a better partnership.
sales@austal.com
austal.com
The high-speed ROPAX ferry market has long exceeded early expectations regarding the life and resilience of high-speed ferries - the second and third-hand markets continue to exhibit strong activity and new orders demonstrate the demand for faster or more efficient crossings on seasonal tourist or life-line routes. With the average age of the fleet approaching 25 years and the need for lower emission vessels to meet ambitious legislative decarbonisation requirements, it is fast becoming clear that a new generation of high-speed ROPAX ferries that can run on multiple fuels will be necessary.
For over 35 years, Austal has been successfully partnering with ferry operators to design, construct and support high-speed craft - demonstrating innovation and flexibility in developing customised solutions that meet individual requirements;
• In 1998, following consultation with a number of operators including IDO and Irish Ferries, Austal introduced MARINELINK to offer ferry operators a powerful, integrated monitoring and control system that has improved efficiency and operability, and evolved into one of the industry’s leading digital platforms, with a modern 3D interface.
• In 2000: Austal worked with Minoan Flying Dolphins to deliver the first vessel with a T Max high-speed steering system. This innovative Austal system takes over control from the vessel’s waterjets at cruising speed and uses less fuel than steering with waterjets only.
• 2004: Austal worked with Fred Olsen Express to design and build the award-winning 127 metre trimaran ‘Benchijigua Express’ which introduced a massive leap forward in seakeeping, stability and customer comfort.
• 2023: Austal worked with Molslinjen to design and build the 115-metre ‘Express 5’ featuring a for-but-not-with LNG-capable powerplant.
• Today, Austal is working with Gotlandsbolaget on a concept for a 130-metre catamaran, ‘Gotland Horizon X’, powered by a multi-fuel hydrogen-capable gas turbine combined cycle powerplant.
Austal’s technology, research and development teams are working with ferry operators to identify how new generation high-speed ROPAX ferries can meet their legislative and operational requirements, in a flexible way.
Interviewed in the lead up to Interferry 2024, Mr Sam Abbott, Austal’s Head of Research and Development said “One of the benefits of high-speed ferries is that the same features that are necessary for reaching high speeds, such as highly efficient hull forms and lightweight materials, also result in relatively lower fuel consumptions at more moderate speeds.
“When combined with low-emission or zero-emission maritime fuel technology, a new generation high-speed ROPAX ferry can be designed with an eye towards future compliance and lowering through-life operating costs.
“Looking to the future and ensuring flexibility are important considerations when it’s clear that multiple maritime fuels and technologies will be necessary for the decarbonisation of shipping.
“Electrification is an exciting technology for high-speed ROPAX ferries, but it cannot be the only maritime fuel considered, as it is simply not practical for many ferry operators today.
“To get the most out of an electric high-speed ROPAX ferry, a high level of optimisation to a specific route will be necessary, which for some operators may mean losing the flexibility of moving vessels within their fleet,” explained Abbott.
Abbott went further to say that new generation ferries will need to be flexible, both in terms of the maritime fuels that they use and their ability to accept or be reconfigured for future technologies.
“Every ferry operator is different, and looking to differentiate from their competitors, so why should we expect high-speed ROPAX ferries to be the same? The future high-speed ROPAX ferry market has to be made up of different maritime fuels and technologies to suit the different requirements of ferry operators.
“In the last 12 months alone, we’ve worked with ferry operators on concepts at varying technology readiness levels for electric, hydrogen, methanol, different biodiesel types and hybrid solutions.”
Talk to Austal today about flexible fuel solutions for your next high speed ferry build - and benefit from a better partnership.
sales@austal.com
austal.com
