Austal wins $3.9m wind farm vessel deal

Henderson-based shipbuilder Austal has been awarded a fourth contract to construct a wind farm support vessel for UK-based Turbine Transfers.

The deal is worth around £2.3 million ($3.9 million), and will have a term of around nine months.

Work on the 21 metre catamaran at Austal’s Philippines shipyard will commence in August.

Austal chief executive Andrew Bellamy said the company had won the contract on the back of its performance on the first three 21-metre craft built for Turbine Transfers.

The ship will be the eighth vessel Austal has built for Turbine Transfers, adding to three 27-metre catamarans being constructed for the company at the Philippines yard.

“The latest award demonstrates the close working relationship we have developed with Turbine Transfers and our ability to build vessels that meet their needs,” Mr Bellamy said.

“We continue to see opportunities in the wind farm vessel market and have the right production cost base in the Philippines to successfully leverage our intellectual property with a proven design.”

The vessel will be used by Turbine Transfers to support wind turbine installation and maintenance off the European coasts.

At close of trade today, Austal shares were down 0.6 per cent, at 79.5 cents.