S.Korean, Filipino ferry operators seek Aussie high-speed ferries

South Korean and Filipino ferry operators have turned to Australia for their next carriers.

Australian shipbuilder Austal on Monday announced it had received two new contracts to build one 50-meter high speed catamaran for Korean operator Seaspovill Co. Ltd, and separately, two 30-meter high speed catamarans for a subsidiary of Philippine giant 2Go Group Inc.

The contracts are worth 16 million Australian dollars (11.89 million U.S. dollars), and 13 million Australian dollars (9.67 million U.S. dollars) respectively.

"Once again Australian ship design and reputation for performance and quality wins out in the highly competitive international ship building market," Austral chief executive David Singleton said in a statement on Monday.

"We are seeing a resurgence in the passenger ferry market worldwide which Austal is well placed to win."

The Perth-based Austal is best known for its Naval ship building capabilities, building the current generation of the U.S. Navy's Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) - 11 on order - and their 103 meter fast transport vessels.

The ship builder is also constructing two Cape Class patrol boats for the Australian Department of Defence, and two high-speed support vessels for the Royal Navy of Oman.

The three high-speed ferries for the Korean and Philippine customers will be built at Austal's yard in Cebu, Philippines, its first new build for their domestic market.

Austal Philippines has constructed 9 ships out of its yard, including wind farm vessels, high speed offshore crew transports and the Philippines largest domestically built vehicle passenger ferry, the 80-meter Aremiti Ferry 2. Endit