Australian fast ferry builder Austal is set to build a trimaran cargo vessel that will virtually eliminate all greenhouse gas emissions.
The company said it secured the order for the 66.8-metre vessel from French company Vela Transport after a global tender process lasting more than nine months.
“The exact purchase price for the vessel cannot be disclosed for commercial reasons, however, is in the range of AUD 40m to AUD 45m ($26m to $29.3m),” it said.
The vessel, which is based on a concept by VPLP of Paris and will feature a sailing system by MerConcept, will be built by Austal Philippines, in Balamban, Cebu, and is due in mid-2026.
“Austal is delighted to be partnering with Vela to deliver this unique sailing cargo trimaran — a striking-looking vessel that will transport high-value goods across the Atlantic Ocean using 100% wind power,” said chief executive Paddy Gregg.
“Austal’s proven experience in trimaran design offers Vela a large cargo space and greater flexibility while delivering superior seakeeping, efficiency and performance.
“The shallow draught of the trimaran also allows greater access to secondary ports, facilitating access to Vela’s customers’ factories and warehouses.”
Gregg said the use of sails for main propulsion, rather than conventional diesel-powered engines, is expected to deliver a 99% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared with conventional container ships.
“Having designed and constructed 25 large trimarans for commercial and defence operators around the world since 2007, no other shipbuilder is better placed to deliver this impressive new ship for Vela,” he said, adding that the vessel will “undoubtedly play a leading role in promoting the decarbonisation and sustainability of the international maritime transport industry”.
Vela chief executive Pierre-Arnaud Vallon said: “We are not just constructing a ship with Austal, we are helping to shape the future of international maritime transport.
“With our strategic shipbuilding partner Austal, we are pioneering the way for an era where ships harness clean and inexhaustible energy.
“This sailing cargo trimaran, the first and largest of its kind, symbolises our vision of a world where sustainability and innovation go hand in hand.”
Vela chief operating officer Pascal Galacteros said the construction of this unique vessel represents an “unprecedented technical challenge”.
“We are tackling it with pride and determination, relying on Austal’s globally recognised expertise in multi-hulls and aluminium shipbuilding, and integrating the wind sailing expertise from our partners, VPLP and MerConcept,” he said.
“The trust that emerged from our interactions with the Austal teams in Australia and the Philippines convinced us that we had the best strategic shipbuilding partner for our project.”
