Austal Australasia has officially been awarded a contract valued between A$265m and A$275m by Gotlandsbolaget of Sweden to design and construct a 130m combined cycle, ‘hydrogen-ready’ vehicle passenger ferry.
Horizon X vision
Part of Gotlandsbolaget’s Horizon X program, the high-speed ro-pax catamaran will be the largest vessel ever constructed by Austal. It will feature a combined cycle propulsion system that includes gas and steam turbines, which is said to be a first for high-speed craft worldwide.
With a capacity to transport up to 1,500 passengers, cargo and 400 vehicles, the Horizon X multi-fuel catamaran will be designed by Austal with construction at the Austal Philippines shipyard commencing the first half of CY 2026, using “green aluminum”, produced using energy efficient processes and technologies that use less carbon, resulting in lower emissions. Construction is scheduled to complete in mid-2028.
Paddy Gregg, CEO of Austal, said, “Horizon X is an incredibly exciting project that is going to re-define commercial ferry capabilities, with a multi-fuel and hydrogen-capable combined cycle powerplant and a class-leading, efficient hull design. The flexible fuel technology demonstrated in Horizon X is leading the transition to the decarbonization of commercial ferries, and we’re proud to be at the forefront, partnering with Gotlandsbolaget, to deliver this industry-leading new ferry. Austal’s commitment to delivering a high-speed catamaran represents a significant step toward climate-neutral emission targets while providing an exceptional passenger experience.”
Håkan Johansson, CEO of Gotlandsbolaget, enthused, “Thanks to the great collaboration between Gotland Tech Development and Austal, we can now move forward in supplementing our existing fleet of larger passenger and cargo vessels with a high-speed, multi-fuel-catamaran, which is also hydrogen-ready. Horizon X is not only designed for speed and efficiency but also for sustainability, as it incorporates cutting-edge green technology, including a hydrogen-ready, highly efficient gas turbine propulsion system.
“This vessel is a key step in our strategy to achieve climate-neutral operations, using lightweight green aluminum and advanced hydrodynamic design to minimize fuel consumption and emissions. Serving the island of Gotland and the (Swedish) mainland in a climate and environmentally responsible way is at the heart of our mission, and Horizon X represents a significant milestone in that journey.”
Progress report
Austal and Gotlandsbolaget first announced plans for the development of the 130m multi-fuel high-speed vehicle passenger ferry design, with the flexibility to be able to operate on a variety of fuel types including hydrogen, in April 2023.
Since then, Austal and Gotland Tech Development, a part of Gotlandsbolaget, have engaged with technology providers from around the world to select the preferred main equipment and to define system arrangements. This has included the development of the unique propulsion system arrangement that repurposes engine exhaust to contribute to vessel propulsion and reduce emissions.
In October 2024, the project gained approval in principle from nautical classification society DNV, with the vessel design being confirmed as complying in principle with rules relating to gas-fuelled ship installations (hydrogen) and the International Code of Safety of Ships Using Gases or Other Low Flashpoint Fuels.
In related news, France’s first hydrogen-powered river vessel, the Zulu 06, recently launched on the Seine in Paris, France. Click here to read the full story.