'State-of-art' ferry at Henderson confirms WA's leading shipbuilding status

10/2/96

Premier Richard Court says the launch of an 82-metre 'state-of the-art' ferry at Henderson this morning provides further confirmation of Western Australia's status as the leading shipbuilding State in the nation - producing nearly 70 per cent of all Australian commercial shipping.

Mr Court said the ferry, The Delphin, had been built by leading Western Australian shipbuilder Austal Ships in association with their joint venture company Ferries Australia.

"The $50 million high speed ferry has been built for operation in the Baltic Sea, and will complete the Baltic crossing in around three hours - slashing the previous journey time by more than half," he said.

"The ferry will have the capacity to carry 600 passengers, 175 cars and 10 buses."

The Premier said the vessel also included a computerised stabilising system developed by Austal Ships and the Australian Maritime Engineering Co-operative Research Centre at Curtin University

"The system significantly reduces vessel motion and the likelihood of seasickness," he said.

"It is through the development of technology and vessels such as this that WA has become the most successful commercial marine industry in Australia.

"WA shipbuilders are also carving out markets overseas, for example Austal has made more than two dozen ferry sales to shipping operators in China."

Mr Court said that despite WA's proven shipbuilding record, he was concerned that local shipbuilders could be 'muscled out' of a $44 million contract for a new fast ferry service between Tasmania and the mainland.

"Mr Keating announced a grant for the new ferry in Tasmania and his Transport Minister Laurie Brereton stated that the Commonwealth's preference was for the ferry to be built by a Tasmanian shipbuilder and made much about the boost it would provide to the company's workforce," the Premier said.

"This has all the hallmarks of 'strings attached' funding to gain votes and flies in the face of the Federal Government's much repeated claims of support for a national competition policy."

Mr Court said the Commonwealth's stance appeared to ignore other Australian shipbuilders, particularly those in WA.

"It would be scandalous if we did not have an open tender for this ferry project so that all Australian companies had the opportunity to bid for the contract," he said.