Australian shipbuilder Austal has delivered the first of two high speed catamaran ferries built for the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC).

The contract for two 45-meter catamaran ferries was awarded in April 2014 and valued at approximately AUD 30 million, with the vessel constructed at Austal’s Philippines shipyard.

Austal Chief Executive Officer Andrew Bellamy said: ”We continue to see opportunities in the Middle East and the energy sector and have the right production cost base in the Philippines to compete for commercial vessel contracts and successfully leverage our intellectual property with a proven design.”

The second ferry is in its final stages of construction and is expected to be delivered later this quarter. The high speed ferries will be used to transfer cargo, personnel, and equipment to ADNOC offshore installations.