With a top speed of 36 knots it will be fitted with Austal’s Ride Control System to improve seakeeping on the Papeete – Moorea route in French Polynesia. The vessel will be designed in Australia and construction of the vessel will commence at Austal Philippines during 2018, with delivery scheduled for July 2019. The new 49-metre high-speed vessel would be built under an AUD 30 million (USD 23.4 million) contract. The ferry will be the fifth unit Austal has delivered to French Polynesia since 2002.
Austal has previously designed and built four vessels for the parent of SNC Aremiti, Groupe Degage, comprising two 69-metre monohull cruise ships, a 56-metre vehicle passenger catamaran ferry, and an 80-metre vehicle passenger catamaran ferry.