Post by ferryfast admin on Mar 19, 2012 11:45:45 GMT -5
Incat hit as navy pulls out
NICK CLARK | March 20, 2012 12.01am
www.themercury.com.au/article/2012/03/20/310901_tasmania-news.html
SHIPBUILDER Incat Tasmania has suffered a blow after the Defence Department canned a plan to buy a high-speed catamaran for the navy.
It was revealed yesterday the department had recommended to Defence Minister Stephen Smith that the purchase not go ahead.
The decision leaves Incat with an unsold 112m vessel (Hull 67) sitting in the Derwent.
The catamaran builder last sold a vessel to French company LD Lines in March 2009.
Incat managing director Craig Clifford said he last spoke to Defence a month ago and discussions had been on and off for nearly 12 months.
"It has been ongoing and they know what we have got and we have been part of their deliberations," he said.
Mr Clifford said he had not been officially informed the purchase would not go ahead.
"It was an important opportunity for us and if a decision has been made, we will either rejoice or be disappointed," he said.
"Obviously, we would like to have seen the vessel back with the Royal Australian Navy."
Incat leased a vessel to the navy in 1999 and it ran supplies between Darwin and Dili, in East Timor. Incat has three vessels on lease to the US navy and army.
The desire for a high-speed catamaran came after Australia's capabilities were deemed unsatisfactory in the wake of Cyclone Yasi, which hit Queensland in February last year. The new vessel was aimed at carrying up to 300 troops at high speed for a regional conflict or natural disaster.
Mr Clifford said the vessel had been presented to Defence but had not yet been fitted out.
Incat, which employs 300 people, is building a revolutionary liquefied natural gas-powered 99m vessel (Hull 69) for South American customer Buquebus.
Sea trials would be conducted in November.
News of the Defence decision comes at difficult time for Incat. It has been hurt by the strength of the Australian dollar, which has pushed the value of the vessels out to more than $120 million.
Last financial year, Incat recorded a $6.1 million loss after an $8.3 million loss the year before.
clarkn@news.net.au
_________________
Incat of Tasmania
www.incat.com.au/
NICK CLARK | March 20, 2012 12.01am
www.themercury.com.au/article/2012/03/20/310901_tasmania-news.html
SHIPBUILDER Incat Tasmania has suffered a blow after the Defence Department canned a plan to buy a high-speed catamaran for the navy.
It was revealed yesterday the department had recommended to Defence Minister Stephen Smith that the purchase not go ahead.
The decision leaves Incat with an unsold 112m vessel (Hull 67) sitting in the Derwent.
The catamaran builder last sold a vessel to French company LD Lines in March 2009.
Incat managing director Craig Clifford said he last spoke to Defence a month ago and discussions had been on and off for nearly 12 months.
"It has been ongoing and they know what we have got and we have been part of their deliberations," he said.
Mr Clifford said he had not been officially informed the purchase would not go ahead.
"It was an important opportunity for us and if a decision has been made, we will either rejoice or be disappointed," he said.
"Obviously, we would like to have seen the vessel back with the Royal Australian Navy."
Incat leased a vessel to the navy in 1999 and it ran supplies between Darwin and Dili, in East Timor. Incat has three vessels on lease to the US navy and army.
The desire for a high-speed catamaran came after Australia's capabilities were deemed unsatisfactory in the wake of Cyclone Yasi, which hit Queensland in February last year. The new vessel was aimed at carrying up to 300 troops at high speed for a regional conflict or natural disaster.
Mr Clifford said the vessel had been presented to Defence but had not yet been fitted out.
Incat, which employs 300 people, is building a revolutionary liquefied natural gas-powered 99m vessel (Hull 69) for South American customer Buquebus.
Sea trials would be conducted in November.
News of the Defence decision comes at difficult time for Incat. It has been hurt by the strength of the Australian dollar, which has pushed the value of the vessels out to more than $120 million.
Last financial year, Incat recorded a $6.1 million loss after an $8.3 million loss the year before.
clarkn@news.net.au
_________________
Incat of Tasmania
www.incat.com.au/