REDLANDS company Reefmaster Custom Aluminium Boat Builders is celebrating its biggest contract yet, a $10 million job to build fast, 300-seat ferries for Mexico.
Two have been built already, with a further four under contract.
Company owner and boat builder Steve Cordingley said it was the biggest contract he had won in 42 years although he had built larger individual craft.
Mr Cordingley said Australia was known as a nation that could build outstanding aluminium ferry catamarans.
The 30m cats will go as deck cargo to Playa del Carmen, a resort town on the Yucatán Peninsula's Riviera Maya strip of Caribbean shoreline.
Mr Cordingley did not have to do a lot of marketing to seal the deal. Using naval architects, he just kept on building strong and hard-wearing quality craft of the type that build a reputation.
“The buyers saw one of our vessels for sale on the internet and came to Australia to have a look,’’ Mr Cordingley said.
“They were so impressed, they decided not to buy the one for sale but to order new ones.’’
The boats attracted attention last week as they were moored temporarily in Raby Bay Harbour while sea trials were conducted and compasses swung.
They are now back at the Eprapah Creek shipyard waiting for a trip up the Brisbane River to be exported, likely early next year.
Mr Cordingley said with all maritime approvals in place, the shipping agent would take charge of the vessels.
“The trials were fantastic,’’ he said. “They’ve got the first 1000hp Yanmar electronic common rail diesels to be put into a vessel in Australia so the Japanese were here too making a big fuss,’’ he said.
The six cylinder engines are low revving and can burn 300 litres of fuel an hour when pushed hard.
Mr Cordingley said that at cruise speed of about 20 knots (37 km/hr) they would burn a bit more than 200 litre per hour.
He said the business which employs 24 staff was at work on the next cat, with its frame already up.
One thing the company has to watch is the tide in Eprapah Creek. With the big cats drawing 1.7m, sailing times are definitely high tide options only.
The company can build to 45 metres and has so far launched more than 90 vessels, ranging from 10m up.
Many are sailing in Queensland waters to places like Heron Island while others are in more exotic places like the Arafura Sea, the Seychelles and the Bahamas.
