Austal has completed an upgrade of the Integrated Monitoring, Alarm and Control System (IMACS) on the Prony Express, delivering what the company says is an operational enhancement for the passenger ferry serving mining operations in southern New Caledonia.
According to Austal, the project involved the installation of its proprietary MARINELINK-Prime platform, replacing obsolete machinery control hardware with a modern, scalable control system designed to improve the vessel’s operational reliability and maintainability.
The Prony Express, built by Austal and in service since 2012, provides daily workforce transport for Prony Resources’ mining operations.
Under the contract, Austal was responsible for project and technical management, including development of a tailored MARINELINK-Prime software solution using commercial off-the-shelf hardware, Factory Acceptance Testing, on-site installation and commissioning in New Caledonia, crew training and familiarisation, and ongoing remote technical support.
The company said the project was delivered on time and within budget, drawing on its global workforce, in-house engineering capabilities and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) expertise.
The work totalled about 4,200 hours, including travel by Austal technical personnel to New Caledonia for installation and commissioning.
Ben Wardle, Executive General Manager – Sustainment at Austal, said the project reflected the company’s capability to deliver sustainment and upgrade work in remote operating environments.
“This MARINELINK-Prime upgrade project demonstrates why Austal is a leading sustainment partner, and our ability to deliver complex sustainment and capability upgrade activities across the globe – even within geographically remote Pacific operating environments,” Wardle said.
Representatives from Prony Resources New Caledonia (PRNC) also welcomed the outcome of the project.
“It has been a great pleasure to collaborate with Austal once again on this major project, which demanded a full year of dedication, expertise, and commitment from our respective teams. The MARINELINK upgrade of the Prony Express was carried out smoothly and without incident, delivering an excellent result,” said Olivier Rousseau, PRNC Port and Marine Manager and Owner’s representative.
PRNC Technical Lead Sébastien Gibert said the company’s technical team worked closely with Austal throughout the upgrade.
“Austal’s technicians demonstrated a high level of competence, professionalism, and commitment throughout the project. Their responsiveness, efficiency, and willingness to meet our requests were greatly appreciated and contributed significantly to the successful completion of the upgrade,” Gibert said.
According to Austal, the upgrade forms part of its sustainment services, combining its in-house engineering and manufacturing capabilities with technical support for vessel operators.
The content of this article is based on information supplied by Austal Ltd. For more information, please refer to the official company announcement and communications from Austal. Please consult a licensed and/or registered professional in this area before making any decisions based on the content of this article.
