Manufacturing has formally commenced on Austal’s Horizon X high-speed ferry project, with the company cutting the first steel plate for the vessel at its Philippines shipyard in Balamban, Cebu, marking the start of construction for Sweden’s Gotlandsbolaget.
In a media release, Austal said the plate cutting ceremony, held on 5 February 2026, signalled the official start of manufacturing activity on the next-generation ferry, which is being built at Austal Philippines, one of the company’s major commercial shipbuilding centres.
The event was hosted by Austal Asia President Wayne Murray and attended by Austal Limited Chief Executive Officer Paddy Gregg and Gotlandsbolaget Chief Executive Officer Björn Nilsson, alongside senior executives from both companies.
Austal CEO Paddy Gregg said the milestone reflected both confidence in the company’s shipbuilding capabilities and the significance of the project.
“[The] plate cutting for Horizon X is a proud moment for the Austal team in the Philippines and across the Austal Group,” Gregg said. “It represents the first major step in bringing this exciting new vessel to life for Gotlandsbolaget.”
Gregg said Horizon X, described by Austal as the largest vessel it has ever contracted to build, was designed to support evolving approaches to sustainable ferry operations.
“We are delighted to be building Horizon X, a world-leading hydrogen-ready high-speed ferry, at Austal Philippines,” he said, adding that its multi-fuel design aimed to provide flexibility as alternative fuels and infrastructure continue to develop.
Gotlandsbolaget CEO Björn Nilsson said the start of manufacturing was an important step in the company’s fleet strategy.
“Commencing production of Horizon X is a significant milestone for Gotlandsbolaget,” Nilsson said. “This vessel represents a key investment in our future capability, combining speed, capacity and sustainability, and we look forward to working closely with Austal throughout the build.”
According to Austal, the 130-metre high-speed catamaran will be manufactured using lightweight “green aluminium” and is designed to carry up to 1,500 passengers and 400 vehicles and cargo.
Hull fabrication is scheduled to begin in the first half of 2026, with delivery targeted for mid-2028.
Once completed, the ferry is intended to operate between mainland Sweden and the island of Gotland.
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.
