Austhai Marine opens 2027 build slots for AT40 commercial catamaran

Austhai Marine has unveiled the AT40, a 12.99-meter twin-outboard catamaran built for dive, ferry and resort transfer operators, with 2027 build slots now open. The company says the design is aimed at commercial marine tourism businesses that need a purpose-built boat at a lower operating cost than custom European builds.

Why it matters: - The AT40 targets commercial marine tourism operators that need one hull to do multiple jobs without the cost penalty of a custom one-off build. - Austhai Marine is pitching the boat to dive, ferry and resort transfer operators that want a purpose-built commercial platform instead of a converted leisure craft. - The company says early operator reservations are now open, giving buyers a chance to influence the final specification before design freeze.

What happened: - Austhai Marine unveiled the AT40, a 12.99-meter (42.6-foot) twin outboard catamaran designed for commercial marine tourism. - The boat is offered in three configurations on one shared hull: a dedicated dive boat, a passenger ferry and a premium resort transfer vessel. - Build slots for 2027 are now open. - Mould tooling is scheduled to begin in February 2027. - The first two hulls are scheduled to enter build by June 2027. - Launch and sea trials are planned for August to September 2027.

The details: - The AT40 Dive carries 20 divers in its day boat layout. - A technical configuration carries 12 divers with wider seating and centerline racking for up to three tanks per diver. - More than 30 centerline tank racks keep the side decks clear. - An integrated stern structure combines a dock gangway, a dive ladder that descends 1.5 meters (4.9 feet) below the waterline and an A-frame crane capable of recovering an incapacitated diver. - Freshwater shower bays on port and starboard, a camera rinse table and window-side seating are included for guest comfort between dives. - The dive version has a draft of 0.68 meters (2.2 feet), which allows access to shallow reef anchorages. - The AT40 Ferry seats up to 42 passengers under weather protection. - The ferry configuration can be built as an open layout for scenic routes or fully enclosed and air-conditioned for premium and evening services. - The ferry is designed to cruise at 22 knots and reach a 25-knot maximum at full load. - The ferry has been designed to CE and ISO small craft standards from the outset. - The AT40 Resort Transfer carries 20 guests and provides 2.00 meters (6.6 feet) of headroom on a wide catamaran platform. - VIP enclosed resort-transfer layouts can be finished to match a resort’s design. - The hull is designed to cruise at 22 knots fully loaded with around 6,000 kg (13,200 pounds) of passengers, crew, equipment and fuel on board. - Each AT40 is built to CE and ISO small craft standards at Austhai Marine’s ISO-certified facility. - Austhai Marine says the construction uses vinyl ester resin, PVC core and vacuum-infused E-glass. - Every hull comes from the same production moulds, which is intended to keep boats consistent and allow parts support from hull number one onward. - Austhai Marine says more than 20 years of commercial catamaran experience and a record of more than 100 power catamarans delivered to customers in more than 12 countries support the program. - About 80% of Austhai Marine’s builds are repeat orders from existing customers. - The Island Spirit catamaran brand, also part of Group Island Spirit, launched in 1998 and won Sail Magazine Top Ten awards in 2001, 2003 and 2005. - The Island Spirit 525e has been nominated for Cruising World’s Boat of the Year 2026. - Group Island Spirit operates yacht charter fleets and a sailing school in Phuket, Koh Chang and Koh Samui. - Fast delivery to Indonesia, the Philippines and the Maldives is backed by after-sales support across Asia.

Between the lines: - The AT40 is positioned as a response to a common operator problem: the market often forces buyers to choose between a converted pleasure craft, a low-cost copy or an expensive European custom build. - Austhai Marine is using its own charter fleet and sailing school experience to argue that the design reflects day-to-day commercial use rather than brochure features. - The emphasis on repeat orders, standardized moulds and parts support suggests the company is aiming at fleet operators who value uptime and common maintenance.

What's next: - Austhai Marine is inviting operators to help shape the final specification before design freeze. - Buyers who reserve early are being offered early reservation terms. - The company plans to move from tooling to build in 2027, followed by launch and sea trials later that year. - Austhai Marine expects the program to serve markets including Indonesia, the Philippines and the Maldives with regional after-sales support.

The bottom line: - Austhai Marine is trying to turn a commercial catamaran niche into a standardized product line that is cheaper and faster to deploy than a bespoke build, while still being built around operator requirements.