It reportedly supports more than 1000 passengers, 425 cars, and can travel at speeds up to 40 knots. Austal chief executive David Singleton said the commercial ferry market had continued to strengthen over the past 18 months. Austal sales and marketing vice president Ben Marland said Austal continued to lead the market in this record sales period, cementing the company's largest forward order book. Austal has also commenced construction of an AutoExpress 109 for Fjord Line of Norway, and the first of two 117 metre trimarans for Fred.Olsen S.A. of the Canary Islands. The success of the Austal's ferry production is some consolation for the shipbuilder after it was unceremoniously dumped from the lucrative $3.5 billion Royal Australian Navy offshore patrol vessel build program earlier this year, despite being initially selected for the build by the federal government.