Austhai Marine Rayong - Commercial Catamaran Shipyard

With more than 100 commercial power catamarans delivered across 12 countries, Austhai Marine in Rayong is an established series builder of commercial multihulls in Southeast Asia. Designed by naval architect Dr Albert Nazarov of Albatross Marine Design and operating under the manufacturing division of Group Island Spirit, the shipyard constructs workboats, dive craft, passenger ferries, and resort transfer catamarans engineered to international ISO and CE small-craft standards.

The shipyard facility sits in Huay Pong, Rayong, producing purpose-built commercial craft spanning 8 to 18 metres in length. Positioned as an accessible alternative to European custom boatbuilders and uncertified regional composite workshops, Austhai Marine focuses on high-volume passenger transport, dive excursions, and coastal patrol duties. Around 80 per cent of shipyard output represents repeat orders from island transport operators, commercial tourism fleets, marine parks, and dive centres. The yard caters directly to maritime business owners, resort operators, and commercial fleet investors seeking certified multihulls suited to heavy daily service.

Shipyard Infrastructure and Manufacturing Standards

Austhai Marine operates a dedicated manufacturing shipyard in the Huay Pong industrial area of Rayong, engineered for series multihull production as well as custom commercial fit-outs. The facility houses dedicated work bays for plug and mould machining, climate-controlled composite lamination, mechanical engineering, and marine electrical assembly.

Vessel construction relies on vacuum-assisted resin infusion, combining vinyl ester resins, multiaxial E-glass fabrics, and closed-cell structural foam cores. This composite sandwich method yields rigid, lightweight hulls with high tensile strength and natural resistance to osmotic blistering, providing the durability needed for relentless daily commercial duty cycles. Hulls are engineered to ISO small-craft international standards, with CE certification and EU Recreational Craft Directive Category B offshore classification available across production models. Mechanical and electrical installations follow commercial marine survey practices, incorporating pressure-tested stainless steel fuel tanks, dual-station helm wiring, and multi-compartment electric bilge pumping systems.

Operating as the manufacturing arm of Group Island Spirit, the Rayong facility builds commercial power catamarans alongside offshore cruising and electric sailing catamarans. This co-located operation provides commercial buyers with the advantages of shared industrial infrastructure, including skilled marine joinery shops and established supply chains for Yanmar inboards, Suzuki and Yamaha outboards, and Garmin and Raymarine marine electronics. Commercial operators considering a fleet acquisition or bespoke build can arrange technical shipyard inspections to review structural bulkheads, vacuum lamination, and system installations firsthand before committing to a build contract.

Commercial Dive and Day Charter Catamarans

Austhai Marine manufactures series-production commercial power catamarans engineered specifically for day-tour charters, coastal excursions, and high-turnaround scuba diving operations. Compared with deep-V monohull speedboats, these twin-hull craft deliver substantially wider deck footprints, superior roll stability at anchor, and reduced hydrodynamic drag that lowers daily fuel burn across busy excursion schedules.

Developed from the earlier AT1100 hull and lengthened to provide an expanded aft deck, the 11.5-metre AT1150 is the yard's primary commercial workhorse. More than 32 hulls have been delivered to dive resorts, marine park concessions, and charter companies across Thailand and neighbouring Southeast Asian waters. Built with a 3.31-metre beam, its open-cockpit dive configuration accommodates up to 24 fully equipped divers and three crew, supported by a 900-litre fuel capacity for extended operational range. Deck layouts incorporate heavy-duty aluminium centreline tank racks, wide swim steps, deep-water boarding ladders, and dedicated freshwater camera rinse tanks. Propulsion setups include twin 250-horsepower or 300-horsepower petrol outboards capable of 31 to 33 knots (cruising at 26 knots), alongside twin 315-horsepower Yanmar inboard diesels turning conventional shafts for operators requiring heavy-fuel logistics.

For smaller passenger payloads and private day charters, the AT800 measures 8.23 metres along the centreline with a 2.55-metre beam, carrying up to eight passengers. Powered by twin outboards from 140 to 175 horsepower, it reaches full-load speeds between 25 and 32 knots. An expanded 3.0-metre Widebody variant increases capacity to 12 passengers plus two crew. Both versions share three modular deck layouts: the Cabcat half-cabin with double berth and enclosed head for overnight trips, the Funcat side-console day boat for island transfers, and the Fishcat open centre-console for offshore sports fishing.

The newer AT40 Dive platform extends to 12.99 metres in length with a 3.85-metre beam, bridging the operational gap between coastal day boats and larger passenger vessels. Built specifically for commercial dive resorts, it features a 20-diver day layout or a 12-diver technical diving configuration, incorporating over 30 centreline tank racks, an A-frame recovery crane, freshwater showers, and a stern ladder descending 1.5 metres below the waterline. Powered by twin 300-horsepower or 350-horsepower outboards that cruise at 22 knots and tilt clear of the water overnight to prevent marine fouling, the catamaran draws just 0.68 metres lightship and 0.90 metres with engines lowered, allowing safe approaches across shallow coral reef anchorages.

High-Capacity Passenger Ferries and Water Taxis

For scheduled inter-island routes, coastal water-taxi runs, and high-density passenger transfers, Austhai Marine constructs commercial fast catamarans designed for tight timetable adherence and passenger comfort.

The flagship AT1800 is an 18-metre commercial catamaran ferry with a 7.74-metre beam, engineered to Germanischer Lloyd High Speed Craft certification standards. Powered by twin Yanmar 6HYM commercial diesel engines producing 600 horsepower each, the platform accommodates up to 85 seated passengers in standard trim—and up to 100 in high-density layouts—inside an enclosed, air-conditioned saloon cooled by twin Thermokingtech units delivering 170,000 BTU. Operating on twin 1,000-litre diesel tanks with Teleflex SeaStar power-assisted hydraulic steering, the AT1800 cruises reliably at 17 to 25 knots under full passenger displacement. Real-world commercial deployments include high-frequency airport water-taxi services, such as ferries built for Sea Coach Express connecting Freetown with Lungi International Airport in West Africa.

For mid-sized passenger routes, Austhai builds on its AT1500 and AT1600 platforms. The 16.26-metre AT1500 features a 5.54-metre beam and carries up to 60 passengers, typically configured with twin inboard diesel shaft drives, while the AT1600 spans 16.30 metres with a 6.09-metre beam, seating 40 to 50 passengers across saloon or flybridge arrangements. Both platforms run loaded cruising speeds between 12 and 30 knots depending on machinery selection.

Unlike monohull ferries that roll heavily in beam seas, these wide twin-hull forms track smoothly and reduce motion discomfort for passengers prone to seasickness. Commercial build specifications include twelve automatic high-capacity bilge pumps, industrial fire-suppression systems, and survey-compliant marine navigation arrays suited to daily passenger operations.

Custom Commercial Engineering and Sea Trials

Commercial power catamaran projects at Austhai Marine involve tailored naval architecture, bespoke interior engineering, and structured sea trials before customer handover. The yard’s production hulls are designed by naval architect Dr Albert Nazarov of Chonburi-based Albatross Marine Design, whose engineering office calculates hydrodynamics, weight distributions, hydrostatic stability curves, and propulsion matching to meet ISO small-craft rules and regional commercial survey standards. Engine matching considers operating range, payload demands, and local maintenance support, configuring hulls for either twin high-thrust outboards or commercial inboard diesels.

Buyers select deck layouts suited to their operational conditions, choosing between open-sided tropical configurations with roll-down weather clears or fully enclosed, air-conditioned passenger saloons fitted with marine-grade glazing. Interior fit-outs adapt to the commercial brief, ranging from utilitarian wipe-down gelcoat mouldings and aluminium bench seating for high-turnover dive charters to executive resort transfer cabins with teak decking, leather seating, integrated audio systems, and private heads. Internal deck arrangements and bulkhead positions are engineered before lamination, preserving structural balance and hull trim under full passenger loads.

Commissioning takes place at coastal facilities in Rayong and the Gulf of Thailand, putting each completed catamaran through open-water testing. Technical teams monitor engine telemetry, loaded displacement behaviour, steering responsiveness, vibration levels, and speed calibration runs across cruising revolutions. These trials confirm that operational speeds and fuel burn figures align with contracted specifications before final acceptance. Following sea trials, the shipyard coordinates export documentation and overseas transit, dispatching craft as deck cargo or via roll-on/roll-off carriers from the deep-water port of Laem Chabang.

Location and Getting There

Austhai Marine operates from 16/37 Chakklang-Mitpracha Road in the Huay Pong sub-district of Mueang Rayong, Rayong Province. Situated in Thailand's Eastern Seaboard industrial belt, the shipyard sits roughly 20 kilometres west of central Rayong and approximately 45 kilometres east of Pattaya. Highway 36 and Sukhumvit Road (Highway 3) serve as the primary road arteries connecting the facility to regional transport hubs.

International visitors travelling from the UK generally land at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK), roughly 155 kilometres to the northwest. A pre-booked private transfer or airport taxi takes around two hours via Motorway Route 7 and Highway 36, typically costing between 2,200 THB and 2,800 THB (£50 to £64). For domestic connections or regional flights, U-Tapao–Rayong–Pattaya International Airport (UTP) is located just 32 kilometres to the west in Ban Chang, reachable in about thirty-five minutes by airport taxi for roughly 800 THB to 1,000 THB (£18 to £23).

For public transport, frequent minivans run from Bangkok’s Ekkamai Eastern Bus Terminal to Rayong, costing around 200 THB to 220 THB (£4.50 to £5) for a journey of two and a half to three hours. Passengers can often request drop-off at the Huay Pong junction along Sukhumvit Road, or take a local taxi from Rayong Bus Terminal 2, which reaches the yard in approximately twenty minutes for 250 THB to 350 THB (£6 to £8).

Costs and Booking

New commercial vessel builds at Austhai Marine are priced on a factory-direct quotation basis through the yard and its parent company, Group Island Spirit, avoiding third-party dealer markups. Because every vessel is built to commercial operating requirements, base rates vary according to chosen hull dimensions, propulsion packages, interior cabin fit-outs, and international survey certifications.

At the time of writing, entry-level pricing begins at approximately 3,500,000 THB (£80,000) for an AT800 workboat or day-fishing catamaran equipped with twin outboard engines. The widely operated AT1150 commercial dive and transfer catamaran starts from approximately 7,000,000 THB (£160,000), with final costs dependent on deck layout, tank racking, and petrol outboard or diesel inboard preferences. Mid-sized commercial platforms, including the AT40 and AT1250, typically range between 12,000,000 THB and 14,000,000 THB (£274,000 to £320,000). For high-volume transit operations, mid-capacity ferries like the AT1500 start around 15,700,000 THB (£360,000), while the flagship AT1800 commands upwards of 24,500,000 THB (£560,000) when optioned with commercial Yanmar inboard diesels, 85 passenger seats, and high-capacity saloon air conditioning.

Prospective commercial operators secure a production bay via a formal build contract and stage deposit. Build timelines typically run between four months for compact outboard workboats and eight to nine months for complex, multi-deck passenger ferries, dependent on shipyard bay capacity at contract signing. Technical shipyard tours and project configuration consultations are provided free of charge for commercial operators by advance appointment.

Who It Suits

Austhai Marine suits commercial dive operators, island ferry businesses, marine tourism agencies, and coastal resort managers requiring certified passenger vessels. The shipyard also serves private fleet owners and charter operators seeking durable, low-maintenance workboats designed to reduce operating fuel consumption on daily routes. Marine investors and commercial fleet buyers looking for export-standard catamarans with direct factory pricing will find the facility well matched to their procurement needs.

The yard does not cater to holidaymakers or casual day visitors. It is an active industrial boatyard rather than a leisure marina, meaning it provides no walk-in charter hire, recreational day-boat rentals, quayside dining, or visitor facilities.

What to Know Before You Book

Visits to the Huay Pong shipyard operate strictly by prior appointment. The site functions as an active marine manufacturing plant rather than a public marina or commercial showroom, meaning unannounced visitors are turned away at security due to heavy industrial safety regulations and client confidentiality agreements across active build bays.

Securing a production slot requires planning well ahead of your operational season. Standard fabrication cycles generally span four to nine months, with exact lead times depending on hull displacement, bespoke cabin fit-outs, and whether you specify twin outboards or inboard diesel engines. Operators aiming for a specific tourism or charter launch window need to account for this construction timeframe alongside international transit.

Design choices must be locked down before structural composite lamination commences. Altering bulkhead positions, hull stringers, built-in fuel tankage, or primary electrical trunking after resin infusion starts creates substantial re-engineering expenses and pushes back handover dates.

Commercial quotations are provided on an ex-factory basis. Base hull prices exclude shipping cradles, road haulage to deep-water export terminals at Laem Chabang Port, ocean cargo freight, transit insurance, and local import tariffs or VAT due in destination countries such as the UK, Australia, or destinations across Europe.

Practical Tips

Book your shipyard appointment well ahead through the Group Island Spirit brokerage team before departing for Thailand. Because the Huay Pong site is a functioning manufacturing yard rather than a commercial marina showroom, spontaneous arrivals cannot be accommodated. Arrive dressed for an industrial environment: sturdy, closed-toe footwear and protective clothing are mandatory around the active resin vacuum-infusion stations, overhead gantry cranes, and metal fabrication workshops.

Come armed with exact operating metrics for your proposed venture. Providing Dr Albert Nazarov’s design team with precise passenger numbers, average payload weights, fuel autonomy targets, and the typical sea states of your local operating routes allows the naval architects to specify the correct hull displacement, deck geometry, and fuel tankage. It also guides the mechanical setup: commercial buyers should confirm regional dealer and parts support in their home waters before choosing between Suzuki, Yamaha, or Yanmar propulsion packages to ensure servicing is readily accessible back home.

If you intend to import the vessel into the UK or the European Union, request CE small-craft certification during initial contract negotiations. Compliance with European stability, buoyancy, and electrical regulations requires third-party inspection checkpoints and material audit filings during hull layup rather than post-construction retrofits. To evaluate vessel behaviour in daily commercial service, consider pairing your Rayong shipyard walkthrough with a visit to active commercial charter fleets running Austhai catamarans in nearby Pattaya or Koh Chang.

Arrange a dedicated private car and driver for the return trip from Bangkok or Pattaya. The facility sits in the Huay Pong industrial area of Rayong, where on-demand ride-hailing and street taxis cannot be reliably summoned when meetings conclude in the afternoon. Finally, clarify international component supply chains and warranty procedures with the group's logistics team, establishing direct lines for replacement parts before your vessel enters peak operational service.

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