Aulong Shipbuilding, a joint venture company between Austal and Guandong Jianglong Shipbuilding of China, has secured contracts for four high-speed ferries.

The business entity has been awarded contracts totaling AUD $20 million ($16m) to design and build four 42-metre high-speed catamarans for Xidao Dazhou Tourism.

The ferries will carry 399 passengers each, the Australian builder of defence and commercial ships said.