Elval, the aluminium rolling division of ElvalHalcor, is supplying low-carbon aluminium for Horizon X, a 130-metre vehicle-passenger catamaran under construction at Austal Philippines for Sweden’s Gotlandsbolaget. The project highlights Elval’s commitment to support international shipbuilders with materials that combine demanding performance specifications with a lower environmental footprint.
Horizon X will be the largest vessel ever constructed by Austal, with capacity for up to 1,500 passengers and 400 vehicles, alongside cargo. Austal’s design and construction contract, announced in February 2025, is valued at A$270 million, with the construction completion scheduled for mid-2028. The vessel will feature a hydrogen-ready, fuel-flexible design and a combined-cycle propulsion system incorporating gas and steam turbines.
Elval’s contribution supports a lower environmental footprint for the vessel’s construction without compromising the material properties required for its performance. Elval’s low-carbon solutions use primary aluminium produced from renewable energy and lower-carbon manufacturing processes. The resulting material combines high strength and low weight with corrosion resistance and recyclability, supporting energy efficiency, long service life and circular material use.
Members of Austal’s team visited Elval’s production facilities to see the processes behind the aluminium supplied for Horizon X. The visit underlined the close technical collaboration supporting the project. Austal and Gotlandsbolaget have both highlighted Elval’s contribution to their efforts to advance more sustainable shipbuilding.
Tassos Foroulis, Product Sales Manager at Elval, stated: "At Elval, we are committed to advancing sustainable marine transportation through innovative flat-rolled aluminium solutions that enable our customers to push the boundaries of performance and efficiency.
The Horizon X vessel is a prime example of how cutting-edge aluminium rolling can contribute to the development of lighter, stronger, low-carbon marine mobility. It demonstrates the value of combining technical expertise, innovation, and close collaboration to help shape the next generation of sustainable, high-performance vessels."
For ElvalHalcor, the collaboration demonstrates how aluminium rolling expertise can support participation in technically demanding international projects. Its strategic significance lies in the combination of specialised products, close customer collaboration and lower-carbon production - capabilities that can strengthen differentiation as customers incorporate environmental criteria into material selection.
Horizon X illustrates this opportunity in practice. By meeting both engineering and environmental requirements, Elval demonstrates how its product offering can support the next generation of marine transport while strengthening its position in applications where technical expertise adds value.