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Posted by Allen Newton
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30 Jul, 2026
AUSTAL has completed a full upgrade of its MARINELINK‑Prime Integrated Monitoring, Alarm and Control System (IMACS) on the passenger ferry Prony Express in New Caledonia, delivering a modernised machinery control and monitoring capability for the 2012‑built vessel.
The upgrade replaces legacy machinery control hardware with a contemporary, modular control architecture designed to improve system reliability, reduce maintenance burden and ensure long‑term supportability.
MARINELINK‑Prime integrates machinery alarms, propulsion and auxiliary system monitoring, and vessel‑wide control functions into a single digital platform, enabling real‑time visibility of onboard systems and remote diagnostics capability.
Austal’s scope included project management, software engineering, hardware integration, factory acceptance testing, on‑site installation and commissioning, and crew training.
The company developed a tailored configuration of MARINELINK‑Prime using commercial off‑the‑shelf components and its proprietary control software, ensuring compatibility with existing propulsion, electrical and auxiliary systems.
The work totalled approximately 4200 hours and was delivered on time and within budget by Austal’s global sustainment workforce.
The upgrade also included modernisation of networked control interfaces, replacement of obsolete PLCs, and installation of new operator workstations to streamline monitoring and alarm management.
The system’s scalable architecture allows future capability insertions and supports remote technical assistance from Austal’s sustainment centres.
Austal executive general manager – sustainment, Ben Wardle, said the project demonstrated the company’s ability to deliver complex control‑system upgrades in remote operating environments.
Prony Resources technical representatives praised Austal’s professionalism, responsiveness and the smooth delivery of the year‑long upgrade program.
Austal continues to expand its sustainment offering across commercial and defence fleets, with MARINELINK‑Prime positioned as a future‑ready platform for operators seeking improved reliability, lifecycle support and enhanced vessel control capability.
