PRESIDENT’S WELCOME
Change brings opportunity and growth for Australia’s marine industry
The future appears bright for industry investment and participation across all marine and leisure sectors worldwide. Some are challenged by the currently very low value of the AUD$ - particularly against the USD$. This will of course assist exporters and hurt importers. Welcome to the new normal. The ability to now move around freely again is seeing business returning to previous levels of overseas travel, although many have adopted a softly softly approach and place more reliance on meeting online instead of being caught in the delays and other issues currently being experienced by international travellers. Business sentiment appears high, as does optimism, which in turn is being backed up by some very large and significant orders of Australian marine goods and services. On the commercial side, most large yards, repair and maintenance facilities are continuing to invest heavily in infrastructure and expansion plans to position themselves for anticipated increased output demand. Jobs growth is booming with the assistance of government subsidies and incentives. Most local large vessel manufacturers are putting in record breaking numbers of staff and apprentices to cope with the incoming and forecast work. AIMEX, along with allied organisations MIA and BIA has invested in the Marine Jobs portal, which is experiencing significant numbers of jobs and applicants. AIMEX has now commenced a new education and jobs resource, the positive results of which will be of great benefit to students, job seekers, apprentices and employers alike. Due to the current record-breaking low unemployment figures, we anticipate solid demand and growth for this initiative.
Publication Manager Jenny Cooper Design & Print Penguin Creative With travel restrictions reducing mobility in 2021/22, the waterways and the marine industry in general – especially the to be amongst the best in the world on so many marine fronts. This publication outlines many such success stories. much this past year and are poised for further and faster growth in the near to midterm future. Many award-winning, hardworking and clever companies are taking their products and services to the world, excelling at sales and generating much interest here and overseas filling order books solid for years to come. Supply chain issues are now the greatest chokehold on timely delivery. We are however proving that distance is no barrier to business and that Australia continues Locally, Austal has launched large commercial passenger fast ferries and has received several large new Defence contracts here and overseas with the quantity of newbuilds within the Defence sector expanding rapidly. NSW headquartered company Birdon has just landed a huge USCG multi-vessel build contract showing a true David and Goliath story. The Tasmanian Government’s RoPax Spirit of Tasmania vessels are in build in Finland and anticipated to be delivered during late ‘23 and ‘24. Hobart will host Interferry in November next year, bringing some 400 senior industry delegates from Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the Americas, likely offering many opportunities to local companies. This year’s Interferry placed huge focus on electrification, foils, energy, emissions and much more. Some had an opportunity to experience silent, wake free, smooth, safe, efficient green water transport on foils on the featured state of the art Candela vessels. Many of our own companies have achieved
recreational sector, thrived. Boat sales, new and used, boomed. All of these purchased vessels require maintenance and work. Prices have soared. Waiting lists for work are increasingly lengthy. Some may say a good problem to have. Simple supply and demand in action. The recent changes we are all experiencing and have been exposed to are significant. With change comes opportunity. I sincerely hope that all member companies manage to embrace such change, to manage different and emerging working methodologies, to advance their thinking, to collaborate internationally and streamline their processes to recognise and fully capitalise on opportunities as they present themselves, proving and reinforcing the point that Australia has it all and remains at the forefront of design, manufacture, production and service and is well and truly open for global business. I wish you every success for a safe, happy and profitable year ahead.
Jeremy Spear | President Australian International Marine Export Group Director Spear Green Design
Cover Image XXXXXXXXXX Cover Image The Sentinel 1100 Image supplied courtesy of PFG Group
President Richard Chapman CEO David Good
2023 AUSTRALIAN MARINE INDUSTRY DIRECTORY | 1
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