Australian Company News

Realizing the full value of digital solutions far exceeds the capability of technology. The technology exists today to help offshore energy and maritime operators radically improve efficiency and cut costs in equal measure. The real trick to driving efficiencies is to take advantage of the latest technologies while at the same time negotiating the necessary culture change within individual organizations, to really reap the benefits.Harvest Technology Group is a relatively young and small Australian company that has caught the attention of a number of offshore and subsea industry heavyweights…

Australian company Sprintex has supplied a critical component to the US$15 billion EU Sustainable Hydrogen-Powered Shipping Project (sHYpS), involving 13 partner companies in six countries, which will convert six cruise ships to be powered by hydrogen fuel cells.Each vessel will be equipped with around 100MW of electrical power, derived from modular hydrogen fuel cells. Sprintex has delivered high-speed electric compressors which are essential for the overall efficiency and performance of the fuel cell systems…

A federal grand jury returned an indictment last week charging three Alabama men with orchestrating an accounting fraud scheme at the Mobile-based shipbuilder Austal USA LLC.The yard builds vessels for the U.S. Navy, including the Independence-class Littoral Combat Ship (LCS). Austal USA is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Australian company Austal Limited.According to court documents, from at least in or around 2013 through at least in or around July 2016, Craig Perciavalle, 52…

Kongsberg Maritime (KM) announced it has been awarded a contract with Finnish shipyard Rauma Marine Constructions (RMC) to deliver propulsion and steering equipment for two new car and passenger ferries. The vessels will be operated by the Australian company TT-Line for the regular Spirit of Tasmania ferry service – a 10.5-hour journey across the Bass Strait between Melbourne, Victoria and Devonport, Tasmania.Each vessel will be fitted with two of KM’s Promas combined propulsion and steering systems…

A Sydney base pump manufacturer and defense contractor has won a contract, to supply 3” engine drive salvage pumps for the Republic Of Korea Navy. The pumps are unique and have application not only in Korea, but in warships and support vessels throughout the world."The original requirement was for a lightweight portable diesel drive salvage pump, capable of handling saltwater,” said Chief Engineer, John Hales. "We'd already developed high pressure firefighting pumps for seawater applications in the form of both the Seamaster and Sea Skipper diesel drive machines’…

The 86 crew members of the Greg Mortimer cruise ship, stranded in Uruguayan waters since March 27, began their evacuation to Montevideo on Tuesday following an outbreak of the new coronavirus on board, the government said.At least 37 positive cases of coronavirus were detected in the last several days, officials said, preventing plans for the ship to travel to the Spanish port of Las Palmas, the original planned destination for the tourist trip, which is operated by Australian company Aurora Expeditions.Uruguayan government and company officials decided to disembark the crew in Montevideo after several days of talks. They will be divided into two groups…

The repatriation of the final 15 passengers from the Greg Mortimer cruise ship, stranded in Uruguayan waters since March 27 due to an outbreak of the coronavirus on board, will take place on Wednesday afternoon, the government said.A medical plane will take the current 14 occupants of the ship, and another passenger to be discharged from a clinic in capital city Montevideo to Miami, where they will get on connecting flights to their homes in the United States, Britain, Sweden, France, Holland, Canada and Switzerland.The Uruguayan Foreign Ministry said the ship will dock at Montevideo.

Integrated marine and subsea solutions provider Unique Group has announced the acquisition of the Australian-company Western Advance’s Marine Division.The provider of services and solutions for the offshore, subsea and life support industries also announced the appointment of Chris Forde as its new regional vice-president.Western Advance’s integration with Unique Group ties in with the Group’s strategy to enhance its portfolio of autonomous solutions for marine, offshore and subsea industry operations in the region.Harry Gandhi, chief executive officer at Unique Group, said: “Over the years, Unique Group has built a strong presence in APAC offering survey equipment, buoyancy and ballast, diving and life support and on-site engineering products and services to our customers.

MMA Offshore, the provider of marine solutions and expertise to the offshore oil and gas industry, has been awarded a number of new contract awards and extensions.AGR Australia has awarded MMA a two-vessel contract supporting the Noble Tom Prosser Rig as part of the Victorian government’s CarbonNet Project, said the Australian company.The contract is expected to start late this month with a duration of about 45 days, the owner and operator of 30+ offshore supply vessels said.Esso Australia Pty Ltd has awarded MMA a three-vessel contract, also supporting the Noble Tom Prosser Rig and commencing in direct continuation of the AGR contract.

Dan-Bunkering has announced that as per September 1, 2018, the group will merge with Sydney based Australia Bunkering Pty Ltd.The Australian company has been in business for more than a decade,  managed by Lena Johnston, but will now be rebranded and change name to Dan-Bunkering (Australia) Pty Ltd.With this merger, Dan-Bunkering will be present in yet another continent, and the company now has offices in 12 different locations worldwide.The office is supported by already existing team members who will all remain on same phone numbers.

Australia's WorleyParsons has won a contract from state oil firm Saudi Aramco to conduct engineering and design work for offshore facilities and pipelines for the expansion of the Marjan oilfield in Saudi Arabia, industry sources told Reuters. Worleyparsons and Saudi Aramco declined to comment. Under the new contract, the Australian company will design and engineer new offshore facilities such as platforms and additional pipelines to link to a new gas facility in Tanajib on the Gulf coast, and from Tanajib to the expanded natural gas liquid (NGL) facility in Khursaniyah, one of the sources said. Saudi Aramco is expanding the oilfield to meet increased demand for gas at home.

Damen Shipyards Group recently visited Adelaide to further consolidate their partnership with ASC Shipbuilding and Forgacs Marine and Defence (Forgacs) (ASC Forgacs Shipbuilding) to build twelve Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV) for the Australian Navy and to explore domestic and export opportunities for both the commercial and naval markets. Roland Briene, Damen’s Area Director Asia Pacific, also highlighted two important milestones for Damen in Australia: the 5th anniversary of Damen’s Australian company, Damen Services Brisbane, and the intention to establish a second long-term service hub in support of the SEA 1180 program. Damen, as one of the three designers competing for the OPV program, is fully committed to consolidating their commitment to Australia.

Ex-HMAS Sydney has left Sydney Harbour to be towed to Western Australia for recycling, says Minister for Defence Personnel Media Release. Minister for Defence Personnel Dan Tehan said the frigate will be recycled by Australian company Birdon Pty Ltd. “Ex-HMAS Sydney had an illustrious career during her 32 years in service with the Royal Australian Navy,” Mr Tehan said. “The Adelaide class frigate was involved in operations spanning the Middle East, East Timor, Fiji and the Solomon Islands and earned a Meritorious Unit Citation during the First Gulf War in 1991. “She was built at the Todd Pacific Shipyards in Seattle, Washington, USA, and commissioned there on 29 January 1983.

In a collaborative project with Australian industry, the Royal Australian Navy is extending its use of simulation to electronic warfare training. A common electronic warfare sensor suite is planned across the future fleet and future electronic warfare sailors need to have the advanced skills to meet upcoming demand. Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Christopher Pyne said a contract signed with the Australian company Cirrus Real Time Processing Systems would result in advanced new maritime training systems designed and developed in Australia. “The contract valued at around $4.4 million will see the development of a tactical electronic warfare training system to provide tuition…

The Australian Government has provided the first look at Australia’s new icebreaker, a ship it says will offer scientists unprecedented and extended access to the Southern Ocean and Antarctica. Upon its commissioning, planned for October 2019, the custom-built ship will be home ported in Hobart, providing a modern platform for marine science research in both sea ice and open water and a moon pool for launching and retrieving remotely operated vehicles. A multi-beam bathymetric echo sounder will enable seafloor mapping…

Indian state owned Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL) is in talks with global players to join hands for a bid for the GAIL contract for LNG contained vessels. It also in talks the Australian company Incat for a technical tie-up to manufacture high-speed passenger vessels. CSL is one of the three yards bidding for Gas Authority of India’s tender for building LNG ships in India. CSL is in discussion with global players to join hands for the bid for LNG contained vessels. A Kochi (Cochin)-based company has come up with a design for LNG vessels and the same will also be evaluated, Union Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari said. With the technical tie-up of Australian company Incat, CSL plans to build high-speed vessel.

International Convention for the Safety of Lives at Sea (SOLAS), states commercial vessels must carry life rafts. In the majority of mass marine disasters globally, life rafts have been on board the vessels, but people either didn’t know how to deploy the rafts or the life rafts were not accessible. Australian company Rescue & Survival Group has designed a life raft inflation system that eliminates any human factors and any accessibility issues. The invention relies on the life raft’s slight submersion to activate, become erect and perform its designed function - to save and preserve life. On January 13, 2012, 32 lives were lost when the Costa Concordia, carrying 4,252 people, capsized and sank at Isola del Giglio, Tuscany.

Australia's Quickboats Pty Ltd enters commercialization phase for its award-winning folding boat. Just one month after officially commencing operations, Australian company Quickboat Holdings Pty Ltd is now focused on the commercialization of its folding boat that is globally unrivaled in design, quality and price. Quickboats are uniquely designed folding boats that can be assembled in less than one minute. They remove the need for a trailer, as they can be easily carried on a car’s roof racks, or inside caravans and mobile homes, secured in their own carry bags.

Western Australian (WA) ship builder Strategic Marine has signed a contract with repeat client Offshore Plant Hire for the construction of a 24 meter heavy duty offshore cargo catamaran. The catamaran will be built at Strategic Marine's Singapore facility which is nearing the end of a major expansion program which will see the shipyard more than double its capacity. The vessel will be completed in the first quarter of 2013 and is expected to operate in WA’s North West. The contract follows the delivery of a 27 meter work barge to Offshore Plant Hire earlier in 2012.

Comprising a series of diesel electric units, strategically located completely inboard down both sides of the vessel, the Gamma Propulsion System (TGPS), is easy to build and very easy to retro fit to existing ships. A proven system, certified as being significantly more efficient. A proven system capable of manoeuvring a displacement vessel in all directions – forward, aft, sideways, spin in its own length and crab – using its power range right up to full thrust. A system purpose-designed as the main method of propulsion for freighters, bulk carriers, oil tankers and container ships. Gamma states that data collected from controlled testing, and certified by Lloyd’s Register clearly demonstrates that TGPS delivers significant thrust with previously unthinkable efficiency.

Strategic Marine has signed another repeat order with Western Australian company Bhagwan Marine to deliver two new vessels to service the WA's offshore oil and gas industry, including the Gorgon Project. The new contracts for a 49.5 metre and 38 metre landing craft follows the delivery of a 48 metre landing craft to join the Bhagwan Marine fleet late last year and a 27 metre work barge in March this year. The multi-cargo vessels will operate in WA's north-west hydrocarbon province and have been designed to accommodate low incline beach landings.

Austal announced that an agreement had been reached to acquire Canberra based Australian Technology Information Pty Ltd (ATI). ATI is an Australian company that provides specialized services to the Australian Defence Forces including systems engineering and integration, information technology, verification and validation systems and deployable tactical command centres. “These technologies are an ideal complement to Austal’s existing design and production capability in the defence sector and will allow Austal to expand the range of services and products that it can deliver to defence customers worldwide”. Having recently delivered patrol boats to the Queensland Police…

Titan Salvage continues to expand globally with the recent addition of a new salvage base and depot in Australia. The facility located in Cairns, Queensland is strategically located to respond to marine and environmental disasters threatening the Great Barrier Reef and other marine casualties throughout the Australasia and South West Pacific regions. As part of the expansion, Titan has exclusively partnered with Perrott Salvage of Cairns, a locally based salvage operator, who will serve as Titan's regional representative.