Australia Invests in Shipbuilding

The expansion of Western Australia’s shipbuilding capabilities is set to continue with the construction of two crucial common-use facilities at the Australian Marine Complex (AMC) at Henderson.

The State Government has today called for expressions of interest to build a service and repair facility for the local super-yacht industry and a blast and paint facility at the AMC.

Industry and Enterprise Minister Francis Logan said the State Government was committed to ensuring the long-term future of the WA shipbuilding industry by planning for these new facilities. Logan said the super-yacht industry had the potential to bring millions of dollars to Western Australia.

“WA is the perfect base for this fast growing marine industry sector and this new common-use facility will be available for all super-yacht and commercial shipbuilders to use for the launch, retrieval, sea trials, refits and maintenance of vessels,” the Minister said.

“The strength of Western Australia’s capabilities in building super-yachts was seen in the recent launch of the AMC-based Hanseatic Marine’s spectacular 74m super-yacht, the world’s longest aluminum super-yacht. “WA is also fast becoming a popular destination for visiting super-yachts and I believe the AMC is perfectly placed to incorporate a super-yacht cluster to refit and maintain these exclusive vessels.”

Super-yachts are privately owned luxury vessels in excess of 80 ft. (25m) in length that are professionally crewed and cost between $5million and more than $300million. Annual production of these vessels has tripled over the past decade and competition for facilities to accommodate them has intensified, resulting in opportunities for new cruising destinations around the globe.

Logan said there had been a marked increase in the level of work being conducted at the AMC, particularly on fabricating large modules for the oil, gas and resources sectors and major maintenance and refits of large ships. He said this had created the need for a large-scale blast and paint facility. “The AMC is home to some of Australia’s best shipbuilding, repair and maintenance companies, who are producing an unprecedented amount of work at the highest quality for locations all over the world,” the Minister said.

“The establishment of blast and paint facilities will lift the AMC’s profile and capability, as well as help to position local industry to secure modules for the Royal Australian Navy’s $6 billion Air Warfare Destroyer contract and the $2 billion Amphibious Ships contract.”