Page 19 - Tropic Magazine Issue 30

TROPIC • INDUSTRY

1. Artist’s impression of new REGIONAL MAINTENANCE
HMAS Cairns wharf
2. Norship Marine shipyard Tenders have now also closed for a
3. A tug at tropical reef shipyard preferred proponent for the Defence
4. Guardian Class Patrol vessel Department’s Regional Maintenance
gifted to PNG. Credit: Austal
5. Design of army boats being Centre North East, the first of four to
built by Tropical Reef Shipyard be set up nationwide. The successful
and BME NQ tenderer is expected to be announced
6. Dr Rochelle Macdonald
later this year and will start almost
immediately on maintaining the
Navy’s new Evolved Cape Class patrol
boats in Cairns.
Front-runners include Austal, which
bought BSE Maritime Solutions for
$27.5-million last year. The company was
recently awarded a $324-million contract
to build Cape Class patrol boats at its
base in Western Australia. Varley Group,
which took over Norship recently, is also
in the running. It’s expected the spoils for
the multi-million-dollar contract will be
divided and work will be subcontracted
out to other firms with heavy lifting
4 capacity, such as Tropical Reef Shipyard.

NEW SEA SWIFT CEO
Northern Australia’s largest shipping
company, Sea Swift, has welcomed new
CEO Dr Rochelle Macdonald. SKILLING UP
Dr Macdonald began the role in May, 24 new jobs are expected to be created
following two decades in the industry after TAFE Queensland in Cairns won a
including high-level stints at Mid West $36-million tender to conduct training 5
Ports Authority in Geraldton, North for the Pacific Maritime Training
Queensland Bulk Ports and the Dampier Services program. BOAT BUILDING
Port Authority (now known as Pilbara Under the initial five-year contract, TAFE Two Cairns businesses are building seven
Ports Authority). Queensland will deliver training to people new watercraft for the Australian Army.
“Having the opportunity to live and work from the Pacific Islands who will crew Tropical Reef Shipyards and BME NQ
in such a beautiful part of the world, and 21 Guardian Patrol Boats gifted by the will manufacture the 7.5 metre vessels,
to be part of a business that connects Australian Government. and provide spares and trailers, as well as
our regional communities, is a great “The contract currently encompasses 19 operator and maintainer training.
privilege,” Dr Macdonald said. training courses and the first students The watercraft, costing the Defence
“Over the coming months I’m looking from the Pacific Islands are expected to Department $4.05-million, are aimed
forward to getting to know the Sea Swift begin training in Cairns in August at beefing up the Australian Army’s
team, our customers, and building 2021,” said TAFE Queensland Chief amphibious capability.
high-quality relationships with all levels Executive Officer Mary Campbell. BME NQ employed 17 staff before being
of government, industry, and “The majority of training will be delivered awarded the contract and will now bring
the community.” at TAFE Queensland’s Great Barrier on an additional six employees, including
Sea Swift’s former CEO Fred White Reef International Marine College and an apprentice. Tropical Reef Shipyards
announced his retirement in November students will learn valuable maritime has also been overhauling the three
last year. skills including how to safely operate, largest tugs operating on the east coast.

manage and maintain Guardian Patrol
Boats. Training will also take place at
TAFE Queensland’s Cairns campus to
help participants improve their cooking, 400+
computer skills, and leadership and
management abilities." The number of people
The Pacific Maritime Security Program directly employed to
is a key part of the Australian Defence
Cooperation Program, which is aimed sustain shipping in Cairns
at bolstering the maritime security of Source: Department of Defence
6 Pacific Island nations.

19 • tropicnow.com.au