Oceania Marine launch new 560T marine travel lift
One of New Zealand’s biggest marine travel lifts was launched today at an event held at Oceania Marine’s South Shipyard at Port Whangārei New Zealand.
Used for lifting and transporting vessels onto the hardstand at South Shipyard, the new machine establishes Oceania Marine as one of the South Pacific’s premiere refit and repair destinations for Superyachts. It increases the size of yachts the shipyard can service from 100 tonnes to 560 tonnes. The new machine complements Oceania Marine’s existing 100T machine, providing cost efficient, flexible haul-out options for recreational and commercial operators. Described as a ‘game-changer’ by Oceania Marine Managing Director, Martin Gleeson, the new travel lift has the ability to service all but the biggest of superyachts and work boats;
“With both the 100T and 560T machines in operation, the extensive hardstand and undercover refit facilities available at South Shipyard will be an attractive option for yachts. With this new marine lift, we have the ability for multiple ships to be worked on at one time, it opens potential for new jobs and apprenticeships, and it creates jobs in support industries. COVID-19 played havoc with our schedule, but this has been worth the wait, and we are on track to have everything ready for the return of the superyacht fleet and Southern Summer season”, says Mr Gleeson.
As well as being better able to service the growing demand for refit and building services of workboats and superyachts, construction of the new lift helped fund civil works at South Shipyard – including new piers, hardstand reinforcement and other works. In 2019, Oceania Marine was approved for a loan of up to $5.84 million from the Government’s Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) to buy the 560-tonne capability travel lift and complete the supporting civil works.
Head of Kanoa – Regional Economic Development & Investment Unit, Robert Pigou, says that the marine travel lift is a prime example of a PGF investment that helps grow businesses and strengthen communities; “The boat and ship maintenance, repair, and overhaul market is highly lucrative, so our investment in this sector has the potential to be transformational for the region’s economy, as well as providing high pay, highly skilled apprenticeship and employment opportunities for Whangārei.”
This event was also hosted by NZ Marine, the New Zealand marine industry association, and marked the opening of Oceania Marine’s Business Hub for use by other marine industry colleagues as well as the launch of the Oceania Yacht Agency.
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on the Launching Of Oceania Marine’s New 560T Travel Lift (L to R – Peter Busfield (NZ Marine Industry executive director); Vince Cocurullo (Whangarei Mayor); Martin Gleeson (Oceania Marine Managing Director) – Robert Pigou (Kānoa – Regional Economic Development and Investment Unit) – Dr Emily Henderson (Whangārei MP)
About Oceania Marine and Port Whangarei
Oceania Marine commenced business in 2009 as a refit and repair shipyard at the North Shipyard in Port Whangarei New Zealand. This was the springboard that launched Oceania Marine, whose building and infrastructure works included a traditional 800 tonne railway slipway, 4 hectors of hardstand and associated buildings, extensive refit shed space. It now also encompasses South Shipyard located close by and of similar size which accommodates the Port Whangarei Marine Centre’s 100T marine travel lift operation for smaller vessels together with the new 560T machine for larger vessels.
The business has evolved into a formidable refit team of project managers supported by skilled trades and sub-contractors within an impressive marine hub that makes up the wider Port Whangarei area. Considerable development has taken place within the port particularly for yacht support, berthage, servicing and refit of large superyachts. As a consequence with the opening up of borders throughout the South Pacific the port is emerging as a key stopover for refit and maintence for this class of vessel.
An additional new and important development in Oceania Marine’s business development has been the opening of the Oceania Yacht Agency. It enables the company to offer critical yacht support services to clients that is backed by the extensive resources of a major shipyard. With Port Whangarei as its home base it is ideally placed to service New Zealand ports and the wider Pacific region.