OCEANIA MARINE – Waterfront Marine Operators Group Established
The Whangarei Waterfront Marine Operators Group (WMOG) had its inaugural meeting on 31st August 2011. The group represents the 8 business located on the Whangarei Harbour which operate haulout facilities and range in size from 50 to 1200 tonnes. WMOG is a single interest group and aims to advance its members interests by promoting Whangarei as a destination for marine construction and refit, advocating the maintenance of the harbour, encouraging the improvement of local marine services and infrastructure, acting as a consultative group for local and central Government and liaising with other marine industry groups or any other appropriate activity.
Oceania Marine is one of the members and Managing Director Martin Gleeson sees the establishment of WMOG as significant; “The needs of the group are specific and by banding together the likelihood of making significant progress towards achieving their aims is considerably enhanced”. He goes on to say; “There is an amazing ignorance locally, nationally and particularly internationally about the high quality and large capacity of existing shipyards located in Whangarei and really we only have ourselves to blame for that, so it is about time we did something about it. The situation as it relates to servicing superyachts is in particular need of attention. As an example it is not widely known that the most extensive undercover refit sheds and haulout facilities available in New Zealand are located in Whangarei and when one considers that this is backed up by readily available, experienced and highly skilled marine tradesmen we should be the Mecca of the South Pacific for visiting superyachts not one of New Zealand’s best kept secrets”.
Oceania Marine Shipyard and Ship Repair NZ - Port Whangarei
Henk Eilering of Ship Repair NZ was elected as chairman and tasked with briefing the Whangarei District Council and the Northern Regional Council on WMOG and its objectives with a view to having representatives present at the next meeting. From here members will develop an action plan that ensures substantive initiatives are set in motion quickly and effectively.
For any further information on WMOG contact info@oceaniamarine.co.nz and this will be passed to the chairman.