Hunter manufacturer, Brain Industries is joining forces with local and other Australian organisations to reignite the region’s ship building and boat building industry.
Brain is currently joint tendering for a major NSW boat building project with Queensland based boat builder, Moda, and Canberra based maritime engineering and vessel management company, Seaforce.
Brain Industries Managing Director, Gillian Summers said the organisations have significant experience and expertise in the marine build industry.
Gillian said governments are correctly focusing on boosting manufacturing, so Australia is more self-sufficient in equipment and infrastructure.
She said Newcastle has one of Australia’s deep-water ports. Newcastle and the Hunter has an extensive heritage in marine engineering and ship building.
“The Hunter has the skilled workforce, infrastructure, supply chains and capability to once again be an efficient and reliable marine design, manufacturing, and servicing hub,” Gillian said.
“A viable ship and boat building sector will create and sustain more high skilled local jobs in design, engineering, manufacturing, certification, and maintenance.”
She said the region also has many organisations supporting the marine industry.
“Hunter Maritime College is one of the most advanced deck and marine engineering training facilities in Australia. It provides world-class training to maritime industry professionals.”
“The University of Newcastle Engineering Faculty, Newcastle Maritime Hub, Hunter Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre, Innovative Manufacturing CRC and manufacturing network, Hunternet, can work together to re-develop and enhance the marine building and maintenance sector.”
Gillian said Brain’s Hunter engineering facility is perfectly suited and already equipped to be a ship and boat building centre.
The four building facility is located at Carrington, minutes from the Port of Newcastle. It has 3,500 square metres under-roof and 150 square metres hard stand. The facilities include a 10t, 3t, and 2t overhead crane. It already provides maintenance support to the Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club and its fleets of small vessels.
Brain’s owners, and half of its workforce, have work in shipbuilding, successfully delivering large scale marine and defence contracts. It designs, manufactures, services and repairs a host of innovative materials handling and safety products for the mining, agriculture, oil and gas, transport, maritime, and bulk handling industries. It sells products nationally and exports across the world.
Moda manufactures commercial boats for a range of purposes including government service, rescue, tactical response, passenger transportation, recreation, commercial fishing, and specialised industrial needs.
Seaforce is an Australian owned and operated and Department of Defence accredited company. It is currently supplying patrol crafts for Australian Border Force.
IMAGE | Brain Industries sets to reignite marine manufacturing with support from community.
