The Boat Works invests A$30m in new service hub for marine professionals

A$30 million (c. €19 million) investment has been secured for The Boat Works boat marine leisure facility at the Gold Coast Marine Precinct to provide a new service hub for marine professionals. This latest investment comes after the A$100 million (c. €64 million) development completed at the hub last year.

The hub facilities include a workshop to provide marine services as well as opportunities for supply businesses to take out leases in the two yards located in the marine precinct.

Demand for the area has amplified by the growing desire for boats as seen throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. To date the yards are more than 60% capacity. The Boat Works Northern yard opening last year saw a drastic increase in business. The Northern yard provided significant extra capacity that attract vessels from 24 metres (78.5 feet) up to 75 metres (246 feet) long for both in and out of water service, maintenance, and refit requirements.

Shane Subichin, The Boat Works general manager, commented, “It is boom time in the boating industry. More boats equal more jobs. Covid travel restrictions mean Aussies are holidaying at home. Owning a boat gives them the freedom to explore the coastline and islands all over Australia.”

He added, “We are seeing a tremendous increase in boating and boat sales, additional haul-outs and survey inspection lifts each week. The 80+ tenants based onsite are experiencing a steady flow of work and many are reporting a marked rise in demand and are hiring more skilled trades to keep pace.”

Over 5000 boat movements take place each year at The Boat Works making it one of the busiest and largest facilities of its type in the Southern Hemisphere.

Choice Stainless and Stella Marine are just some of the companies joining the new services hub. With over 30 years’ experience in the stainless-steel manufacturing trade, Choice Stainless, boast highly skilled staff with access to top of the range equipment.

Stella Marine is Australia's largest producer of marine desalination systems, offering both hydraulic and full electric solutions in the country's largest service and retrofit centre for fin stabilisation systems.

As Gary Cooper, CEO of the Stella Group said, “Stella is bringing all of its operations under one large new purpose-built facility at The Boat Works, combining our engineering, manufacturing and distribution into one stream-lined new operation. With our new capabilities in our machine shop and in-house naval architect heading our design department, Stella can offer ‘concept to complete’ solutions for all owners.”

He added, “Stella has purchased a host of new machinery including a new laser cutter with tube cutting capacity; new CNC hydraulic cylinder honing machine capable of honing cylinder up to 2m and 200-millimetres diameter, CNC mill and CNC lathe. Our machining and production capabilities have jumped to the forefront with the opening of the new facility.”

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Source: IBI News