The Western Australian company will use the exhibition to meet with vessel owners and operators from the region, listen to their requirements and then use its significant experience and in-house design capability to develop suggested solutions. Austal also expects the show to provide a welcome opportunity to meet with local and international suppliers.

Of interest to operators in the offshore industry will be Austal’s range of rugged, reliable and efficient work boat platforms, including its recently launched Wind Express series which are specifically tailored to enhance offshore wind farm support operations. As with all Austal vessels, these are designed to offer improved operating economics and safe, productive solutions for their owners.

Baird Publications Chairman Neil Baird said securing the support of an Australian shipbuilding icon was a major boost for the show, which was already shaping as the largest Ausmarine ever.

“Baird has had a strong association with Austal for many years and has watched with interest the growth and success of the company over the past two decades and is in fact, a shareholder in Austal.

“We are very pleased that an industry leader such as Austal has again chosen Ausmarine to showcase its platforms.”

As well as being highly successful in the international market, Austal has also established a strong presence in Australia. On the commercial side, Austal vessels are currently operating in Australia’s ferry, cruise, dive liveaboard, charter yacht and harbour cruise industries. In the government sector, Austal has delivered 40 patrol vessels to the Royal Australian Navy, the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service as well as the police forces of New South Wales and Queensland.

“We welcome the return of the exhibition to our home turf,” commented Austal’s Chief Operating Officer, Andrew Bellamy. “We hope it will provide additional impetus for many of our past, present and future customers and suppliers to visit Western Australia and gain a firsthand appreciation of our capabilities and product offerings. These range from relatively small passenger vessels and patrol boats right through to large car ferries and naval platforms.”

Along with vessel design and manufacture, Austal has now established itself as a major provider of vessel maintenance and support. With facilities in Fremantle and Darwin, Austal is well placed to provide service and support to operators, particularly those operating offshore vessels and patrol boats in Australia’s northern and western waters.

Austal’s capabilities in this regard were recently demonstrated through refit work on the 82 metre diving support vessel “Nor Australis”. The project involved sending a team of Austal engineers, naval architects and engineers to Karratha in Australia’s North West. Their work successfully reduced noise and vibration onboard the vessel, resulting in improved working conditions for the crew.

Austal is located at stand H103 throughout the Ausmarine exhibition in Australia.