Australian Marine Contractors: Directors leave NT company after bitter court dispute

A falling-out between two directors of a marine contracting outfit and their third business partner has been brought to a conclusion by the exit of two of the partners.

Australian Marine Contractors ex-director Mathew Mitchell. Picture: Facebook

A falling-out between two directors of a Top End marine contracting outfit and their third business partner, who was also a director, has been brought to a conclusion by the exit of two of the partners.

Earlier this year, attempts by Australian Marine Contractors (AMC) directors Oliver Barz and Bjorn Farley to oust their erstwhile partner Mathew Mitchell from the company, which provides services such as mooring and subsea operations, landed in the Federal Court.

Mr Barz and Mr Farley claimed Mr Mitchell was conflicted after he started his own commercial diving business, Oceantec, in 2022, while Mr Mitchell argued he was being forced out under duress, the court heard.

Justice Patrick O’Sullivan declined to make an order, sought by Mr Mitchell, to prevent his removal from the company, but also ordered Mr Barz and Mr Farley provide access to their company books, as Mr Mitchell suspected income was being funnelled away from AMC to other entities controlled by Mr Barz and Mr Farley.

Australian Marine Contractors sole remaining director Bjorn Farley. Picture: Facebook

Justice O’Sullivan ordered the books be opened but no finding was made in relation to the claim.

Now, it can be revealed both Mr Barz and Mr Mitchell have exited AMC.

According to filings with the corporate regulator ASIC earlier this month, AMC is now solely owned and controlled by Mr Farley (via his company Wavelength Assets Pty Ltd).

Mr Mitchell and Mr Farley both declined to comment.

Australian Marine Contractors director Oliver Barz. Picture: Facebook

It’s understood bad blood is felt particularly between Mr Farley and Mr Mitchell, with a company controlled by the former reaching out to this masthead in relation to the latter’s involvement in a Guinness World Record attempt.

The attempt, on July 29 last year, related to the underwater driving of a waterproof vehicle from Mandorah to Mindil Beach.

Mindil Beach celebrates the arrival of the ‘Mud Crab’ as it completes what was claimed to be a world record underwater drive from Mandorah. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

The team behind the attempt, which included Mr Mitchell, claimed to have broken the world record for longest and deepest underwater drive, while this masthead reported that they did.

However, according to correspondence from Guinness World Records, forwarded to this masthead by a managerial address connected to Pristine Pools & Spas NT (which is owned and operated by Mr Farley and his brother), the record wasn’t recognised.

“I believe Territorians deserve clarity on the event, which has raised significant concerns regarding its authenticity,” the person writing from the Pristine Pools & Spas NT address said.

Originally published as Australian Marine Contractors: Directors leave NT company after bitter court dispute