Darwin superyacht industry at risk over biosecurity hurdles

DARWIN’S multimillion-dollar superyacht industry is at serious risk following a biosecurity decision that has removed Darwin as the first point of entry for international yachts coming to Australia

Superyachts spend millions of dollars to be cleaned and serviced in the Darwin. Picture: Katrina Bridgeford.

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DARWIN’S multimillion-dollar superyacht industry is at serious risk following a biosecurity decision that has removed Darwin as the first point of entry for international yachts coming to Australia.

The Australian Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment made a determination in December that international yachts subject to biosecurity control are no longer permitted to arrive in Darwin without prior written permission.

A department spokeswoman said the decision was made because the NT Government still isn’t compliant with Australia’s new biosecurity standards, despite being granted extensions for the last three years.

A spokesman from the NT Infrastructure Department said the Cullen Bay Ferry Pontoon which has previously been used is no longer suitable and they are were working with the Commonwealth to find a solution to this. He said they expect to have the relevant requirements in place by April 2020.

Wheelhouse Marine managing director Wayne Batemen said his Cullen Bay business heavily relies on servicing yachts that travel in from South East Asia.

He’s worried he may have to close down over the issue.

“This is a nightmare that could have easily been avoided,” he said.

Wheelhouse Marine's Wayne Batemen said his business could be facing closure now that Darwin is no longer the first point of entry for international yachts coming to Australia. Picture: Katrina Bridgeford.

“The NT Government put this on the backburner and now we’ll paying through the nose for it. The NT Government have now said they’re going to do all these changes now but it’s all a bit too late … it’s already out on all the international websites.

“Word travels fast in this industry, once people hear Darwin isn’t the first point of entry everyone will end up going straight to Cairns.”

North Australian Yacht Support founder Ayla Lewis-Wharton said she didn’t think Darwin could be officially reclassified as a first point of entry until after the dry season.

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“We usually receive 20-30 superyachts in that time, which means we stand to loose as much as $1 million over this stuff up,” she said.

“It’s beyond frustrating.”

She said Darwin was expected to capture $5 million from the superyacht industry by 2021.