Forrest-owned marine company pursued by ex MAFS contestant Bronson Norrish

Andrew Forrest is being pursued for $1.3m by a former contestant on Married At First Sight whose party boat was allegedly damaged by the billionaire’s marine business.

Bronson Norris, the owner of Party Boat Charters, pictured in front of one of his boats at Barrack Street Jetty in Perth. Picture: The West Australian / Ross Swanborough.

A company owned by Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest is being pursued by a former contestant on Channel 9’s Married At First Sight for $1.3m after his party boat was allegedly damaged by the billionaire’s marine business.

Perth entrepreneur Bronson Norrish, owner of luxury boat rental business Party Boat Charters, is locked in a legal battle with SFM Marine, which provided a marine hoisting facility to his vessel the Moonlight Express.

But SFM Marine is hitting back, claiming Party Boat Charters has failed to substantiate the full extent of the damage allegedly caused, and that there was significant prior wear and tear on the vessel.

Mr Norrish alleges the Moonlight Express suffered damage to its hull as a result of SFM’s failure to “provide appropriate support to the vessel’s hull during the lifting and standing” in June and July 2022.

The two parties have been engaged in a legal back and forth for almost two years, resulting in Mr Norrish seeking $730,969 for repairs arising from alleged damage to his ship’s hull and $586,792 for loss of profits between July 28, 2022, and March 30, 2023.

SFM Marine, which is wholly owned by Andrew and Nicola Forrest’s private vehicle Tattarang, have offered to pay Mr Norrish $125,000 without any admission of liability, and to waive approximately $54,000 worth of fees.

A letter seen by The Australian from lawyers acting for SFM Marine, sent to a legal representative of Mr Norrish on Friday, threatened if the offer wasn’t accepted, the claim would be defended in its entirety.

It’s an offer Mr Norrish isn’t prepared to accept.

Norrish in front of his party boat Moonlight Express, with Andrew Forrest's Pangaea Ocean Explorer in the background.

“Losing our main money on a boat, losing one full season of operating and having to take out a million-dollar loan to pay repair costs associated with the damage has put us in the red,” he said.

“The reason we kept pushing through and doing the repairs was because SFM were willing to pay and admitted fault, and now they’ve done a 180 and now we’ve got no way of paying off the debt.”

Mr Norrish fears if a resolution isn’t found he’ll be forced to close down the business he’s owned and operated for over a decade, as well as letting go 50 full and part time staff.

The letter states that a contract between SFM Marine and Party Boat Charters excludes liability for loss of profit, and limits damages to that paid for the work undertaken.

It also states that while invoices for the repairs had been provided, no evidence had been provided to show that Party Boat Charters “took appropriate steps to mitigate the damages allegedly incurred”.

A spokesman for SFM Marine told The Australian Party Boat Charters had not provided the required evidence for its claims.

“The insurer has repeatedly requested supporting evidence from Australian Hospitality Services Pty Ltd to substantiate its claim for compensation. This includes the extent of damage allegedly caused, as opposed to prior wear and tear on the vessel or other costs unrelated to the damage allegedly caused. Australian Hospitality Services has not provided the required evidence for its claims,” a spokesman said.

“Based on the incomplete information available, and with input from expert independent assessors, the insurer made an offer of settlement.”