CUF on track, but opportunity to go bigger to draw frigates and superyachts

An industry insider has revealed what is needed for shipyards to make the most out of the $360m Common User Facility as funding trickles into the mammoth project. Read why it could even be bigger.

An industry insider from Tropical Reef Shipyards has revealed why bigger may be better when it comes Cairns’ future Common User Facility, as he explained how the whole plan was progressing.

TRS business development manager Andrew Wagner was pleased with the progress of the project and the plans for the facility but said raising the capacity of the CUF from 5000 to 8000 tonnes would make Cairns more competitive when placed in competition with Darwin.

“Raising the lift capacity would also allow the facility to work on the larger frigates being produced for the Australian navy and give Cairns a real competitive edge over other facilities,” he said.

“It would also help us tap into the superyacht market.”

Tropical Reef Shipyard have built seven Australian Army Safety Watercraft vessels at their Portsmith workshop under a Defence contract. Tropical Reef Shipyard business development manager Andrew Wagner on one of the new boats. Picture: Brendan Radke

Only $5.6m of the promised $360m for the facility was slated in this year’s Queensland budget, raising questions as to the timeline of the gigantic endeavour.

Mr Wagner put this down to only the initial planning, design and testing processes being ready to budget.

“The $5.6m is not a surprising figure as there are initial plans, infrastructure and drawings that precede the designs, but we would expect a serious amount of funding to begin to flow next year.”

While a recent $30m in additional funding for road and access infrastructure was welcome, Mr Wagner called for more investment in the existing shipyards that would determine the future potential of the CUF.

British navy ship HMS Spey has docked at the Tropical Reef Shipyard for maintenance work, the first time a British warship has undergone maintenance at the Port of Cairns. Marine workers Dyfan Tinnuche and Tupoumatatika Meremere work on the hull on HMS Spey. Picture: Brendan Radke

“If we were to invest more in the shipyards now to grow the customer base as well as to expand capabilities, we will be able to make the most of the CUF once it comes online in 2028 or whenever it is completed,” Mr Wagner said.

“It’s important to do it now. The ships we have in docks now will decide who comes back to the facility in the future.”

TRS has recently began work on the HMS Spey, the first of two Royal Navy patrol boats from Great Britain in its yard and will be host to a vessel from the US Navy for the first time in the coming months.

Royal Navy ship HMS Spey has docked at the Tropical Reef Shipyard for maintenance work, the first time a British warship has undergone maintenance at the Port of Cairns. Picture: Brendan Radke

The visits providing an opportunity for the yard to show off its capability and secure future visits to the CUF from even bigger vessels.

Mr Wagner was candid about some of the needs of the industry as they look to grow, with training and recruitment being key to future success.

“Recruitment is a bit difficult at the moment,” he said

“The new boats are different so that requires that we upskill people as well as bringing in the new, but we need to house them.

“It all takes time to build the right workforce, but investment into the shipyards allows us to invest into the people that work on them.

“TRS and the other yards work with a number of small and medium enterprises so the growth will be felt through the entire community.”

Originally published as CUF on track, but opportunity to go bigger to draw frigates and superyachts