Huge new $15m ship shed to build Far North marine service capability

In a North Queensland-first, a new ship maintenance shed with a 400t capability is large enough to provide specialist upkeep services for Guardian and Cape Class patrol boats, as well the Reef tourism fleet and Gulf fishing vessels.

A $16m facility now being built at Norship on Trinity Inlet will service and repair large ships. Picture: Supplied

In a North Queensland-first a new ship maintenance shed with a capability of up to 400 tonnes will soon be providing specialist upkeep services for Guardian and Cape class patrol boats, as well the Reef tourism fleet and Gulf fishing vessels. 

The huge new $15m shed rising from the Cairns waterfront is now complete, and will soon offer abrasive blasting painting services from next year in a major boost to the city’s marine maintenance capability.

With internal works still under way at the Norship’s Portsmith shipyard, the steel portal designed structure will be large enough to fit a ship lift inside and will be equipped with two overhead gantry cranes, ventilation systems and a blast door.

The company’s abrasive blasting and spray painting operation will be run from the new shed, partly funded by the state government’s Industry Partnership Program.

The Queensland Government has officially opened the Advanced Marine Manufacturing and Repair Facility, a huge enclosed facility capable of accommodating ships up to 400 tonnes in size. Picture: Brendan Radke

Deputy Premier and State Development and Infrastructure Minister Cameron Dick alongside marine and business stakeholders announced the completion of the shed at the Norship yard on Thursday.

Norship chief executive Olav Groot expected an uptick in capability would greatly benefit the region and about 600 suppliers who do business with the company and other shipyards in the Cairns Marine Precinct.

Norship chief executive Olav Groot. Picture: Brendan Radke

“A capability that will not just support the future needs of Defence, but Border Force, other government sectors and commercial customers alike,” he said.

“If you look at the Guardian class patrol boats there’s 25 of those and they operate all throughout the Pacific, 13 Pacific nations operate those vessels and they come to Cairns for the deep level maintenance.

Managing director of CSF Industries Sean Adams, Cairns MP Michael Healy, Queensland Deputy Premier Cameron Dick, Norship chief executive Olav Groot and Advance Cairns chief executive Jacinta Reddan cut the ribbon on the newly opened cavernous facility equipped with two gantry cranes and a complete ventilation system. Picture: Brendan Radke

“It’s ideally suited for Cape class vessels and evolved Cape class vessels and the government has committed to 19 of those vessels, Australia wide.”

Mr Groot said an emerging Army fleet including 18 medium landing craft to be built under an accelerated $2bn project announced this week could also be maintained at the new shed.

“And then we’ve got visiting foreign vessels and super yachts,” he said.

“At the moment, it looks like just a shed but it’s got fully integrated paint and blast facilities.

“Louvres are all remotely controlled, we can completely seal it off and control humidity in the shed and its cyclone rated, so there’s no concerns for our customers, and it allows us to put more vessels through in a shorter period of time.”

Managing director of CSF Industries Sean Adams, Queensland Deputy Premier Cameron Dick, Norship chief executive Olav Groot and Cairns MP Michael Healy in the newly opened cavernous facility equipped with two gantry cranes and a complete ventilation system. Picture: Brendan Radke

Investment in the new maritime maintenance project will reinforce vital industry supply chains and strengthen a North Queensland marine repair capability, which is expected to also assist in the diversification of the region’s economy.

“The waters of the Far North are a world-renowned tourist destination, with the Cairns maritime industry serving as the primary gateway to the Great Barrier Reef,” Mr Dick said.

“But that maritime industry has the capacity to be so much more, helping to diversify and strengthen the Far North economy.

Workers on the fit the facade of the $16m abrasive blasting and painting shed. Picture: Supplied

The new facility is expected to help diversify Cairns marine capability. Picture: Supplied

“The Miles Labor Government’s investments in Norship and the Common User Facility position Cairns as a major centre for the maritime service industry in the South Pacific.

“That means more skilled jobs, stronger supply chains, better training opportunities and more work for small businesses in an industry that is resilient to some of the external challenges faced by tourism.”

The state-of-the-art facility has also attracted federal government funding of $7.5m through the northern Australia Development Program Industry Transformation scheme and when operational mid-next year, painting and sandblasting services will be available for Australian Defence Force, commercial and private sector customers.

Norship CEO Olav Groot at the company’s Portsmith shipyard. Picture: Supplied

Cairns MP Michael Healy said the Industry Partnership Program in Cairns was delivering secure jobs and improved marine supply chains.

“Norship’s facility and expansion builds on the pipeline of fantastic projects taking shape with IPP support,” he said.

“We are strategically well placed, particularly taking into account the geopolitical environment that we are operating in.

“It presents huge economic opportunities, this is an industry that continues to grow.”

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Originally published as Huge new $15m ship shed to build Far North marine service capability