Legana-based Pivot Maritime International earns United States Navy contract worth $1.75m USD

A company based just outside of Launceston who ‘make the impossible possible’ will have its products used by one of the biggest navies in the world. Inside the new technology.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff and Liberal Member for Bass Simon Wood with Pivot Maritime International Managing Director Jeff Hawkins. Picture: Supplied.

It all started when a colleague of Pivot Maritime International managing director Jeff Hawkins proposed an idea.

“Why can’t we have a simulator in the box? A sim in a box?”

That forward-thinking earned Pivot an initial US$1.75m contract with the United States navy.

The Legana-based business earned the contract after travelling to America as part of a state government trade mission.

With both the Australian and New Zealand navies already using Pivot technology, the US will use its simulators for training and assessment.

Dr Hawkins said his team had worked hard to bring the “sim in a box” to fruition.

“As many people in the company know, one word I don’t like is no,” he said.

“We’ve got a passionate team which can make the impossible, possible, because they just don’t allow things to not happen.”

Once the simulators are in the US, Dr Hawkins said the navy there would put them on their ships “so that the team on board can look at some complex operations and practice it on the simulator before they do it.”

Premier Jeremy Rockliff trying out a Pivot Maritime International simulator. Picture: Supplied.

“They also need it to be robust and have a set up that is quick – so they can effectively take it on the vessel and, within a couple of hours, rehearse a mission.

“So everything has to be within the box and ready to go straight away.”

Dr Hawkins said his company had been pushing to enter the US market for several years.

“The US is the biggest market … so it definitely helps if you’re a customer of theirs.

“But We’ve also been very, very good at moving forward, not staying still. So once we’ve developed one area, then we’ve been moving on to other areas.”

Premier Jeremy Rockliff congratulated Pivot on securing the contract with the US Navy.

“This contract is a great example of where a government can play a role to open the door, advocate, and then allow Tasmanian industry to do what they do best – walk through that door and deliver an outstanding product and capability that our Defence Allies around the world seek,” Mr Rockliff said.

“This contract is another example of how Tasmania is a world leader with a strong global reputation when it comes to supplying high-quality products and services.”