November 21, 2022

Doing the heavy lifting: Oceania Marine launch new marine travel lift

One of New Zealand’s biggest marine travel lifts was launched today at an event held at Oceania Marine’s South Shipyard at Port Whangārei.

Used for lifting boats out of the water and transporting them onto the hardstand at South Shipyard, the new machine establishes Oceania Marine as one of the South Pacific’s premiere refit and repair destinations for Superyachts, increasing the size of yachts the shipyards can service from 100 tonnes to 560 tonnes. The new machine complements Oceania Marine’s existing 100T machine, providing
cost efficient, flexible haul-out options for recreational and commercial operators.

Described as a ‘game-changer’ by Oceania Marine Managing Director, Martin Gleeson, the new travel lift has the ability to service all but the biggest of super yachts and work boats.

“With both the 100T and 560T machines in operation, the extensive hardstand and undercover refit facilities available at South Shipyard will be an attractive option for yachts.

“With this new marine lift, we have the ability for multiple ships to be worked on at one time, it opens potential for up to new jobs and apprenticeships, and it creates jobs in support industries.

“COVID-19 played havoc with our schedule, but this has been worth the wait, and we are on track to have everything ready for the return of the superyacht fleet and Southern Summer season”, says Mr Gleeson.

As well as being better able to service the growing demand for refit and building services of workboats and superyachts, construction of the new lift helped fund civil works at South Shipyard – including new piers, hardstand reinforcement and other works.

In 2019, Oceania Marine was approved for a loan of up to $5.84 million from the Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) to buy the 560-tonne capability travel lift.
Head of Kanoa – Regional Economic Development & Investment Unit, Robert Pigou, says that the marine travel lift is a prime example of a PGF investment that helps grow businesses and strengthen communities.

“The boat and ship maintenance, repair, and overhaul market is highly lucrative, so our investment in this sector has the potential to be transformational for the region’s economy, as well as providing high pay, highly skilled apprenticeship and employment opportunities for Whangārei.”

This event also marked the opening of Oceania Marine’s Business Hub for use by other marine industry colleagues and the launch of the Oceania Yacht Agency, and hosted a NZ Marine ‘Boating After 5’ event

About Oceania Marine
Oceania Marine commenced business in 2009 as a refit and repair shipyard – the North Shipyard. This was the springboard that launched Oceania Marine, whose building and infrastructure works now include a traditional 800 tonne railway slipway with 4 hectors of hardstand and associated buildings, extensive refit shed space, and now the 560T travel lift. The business has evolved into a formidable refit team of project managers supported by skilled trades and sub-contractors within an impressive marine hub that makes up the wider Port
Whangarei area.

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