WA's Marine and Defence Industry
Western Australia (WA) is host to a world-class shipbuilding industry that is responsible for approximately half of Australia’s commercial shipbuilding production. The State also produces military and para-military vessels for the Australian Government and other navies, police, coastguard or maritime security agencies around the world. WA also leads the world in the design and construction of customised light – weight, high speed aluminium vessels for both the commercial and military markets.
Page Index
Key Strengths and Capabilities
Defence sector
The defence sector in WA comprises of approximately 4300 full time defence personnel and 1700 reservists, supported by approximately 3000 first tier prime contractor industry people.
Defence directly spends around A$800 million per annum in WA on goods and services provided by WA companies.
A significant feature of the defence industry sector in Western Australia involves the through life support, repair and upgrade of the Collins class submarines and ANZAC frigates homeported at Fleet Base West. Western Australian industry is also active in perusing work associated with new naval shipbuilding projects.
Please contact Brett Chisholm for more information.
Superyacht sector
Western Australia has a number of world-class superyacht manufacturers producing vessels for international clients. The high-end luxury yacht market is seen as a high growth sector by local industry and the government alike. Western Australia is working to develop a significant superyacht repair and refit capability to capitalise on the anticipated growth in visiting superyachts to the region in coming years.
Please contact Brett Chisholm for more information.
Shipbuilding
Western Australia leads the world in the construction of high speed, light-weight vessels.
WA's shipbuilding industry centred within the Australian Marine Complex (AMC) also excels in building luxury superyachts, rescue, patrol, fishing, paramilitary and offshore supply vessels for burgeoning local and export markets.
As Australia's largest commercial Shipbuilding Precinct, accounting for approximately half of Australia’s shipbuilding production, the Shipbuilding Precinct in the AMC has produced vessels valued in excess of A$3 billion over the last decade. Some 95 per cent of these vessels were built for demanding export markets.
WA also supplies about 25 per cent of the international market for lightweight, high-speed ferries. These vessels are produced in the 25 - 127 metre range, catering for a wide range of uses including vehicle and troop transport.
WA is the frontier of light-weight aluminium shipbuilding technology, attracting the most demanding of seagoing commercial and military patrons.
Please contact Brett Chisholm for more information.
Oil and gas services
The oil and gas industry is of vital importance to the Western Australian economy. Over the next eight years the proposed project expenditure in oil and gas developments within the State exceeds $50 billion. It is the Government’s intention to capture the opportunity this represents to develop WA as a regional hub for the oil and gas industry, concentrating on the subsea and gas service sectors.
Some of the State government initiatives to promote this development include support for:
- Western Australian Energy Research Alliance (WA:ERA) - research and development
- Society for Underwater Technology (SUT) - technology exchange
- Australian Centre for Energy Process Training (ACEPT) - training and skills development
- Australian Marine Complex (AMC) - subsea cluster development
The department assists oil and gas equipment and service sector companies to maximise development potential and expand the market. Please contact Jim Leven for more information.
