AUS Border openings ahead of Christmas is a welcome message - MarineBusinessWorld Oceania newsletter
by Peter Rendle 21 Oct 2021 15:00 PDT
Hydrogen fuel cell demonstration test boat cruising in Osaka Bay © Yanmar Marine
After nearly two years of various lockdown restrictions implemented, depending on which state you lived in, most of Australia will lift border restrictions ahead of Christmas. Considering that the economy is stimulated by international and national tourism, this comes as welcome news to many people involved in hospitality or tourism. Meanwhile the boating industry continues in its pursuit of alternative power solutions. The latest report comes from Japanese giant, Yanmar.
Yanmar Power Technology has conducted the world's first 70 MPa high-pressure hydrogen refueling of a ship using a demonstration test boat equipped with a hydrogen fuel cell system. The test boat cruised on a route around the island of the Osaka-Kansai World Exposition 2025 and famous tourist spots on the city's coast. The 70 MPa high-pressure hydrogen refueling was carried out in cooperation with Toyota Tsusho Corporation, using a specially licensed high-pressure facility and a newly developed prototype long hydrogen refuelling hose. The 70MPa high-pressure refueling resulted in more than three times longer cruising time compared to the previous refueling process. The results will be utilized for the market deployment of hydrogen fuel cell systems as well as the study of hydrogen refueling infrastructure for ships.
Staying with environmental concerns, Norman R. Wright & Sons has launched MV Tamoya, a custom-designed and built 17 metre aluminium Patrol, Research and Infrastructure Support Catamaran, for the Great Barrier Reef Joint Field Management Program. Servicing the Islands and waters of the Whitsundays and beyond from its homeport of Airlie Beach, Tamoya's role will include patrol operations, dive support operations, marine infrastructure installation and maintenance (e.g. moorings and signs), and island park management (camp grounds, walking tracks, weed management).
Designed by Incat Crowther featuring a wave piercing hull design, the new vessel will be required to operate independently for up to ten days away from port in remote offshore reef areas with up to seven persons onboard, and a range of 500 nautical miles at cruising speed of 20 knots courtesy of the twin MAN i6-850 engines. Unique to the design is a central nacelle to improve seakeeping and performance in head seas, and the large aft work deck features a custom dinghy retrieval system that can safely and easily launch, store and retrieve a 3.4m rigid inflatable tender.
High profile personalities have joined the boating industry. Triple Olympic medallist Mat Belcher is used to being at the top of his game and, in the wake of his Gold medal at Tokyo 2020, has just been appointed to join the Zhik Board of Directors. The move comes following his win in the 470 Class with Will Ryan, which will go down in history as the last ever men's doubled-handed sailing event for the class, before it comes a mixed event. Mat has been involved with Zhik from its early days, both as part of the Australian Sailing team and as a member of the Zhik Team. This long association with Zhik was instrumental in Mat winning Gold at London 2012 with Malcom Page, Silver in Rio with Will Ryan and Gold in Tokyo this year.
And a world champion two-wheeler has announced his future deployment. Camper & Nicholsons is proud to announce the appointment of Mick Doohan as their representative in the Australia Pacific region. They welcome him aboard in a sales broker and business developer capacity. Mick is a well-respected figure in the business and private aviation worlds through The Doohan Group, a diversified investment vehicle that includes Jetcraft, a corporate aircraft trading company; Global Jet International, providing specialist private jet and aircraft services; and Platinum Business Aviation Centre, a well-respected FBO concierge service for aircraft and their owners. As the winner of five consecutive 500cc motorcycle Grand Prix Championships (between 1994-1998), Mick is a household name for a generation of Antipodeans. He was made a Member of the Order of Australia by Queen Elizabeth II in 1996 and inducted into the Australian Sports Hall of Fame in 2009.
Recognitions this week includes Zoe De Pryck. A can-do attitude and ability to problem-solve combined with hard work has seen luxury motor yacht manufacturer Maritimo's Zoe De Pryck recognized for her talents with her being named the Boating Industry Association's 2021 Queensland Apprentice of the Year. A well-deserved win, it came as no surprise to those who work with her and know her, and follows an impressive awards' lead up with an outstanding performance in Queensland TAFE. The now fully-qualified cabinet maker was the winner of the first-year apprentice awards for cabinet making in her first year, the second-place getter in her second year and the first-place getter in her third year. She has now topped it all off in her final year. She was also a finalist in the South East Queensland Training Awards in all trades last year.
The Boating Industry Association announced all the award winners in Sydney. BIA President Darren Vaux said: "The boating industry is rich with opportunities in skills and trades, and the new BIA Apprentice of the Year Awards are a way of recognising the extraordinary talent in the industry. We have seen a nine per cent growth in employment across the industry over the past year which reflects the demand and passion Australians have for boating in all its forms across paddle, power and sail. Recognising excellence in our apprentices is part of our strategy to support career pathways in a sector that offers a unique opportunity to work on and beside some of the best waterways in the world." The awards went to:
- BIA Apprentice of the Year 2021: Doug Allan (R Marine Sydney)
- NSW Apprentice of the Year 2021: Doug Allan
- QLD Apprentice of the Year 2021: Zoe De Pryck (Maritimo)
- SA Apprentice of the Year 2021: Trae Webb (Christies Beach Marine)
Winners received a trophy, certificate and a $500 voucher for tools.
Lots more industry news at www.marinebusinessworld.com : Oceania-wide news from the largest boating news network.
Stay safe,
Peter Rendle - peter.rendle@marinebusinessworld.com