Activity in Queensland the focus this week - MarineBusinessWorld Oceania newsletter
by Peter Rendle 16 May 15:00 PDT
Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show © World Boating Day
Get ready to witness 102 of the world's newest boating and marine innovations at the 35th Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show, from May 23 to 26.
Mulpha Events General Manager Johan Hasser said his team was hugely excited to present one of the marine industry's most anticipated events and looking forward to welcoming huge crowds to this year's Show. "We're thrilled to be able to share more than 100 exciting new boat and marine product launches - everything from luxury motor yachts, trailerable boats and personal watercrafts to marine gadgets and revolutionary hybrid and electric motors," he said.
Whittley Marine Group, Australia's leading fibreglass trailer boat builder and retailer, has chosen the Show to launch its innovative Whittley Future Model VR Hub. The Future Model VR Hub will enable consumers to explore augmented reality (AR) and conceptualise new model boats from the Whittley Design Studio via virtual reality (VR) headsets.
They aim to empower interested parties with insights into future Whittley model concept boats as well as the build and design processes. In addition to the Future Model VR Hub, eight Whittley Boats will be showcased at the Marina Village.
Raymarine, the leading innovator in marine electronics, is set to make waves with its new location on The Promenade, offering visitors a prime spot against the picturesque backdrop of the marina to explore cutting-edge marine technology and witness firsthand the latest in navigation and fish finding solutions.
Standout products to see include the DAME award winning Alpha performance displays and NeuBoat Dock, a 360-degree view docking cameras alongside the full range of award-winning chartplotter and fishfinder solutions. Also showcasing FLIR cameras, the stand will feature a live demonstration of the capabilities of thermal technology for recreational boaters.
The Australian International Marine Export Group, Superyacht Australia, and Australia Commercial Marine Group are delighted to release the comprehensive conference program for the ASMEX Conference. This three-day conference, including networking events and industry tours, will take place at the Intercontinental Sanctuary Cove Resort, May 20-22, concluding with the Australian Marine Industry Awards Gala Dinner.
Earlier this month, at the Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre, the Boating Industry Association careers festival saw approximately 10,000 young people attend from some 50 Gold Coast based schools. Andrew Fielding (BIA) and Maria Hobbs (Marine Jobs) were there to discuss the range of opportunities which exist in the marine industry and to encourage young people to consider at least one of the 90 different career options available.
In a positive sign for industry, there has been a considerable increase in the number of students expressing interest in undertaking a trade, especially a Marine Mechanical Apprenticeship.
In Victoria, the Boating Industry Association of Victoria (BIAV), Lake Eildon Houseboat Industry Association (LEHIA) and Eildon Boat Club this week welcomed Minister Steve Dimopoulos to Lake Eildon for an industry and boating immersion. As Minister for Boating (Recreation), Tourism, Events, and Environment, Dimopoulos was extremely keen to discuss a range of issues.
In NSW, two new Marine Rescue NSW replacement vessels have undergone successful sea trials at Yamba ahead of going into service over the coming weeks. Marine Rescue NSW Senior Manager Fleet Kelvin Parkin said the new Brunswick 30 and Trial Bay 30 rescue vessels were put through their paces off Yamba over the past two days. "Their performance was excellent. They turned, handled and drove beautifully. Trial Bay 30 and Brunswick 30 are outstanding rescue vessels," he said.
From overseas, Kenta Inaba, GMBA Japan, provides an update on the Japanese superyacht sector at the recent GMBA conference Singapore. Japan, with its vast coastline and abundant maritime resources, is becoming a prime destination for Superyachts. Japan has often been referred to as an Ocean State. Being surrounded by water, Japan's coastlines stretch more than 35,000 kms and no point anywhere in Japan is more than ninety-three miles from the sea. The availability of Infrastructure (ports, airports, train stations and shipyards) is extensive throughout Japan making travel within the country easy and very accessible.
Not only is Japan one of the largest producers of trading vessels globally, but it also boasts a thriving maritime industry, including shipbuilding and marine engineering. Japan is one of the largest economies in the world ranking fourth after the USA, China, Germany. The Population is approx. 125.9M (2020) with Income per capita as per IMF data in April 2024 being 34,000 USD.
A new kind of maritime consultancy, Maritime IQ, has officially launched operations from its headquarters in Christchurch, New Zealand. MIQ brings together an international network of seasoned maritime consultants, each boasting decades of in-depth experience across a range of maritime domains. MIQ is now offering consulting services customised to meet the changing needs of the maritime industry worldwide.
The company's expertise spans vessel design, port safety and security, valuations, marine insurance coverage and negotiations, risk assessment, business development and marketing, and marine project management.
Stay well,
Peter Rendle - peter.rendle@worldmarine.media