Strong Support for Ausmarine 2010 Exhibition

- “Over the last five years we have received many requests as to when we would present another AUSMARINE Exhibition and Conference.
We actually announced one for Sydney in late 2008. Fortunately, though, we decided not to proceed. With roaring share and property markets, the Australian marine market was obsessed with the leisure sector. We were also suffering the rapid destruction of the commercial fishing industry.
Now, thanks to the Global Financial Crisis, we have seen the extensive demolition of the leisure sector. Indeed, five of the top six or eight leisure boat builders have gone bust in the last twelve months or so. This is very similar to what happened in the late eighties and early nineties. We kept our
powder dry for five years then.
It seems that our economy, as it affects the maritime industry, has a 13 to 15 year cycle. The commercial part enjoys about ten good years and suffers four or five bad ones. The leisure part, poor them, endures the opposite. So, with the leisure sector pretty much out on its ear, it was time to look again at a commercial marine event. In this we have been greatly encouraged by the many marine developments in Western Australia, the “state of excitement”.
Almost every day we see reports of massive new marine related developments in that state alone. Of course, there are numerous other, less spectacular developments occurring around the coasts of all the other states and the Northern Territory. Western Australia, though, looks like enjoying the fruits of about half of it.
Of course, since our last Ausmarine event in Perth five years ago the situation has changed dramatically. Apart one or two, the once prolific lobster boat builders have disappeared. The survivors are no longer producing lobster boats. Rather, they are churning out world leading fast crew/supply boats and some very impressive patrol and rescue craft and ferries. Our old friends at Austal (Of which my superannuation fund is a shareholder) seem to have
sailed serenely on. Despite their highly publicised ‘Aussie Rules’ problems, the company has produced a wide range of impressive vessels and remained profitable.
Now, however –and this is where I believe our timing is spot on –we are observing the start of an enormous marine construction boom. Almost every week we learn of some new, and usually larger, project. They involve offshore oil and gas; mineral ports and terminals; the re-development of the ports of Fremantle and Geraldton; coastal residential and tourist development; and new naval facilities. The enormous Australian Marine Complex, just south of Fremantle, meanwhile, nears completion.
Sadly, there is little or no positive news from the fishing sector but every other sector except, perhaps, tourism is dynamic, bustling and very exciting. It rather reminds me of the mid-nineties and the late seventies when Western Australia really earned its car number plate slogan of “The State of Excitement”.
That is why we are taking Ausmarine back there in late November next year. The interest is very strong and the economic prospects are better than ever. We are very excited at the thought of this new project.”