Strategic marine makes headway in Marine Infrastructure sector

Strategic Marine was constructing two marine infrastructure fabrication projects in its Vietnam shipyard. Both projects are for Australian clients.

The first comprises three 60-metre pontoons and three 90-metre gangways for application in Gladstone Port Corporation's new tug base. The second is for Carnegie Wave Energy and comprises three Buoyant Actuators for a renewable wave energy and desalination project off the coast of Perth.

"We have been developing our general fabrication capability over the last few years," said Reece Newbold, Group Business Development Manager, "with the clear intention to show our mettle in the construction of modules for the Marine & Civil Infrastructure, Mining, and Oil & Gas markets."

Strategic Marine's head office is in Western Australia, and with the Australian mining boom previously in full swing, the decision was made to mount a concerted effort to showcase the cost benefits of building in Vietnam coupled with the use of expert local and Australian project management teams.

In the last two years, the company has secured and successfully completed several projects on both the Western and Eastern seaboards of Australia.

For Woodside, Strategic Marine fabricated, delivered, and installed tug pens in North West Australia. For the John Holland-Leighton Asia joint venture, the company designed, fabricated, delivered, and installed a ferry terminal to the QCLNG project, fabricated and delivered Ro-Ro intermediate staging pontoons to the GLNG project, fabricated jetty modules for all three gas projects in Gladstone, and built a 250-tonne surge bin for the WICET coal terminal.

For Waterways Construction, for whom the company is now building the Gladstone Port Corporation applications, Strategic has previously fabricated and supplied six ferry terminal pontoons, roofs, and associated structures.

"Our successful experience in the demanding Australian marketplace has given us confidence to branch into other markets and regions," said Newbold. "Our waterfront facilities in Vietnam, Singapore and Australia lend themselves well to the requirements of modular fabrication, with Vietnam in particular having a large heavy lay-down area and direct access to the onsite load out facility and slipways. With the company historically being a shipbuilder, there is already a high level of integration capability and knowledge, meaning modules can be completely fitted out so when they arrive on site it is essentially a plug-and-play installation. These waterfront yards play an important role in reducing the logistics challenges of large fabrication projects."

Alongside fabrication facilities in Western Australia, Singapore and Vietnam, the company is supported by staff in Brisbane, Jakarta, Indonesia, and Manila. "We are perfectly set up to service the Asia & Australasia regions, and well beyond," confirmed Newbold.

Strategic Marine, with operations in Singapore, Western Australia and Vietnam, is one of the world's leading specialist shipbuilding and engineering companies.

Strategic operates principally in the offshore sectors, producing high quality crew boats, support vessels, passenger ferries, and high-speed patrol boats at shipyards in Singapore and Vietnam.

Since incorporating in 2001, Strategic has built and delivered over 600 vessels for a variety of clients in the maritime, offshore, and naval defence sectors.

Strategic's solid reputation for the manufacture of high-performance ships, historically focused on aluminium vessels, has also become associated with steel-based construction over the last few years.

In addition to its growing newbuild capabilities, which now include diversification into offshore windfarm service vessels, Strategic provides maritime solutions in refit/repair, support fabrication, and shipping infrastructure. Strategic's operation in Perth, Western Australia, focuses on a comprehensive suite of maritime fabrication and logistics services.

Beginning in January 2014, Strategic will unveil its first batch of new crewboats and windfarm sector vessels for stock, shortening delivery periods to meet increased market demand.

This article was originally published on Marine & Industrial Report newspaper Vol 36  No.2  Issue last April 30, 2014.