Jobs data vital to future marine employment opportunities - MarineBusinessWorld Oceania newsletter
by Peter Rendle 28 Feb 11:05 NZDT
BIA's Marine Industry Skills and Trades Survey 2025 © Boating Industry Association
The BIA this week launched the 2025 edition of the National Jobs & Skills Survey designed to capture essential value and demand data on marine jobs across the marine industry. BIA CEO Andrew Fielding said this annual survey was directly linked to a key priority of the association which was to promote marine careers.
"We use the results to advocate to key stakeholders such as State and Federal Governments for improved outcomes for industry in marine jobs - both in trade and not trade skills - across Australia," Fielding said. "In the recent past, the results of this survey have helped BIA to secure trades like boat building and shipwrights to be included in both the national skills priority and national apprenticeship priority lists which in turn enables employers and apprentices to receive additional financial support from the Federal Government."
Promoting sailing is also important and the lead up to the 2025 Hansa Class World and International Championships, 23 to 30 March 2025 at the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, is the opportunity to celebrate Hansa's aims and what makes this international class unique, according to Boating Industry Association President Andrew Fielding. Fielding said Hansa was an outstanding example of the diversity of business within the BIA membership across Australia. Hansa was founded on the original sentiment of inclusion and operates with the objective of being "open to everybody".
The Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show takes place in May and Eyachts is set to turn heads at this year's Show with its most impressive lineup to date. From award-winning day boats to innovative hybrid cruisers, the display will feature a diverse range of vessels from 22 to 45 feet, catering to every boating enthusiast.
At the same time TMG Yachts is set to make a grand statement at this year's SCIBS. This highly anticipated event will see the Australian premiere of the all-new Lagoon 43, alongside the sensational Lagoon SIXTY 5 and award-winning PRESTIGE M48 multihull motor yacht, with an exclusive Virtual Reality experience of the groundbreaking PRESTIGE M7.
Excess Catamarans has announced the appointment of 38 South Yacht Sales as the brand's second official dealer in Australia. This expansion of its international dealer network follows recent partnerships with NextWave Yachting in Hong Kong and Primus Marine in Thailand. 38 South Yacht Sales will represent the full range of Excess catamaran models and will be exclusively responsible for the states of Queensland and Victoria in Australia. Meanwhile, Flagstaff Marine, the brand's long-standing partner, will continue to serve as the exclusive representative of Excess Catamarans in New South Wales.
Now in its 18th year, the 2025 edition of Convergence - the annual event for captains and chief engineers of Ferretti Group yachts - is being hosted in alluring Bangkok. The event brings together over 100 industry professionals for three days of technical updates, discussions and team building opportunities. The proceedings officially kicked off on February 26, providing the opportunity to report on the Group's recent successes, present new models and explore the latest product innovations. In the afternoon, there will be an interesting team building activity involving an exclusive visit to the Grand Palace, one of the historical and cultural symbols of the Thai capital.
In Queensland, Stephen Bay has joined Rivergate Marina & Shipyard as their new Director of International Business. Captain Stephen Bay has been appointed Director of International Business at Brisbane's Rivergate Marina & Shipyard, bringing with him over 27 years of maritime expertise and a lifelong passion for the industry. Stephen moves into the role previously held by Steve Fisher who was with Rivergate for 18 years, first as CEO and then as Director of International Business.
Marine Business World aims to cover the marine industry news across the whole of our region and the spectrum of marine industries business, updated daily. I you would like to submit your news please forward to my email address below.
Peter Rendle - peter.rendle@worldmarine.media