WA’S fast-growing aluminium fast ferry industry has drawn a major international firm to Perth.
And other international companies are showing interest in the works of shipbuilders such as Austal Ships and WaveMaster International.
Austal and WaveMaster rank 14th and 45th respectively in the exporters’ category of the latest edition of Business News’ Book of Lists.
Industry growth has forced international surveyors Germanischer Lloyd to set up shop in Fremantle. The company ensures the design and construction of both companies’ aluminium vessels meet international standards.
Without its certification, neither Austal’s nor WaveMaster’s craft can be deemed seaworthy.
Germanischer Lloyd area manager Australia and New Zealand George Spiliotis said the company now needed to have exclusive surveyors onsite.
Its Fremantle office will have two exclusive surveyors for the Austal and WaveMaster operations and two non-exclusive surveyors for seaworthiness inspections on cargo shipping passing through WA ports.
“The exclusive surveyors will follow the ships through the production process from the design stage through to the sea trials,” Mr Spiliotis said. “Previously surveyors would come from Sydney or Singapore.”
Greek companies have also expressed an interest in the Austal and WaveMaster technology.
Greek consul Theodore Tsakiris said many Greek shipping companies were expressing interest in building fast ferries in the Austal and WaveMaster ilk. Greece boasts the world’s largest merchant marine fleet by ship ownership.