UK group’s $5.4m Freo shipping buy

A SUBSIDIARY of global marine engineering group James Fisher & Sons has bought Fremantle-based shipping equipment company Australian Commercial Marine for $5.4 million.

UK-based FenderCare Marine Solutions, which operates in Singapore, Brazil, UK and the Middle East, manufactures and supplies to the heavy commercial marine and offshore oil and gas sectors.

The company supplies marine hardware, including fenders, as well as a range of equipment available for both purchase and hire, such as subsurface buoyancy products, pneumatic rubber fenders, anchors, and shackles.

FenderCare managing director Eric Plane was in Fremantle last week outlining the group’s strategy to take advantage of the booming commodities market in the Asia-Pacific region.

He said new stock would begin arriving in Fremantle this month from the UK, Europe and Asia, including 500 tonnes of studlink chain, 4,000 Green Pin hi-load shackles, 100 tonnes of shipping rope and a range of Yokohama fenders.

Founded in 1992, Australian Commercial Marine is a family owned business that provides marine equipment to the commercial shipping, port and offshore industries in Western Australia.

The company occupies more than 2,000 square-metres at Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour, consisting of offices and warehousing facilities for commercial and industrial marine equipment, a marine engineering equipment supply shop, and a rope splicing and mooring assembly workshop.