Maritime jobs up for grabs
MAINTENANCE CONTRACT SPARKS CALL FOR SKILLS
A JOBS surge is about to hit a linchpin of the Cairns maritime industry after an $84m defence announcement set the scene for decades of ongoing work.
On Wednesday, Defence Minister Peter Dutton signed a $70m five-year maintenance contract won by Norsta Maritime, which will now become a regional maintenance provider to the Royal Australian Navy. Norsta Maritime, is a group venture made up of Norship Marine, Tropical Reef Shipyard, Nova Systems and Secora.
The effects of the announcement are already becoming reality with Norship Marine advertising for a number of positions including labourers, trade assistants, boilermakers, painters, electricians, carpenters, shipwrights and plumbers, with an expected 40-plus vacancies.
Norship and its group will deliver Cairns Regional Maintenance Centre – otherwise known as RMC North East – and provide regional support and maintenance services for commonwealth defence vessels based in and visiting the region.
Norship chief executive Olav Groot said the economic benefits of the RMC for the region were multifaceted and presented a significant opportunity to further diversify the economy in Far North Queensland.
“We know that our success is highly dependent on the
skills of our experienced workforce, our loyal suppliers and the backing we receive from government at all levels,” Mr Groot said.
“We will continue to invest in capability development right across our supply chain and we will invest in new equipment, infrastructure and importantly new skills and apprenticeship training, to ensure this community has
a workforce that is ready for the future.
“If we are successful our supply chain, which includes more than 200 local companies, will also be successful, which will benefit all of us.
“Together we will continue to develop Cairns into a capable, strategic port that Australia can rely on; that’s what I am excited about.”
However, the leading shipyard
was not alone in receiving funding and supporting local jobs, with Mr Dutton also announcing the government’s decision to extend a contract of $14.3m with BAE Systems Australia for the inservice support arrangements of the Royal Australian Navy’s fleet of Hydrographic platforms which are also based in Cairns and support 60 local jobs.