Rivergate Marina & Shipyard celebrates a trifecta of awards at this year’s Australian Marine Industry Awards, hosted yesterday by AIMEX-Superyacht Australia at the Southport Yacht Club.

Following its recent $200m redevelopment proposal to make it the largest superyacht refit and maintenance hub in the Asia-Pacific region, Rivergate Marina & Shipyard won the Superyacht Industry Provider of the Year Award. Judges praised Rivergate for its international reputation for world-class repair and refit facilities and superior service.

Andrew Cannon, General Manager thanked the Rivergate team and attributed the win to the consistently high calibre work and dedication of tenants and contractors based at Rivergate. “Our sole focus at Rivergate is the satisfaction of owners and Captains. For 12 years we have been serving the superyacht industry with that goal in mind, as well as promoting Australia as the ideal destination for international superyachts.”

In the Commercial Marine Awards, the first award of the evening for Commercial Marine Project/Design or Manufacturer of the Year went to Aus Ships Group, based at Rivergate. Aus Ships was recognised for its successful design and delivery of the first of eight new-generation CityCats for the City of Brisbane.

In accepting the Award, Founder and Managing Director, Tommy Ericson paid tribute to the Aus Ships team. “This is testament to the ingenuity and quality of vessels designed and built in Australia. We can manufacture world-class vessels competitively.”

A new category, Apprentice of the Year, was added this year and was won by Jasmine Willoughby, who is undertaking her Certificate III in Engineering-Fabrication Trade (Boilermaking/welding) at Aus Ships Group.

Aus Ships, Rivergate, TAFE and East Coast Apprenticeships congratulated Willoughby on her Award and unanimously praised her for her dedication, motivation and passion for the trade. Willoughby is a graduate of East Coast Apprenticeships’ Launch into Work Project aimed at growing the skills base for the superyacht sector. The course, delivered by TAFE Queensland SkillsTech, is designed to cover what employers are seeking: apprentices proficient in aluminium MIG welding applicable to boat building and repairs.

“My employment at Aus Ships allows me exposure to several different trades so I have also built on skills and knowledge outside of my trade qualification,” says Willougby. “What I like most about the superyacht industry is that it’s never repetitive. I can apply my skills to all part of a vessel during construction.”