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As Birdon's global footprint grows, the Australian-owned business is committed to strengthening sovereign defence capability and the local maritime engineering industry.
Australian family-owned business Birdon has carved out a niche in the defence industry to become one of the largest manufacturer of army watercraft in the Western world.
CEO Jamie Bruce said Birdon is continually reinvesting in its local facilities and developing a highly skilled Australian team across its whole-of-life maritime portfolio, which includes design, build, maintenance, and decommissioning.
"Increasing our capability and capacity ensures that critical maritime assets are developed domestically, reducing reliance on foreign suppliers," Mr Bruce said.
As an authentic sovereign organisation, Birdon's growth directly contributes to Australia's national security, develops a strong Australian workforce, and benefits local supply chains.
Birdon's commitment to supporting Australian industry is guided by its Australian Industry Capability Maturity Model strategic framework and engagement with the Industry Capability Network NSW.
Its Advanced Manufacturing Shipbuilding Methodology ensures a high percentage of Australian content across Birdon's projects.
"By procuring, maintaining, modifying and servicing defence assets and their components in Australia, we're reducing reliance on foreign-owned products, creating more jobs for Australians, and means investment dollars stay onshore,” Mr Bruce said.
The business was started by Jamie Bruce’s father in 1977, beginning with a single dredge in Port Macquarie on the NSW Mid North Coast.
Since then the business’ local success has fuelled exports and expansion across the US, the UK, Europe and Asia.
As a prime contractor, Birdon partners with the Australian Defence Force, including the Australian Army and the Royal Australian Navy, to deliver durable, high-quality maritime solutions for military use. International customers include the US Army, US Coast Guard, US Marine Corps, Brazilian Army, Israeli Defence Forces, Japanese Ministry of Defense and Turkish Armed Forces.
Mr Bruce said attracting, retaining and developing a sovereign workforce is a priority for Birdon.
“Over the past 48 years our team has grown to more than 370 across our six Australian locations,” Mr Bruce said.
“We're proud to provide career pathways for young people and mature age workers through our Futures Apprenticeship Program. Our 2025 intake brings our total number of active apprentices to 14.
Manager People & Culture Martin Minogue said this investment in local talent is supported by Birdon’s commitment to safety, ongoing mentoring, and development opportunities beyond the completion of apprenticeships.
“With a global workforce of over 750 people, a career with Birdon opens up many exciting opportunities for our apprentices,” Mr Minogue said.
Birdon is also growing its workforce in Western Australia, where its facilities are strategically positioned to enhance Australia's sovereign defence capability and meet the increasing sustainment and decommissioning requirements of the resources sector.
Birdon established a permanent base in WA in 2017 with a technical hub in Henderson, providing ship design, building, maintenance, and decommissioning services.
It has also operated a shipyard in Dampier since 2021, providing vessel dockings for repairs and maintenance, offshore mobilisations, and subsea decommissioning and disposal works to clients.
Jamie Bruce said Birdon is leading the charge toward a world-class domestic decommissioning industry while delivering significant economic benefits to WA through job creation and local industrial development.
"With continued local support, we can meet the needs of the Commonwealth and the oil and gas sectors and capitalise on the growing demand from emerging industries like offshore wind,” Mr Bruce said.
"At our Dampier and Henderson sites, we have the maritime engineering and sustainment expertise to support industry, offering significant savings in docking time, cost and fuel for companies based in the north-west corner compared to sending vessels to foreign providers in overseas locations such as Singapore."
Birdon was announced as Winner of the Sustainability and Green Economy Award at the 2024 Premier’s NSW Export Awards for the decommissioning and disposal of ex-naval refuelling ship HMAS Sirius, the largest maritime structure in Australia, with 99.13% materials recovered by Birdon and its supply chain partners in Henderson.
With substantial year-on-year growth from continuous reinvestment, Birdon recently refreshed its branding to reflect its position as a global leader in maritime engineering. Watch Birdon’s rebranding video.
"The big, bold, bright brand and abstract propeller icon illustrates our maritime ingenuity, as well as our forward movement and future thinking,” Mr Bruce said.
"In everything we do, we're driven by the motto of our founder, my father, Jim Bruce, “Make it Happen.”
