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With a relentless focus on quality, innovation and exceeding expectations, Tasmania’s maritime industry provides the operational and safety solutions navies require.
The maritime industry in Tasmania manufactures a range of specialised systems and equipment - particularly relating to operations and safety - that are delivering vital functions to the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) current and future fleet and to navies the world over.
Tasmania’s Defence Advocate, Rear Admiral (Rtd) Steve Gilmore, said Tasmania’s maritime industry prides itself on making systems and equipment that are more innovative, more durable and more reliable than the competition. “Maritime manufacturers in Tasmania collaborate and push each other to innovate and develop maritime solutions that are routinely the best on the market” Rear Admiral (Rtd) Steve Gilmore said.
Tasmania’s maritime systems and equipment are relied on by navies and maritime security forces in New Zealand, across Pacific nations, parts of South-East Asia, India, Hong Kong, Japan, Turkey, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, the United States, Canada and South America.
Tasmanian industry designs and manufactures systems for marine evacuation; thermal insulation and passive fire protection; submersible retrieval, sensing and marking; specialised marine antennas; and anchoring and chain management capabilities. Tasmania also produces a range of other unique and advanced systems and equipment including accommodation and habitability outfitting, bridge simulators and digital networks.
Liferaft Systems Australia (LSA) is the world’s leading provider of large capacity marine evacuation systems for both commercial and military vessels and have been designing and manufacturing the systems for over 25 years.
In 1992 LSA pioneered a simple inclined slide based dry shod Marine Evacuation System designed to deliver passengers and crew, fast yet safely, directly into large capacity liferafts. LSA’s objective now, as it was back in 1992, is to develop and produce a product that is synonymous with quality and reliability, which is of paramount importance in the marine safety industry.
Managing Director Mike Grainger said LSA’s systems are fitted in vessels operated by the Royal Navy (UK), the Royal Netherlands Navy, the Royal New Zealand Navy, the French Navy and the US Navy. LSA has been specified by BAE Systems Australia to supply its marine evacuation system for each of the RAN’s Hunter class Guided Missile Frigates.
“Our customers rely on LSA’s systems for one of the most critical of maritime functions - evacuation at sea. LSA is very proud to have our systems installed on some of the world’s most impressive naval vessels” Mr Grainger said.
CBG Systems is another Tasmanian company designing and manufacturing products to save lives. For more than 30 years, CBG Systems has been a leading innovator in marine insulation, communications and lightweight passive fire protection industries. Their products are on most of the RAN’s new major platforms and are recognised for excellence by merchant marine and military operators worldwide, including the US Navy.
CBG System’s latest product is a new lightweight, fully non-combustible panelised marine structural fire protection system, called Rapid Access Composite PLUS (RAC PLUS™). The panelling was developed in partnership with Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, and can withstand temperatures of more than 1000oC. The new technology weighs about half as much as traditional metal panelling and provides a structural fire protection solution for engine rooms, mission bays and vehicle decks.
CBG System’s Managing Director Javier Herbon said the RAC PLUS panelling is likely to change the face of ships around the world, increasing their overall operational efficiencies, and has potential applications in aerospace and the civil construction industry.
“We are continually improving our systems and equipment and we strive to bring forward the products of tomorrow to give maritime operators the safety and operability they need today” Mr Herbon said.
Moonraker antennas are another key product line of CBG Systems. The antenna systems offer a broad range of conventional and unique communication solutions for marine, defence and land based applications across a range of frequencies. Moonraker antenna systems are installed on several RAN naval platforms, including the Canberra class Landing Helicopter Docks, as well as on naval vessels around the world including the Italian Naval Law program.
“Our antenna systems range from our three metre manpack portable product to large high power whip antennas over 14 metres in length. We have set the global benchmark for developing customised solutions to complex communication challenges” Mr Herbon said.
For over 50 years, Muir Engineering has been designing and manufacturing high-quality, anchoring systems and mooring systems for leading commercial shipyards, navies and coast guards globally. Renowned worldwide for quality, reliability and durability, Muir’s anchoring systems provide peace of mind for military and maritime security operators.
Muir’s anchoring systems have been fitted to all recent RAN and Australian Border Force patrol vessels and will be fitted to the RAN’s Arafura class Offshore Patrol Vessels and six additional Cape class Patrol Boats. Muir’s anchoring systems are also installed on US Coast Guard and Indian Coast Guard vessels.
CEO Grant Asher said Muir has set industry standards for heavy-lift anchoring systems internationally based on innovation, engineering excellence and practical experience.
“Muir has maintained a continued focus on research and development, which has seen the progression and expansion of high power to weight ratio equipment that is dependable” Mr Asher said.
Tasmania’s highly specialised, advanced design and often world leading maritime systems and equipment are well placed to deliver operational and safety solutions required by military operators in Australia and worldwide.
More information on Tasmania’s defence industry is available through the Defence Tasmania Industry Directory at www.stategrowth.tas.gov.au/business/sectors/defence.
More information on Tasmania’s maritime industry is available through the Tasmania Maritime Network at www.tmn.org.au
