Until recently the small and recreational boat sector has been fairly fragmented, but with the foresight of the Boating Industry Association, Australia (BIAA) nationally, and more recently BIA branches within each of the States, including BIA (WA), a more strategic focus is developing.
The BIA is in the process of developing an industry focus and strategy. From this document current and potential markets will be determined.
PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
This section considers the products and services provided by the marine industry sectors, particularly for ship construction and repair.
HIGH SPEED CRAFT
The Australian Shipbuilding Association (ASA) believes high-speed vessel technology will be at the heart of a revolution. This will achieve cost and time reductions for transport operators that will open the way for them to compete effectively with air transport, especially on short hauls.
The rapid development of high speed craft over the last decade was well illustrated in a recent report for the Western Australian Shipbuilders Association, whose members account for 70 per cent of Australian output of this type of vessel. The difference between the typical vessel produced in 1986 and its equivalent ten years later can be seen in the following table:
The design and development of high speed ocean freighters heralds the development of a new generation of high-speed light-weight ships. These ships rely principally on rapidturn-round time between ports and compete against the more traditional markets of air freight and other conventional vessels.
STEEL SHIPBUILDING
The traditional market for the steel shipbuilding industry in Western Australia is fishing vessels, tugs and support vessels for the oil and gas off-shore industry.
The market for steel hulled displacement vessels have not been strong for the last few years. Although Australia is already competitive where well finished, high quality vessels are required, Australian builders do not enjoy the same competitive advantages as they do with yachts and fast ferries. Nevertheless, there is a significant market for such craft both domestically and in nearby countries such as New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and the Pacific Islands. Also, as Asian costs continue to rise, Australian yards are becoming increasingly competitive in that huge market.
