How Rivergate is future-proofing for the maritime boom

Our expansion plans will ensure Rivergate is ready for an influx of superyachts and vessels as a result of the COVID-led boating boom.

It’s no secret that the maritime industry is on the crest of a global boom.

The pandemic was a catalyst for ultra-high-net-worth individuals to spend their time (and money) at sea, with superyacht sales reaching an all-time high in 2021.

The boating boom doesn’t just stop with superyachts, either.

The Defence and commercial maritime sectors are also undergoing strong growth, which will require more skilled workers in the future.

So, what is the team at Rivergate doing to ensure Australia has the right infrastructure and workforce to support the global marine boom?

We spoke to four key Rivergate leaders to find out.

Creating world-class training to meet Australia’s maritime skill shortage

Rivergate is set to become “a global incubator for innovation and excellence” when it comes to marine-related trades and professions, according to Rivergate Director, Tom Hill.

Predictions already state that the maritime industry is 20,000 people short of its workforce requirements.

To ensure that available roles are filled by Australians, Rivergate plans to become an international training hub for the marine and superyacht industries.

Our expansion plans include a 5-storey Trade Centre, which will feature dedicated apprentice training rooms. There’s also the potential for Rivergate to establish a new Superyacht Centre of Training Excellence, which would attract students from around the world.

“Our region is already well known around the world for our highly skilled workforce and top-quality service standards,” Mr Hill said.

“We are now planning to build on that reputation by making Rivergate a global incubator for innovation and excellence in more than 25 marine-related trades and professions,” he said.

“This will include collaborating closely with groups such as TAFE Queensland to ensure we are teaching the right skills and keeping Australia at the forefront of global advancements.”

*Brett Bolton, Rivergate Project Director*

Delivering innovative infrastructure and technology to support bigger vessels

“Superyachts are only part of the picture,” says Rivergate Project Director, Brett Bolton when talking about the maritime boom.

With Rivergate receiving council approval for the $200 million expansion earlier this year, Brett says there’s never been a better time for the east coast of Australia to have world-class infrastructure.

“The opportunities are here right now, the market is here right now, and it’s only growing,” says Brett.

“The global superyacht fleet is predicted to increase in size by more than 30% in the next 10 years, Australia’s Defence Force is building and mobilising many vessels to patrol in the Pacific region, and commercial vessels are also getting larger and increasing in number.”

To meet the requirements of these vessels, Rivergate’s expansion will see the creation of a state-of-the-art shiplift for vessels up to 90 metres and 3,000 tonnes and capacity for 8 to 12 vessels, making Rivergate the largest superyacht hub in the Asia Pacific region.

*Andrew Cannon, Rivergate General Manager*

Proudly preparing an award-winning team for the expansion of a lifetime

As Rivergate’s longest serving employee, you’ll be hard pressed to find anyone else more excited about Rivergate’s upcoming expansion than him.

To ensure Rivergate is prepared to meet the demands of a global maritime boom, it takes more than world-class infrastructure – it requires an award-winning team that is also up for the challenge.

In his role as General Manager, Andrew is ensuring his staff are prepared to handle a bolstered workload.

With a plethora of industry awards under our belt, including the illustrious 2020 AIMEX Superyacht Industry Provider of the Year award, Andrew believes there’s no better team to both oversee and deliver an expansion of this kind.

“We have a fantastic team here at Rivergate,” he said.

"I'm excited to grow our business to a level which will be exceptional to the Australian marine industry.

"The expansion will make Rivergate Marina and Shipyard one of a kind."

Fostering a culture of positive, world-class service to ensure Captains and crew want to visit Rivergate time and time again

With world-class experience and the attitude to match it, Sarah Toxward knows the importance of customer service.

As an ex-yacht crew member herself, she knows just how far a positive experience can encourage captains and crew to return to a marina and shipyard for maintenance, refits, and repairs.

“I want to be delivering the best customer service that I can, greeting people coming to Rivergate, whether it be yachties on boats or superyachts, and leaving them with a happy experience – regardless of whether they’re here for a holiday or work that they’re getting done,” she says.

Rivergate’s reputation as the premier place in Australia for superyachts was the catalyst for her to apply for the position, and it’s something she’s excited to both maintain and improve upon.

“Seeing firsthand how much money superyachts bring to Australia and the local economy has highlighted to me how much we need them to come here,” she says. “People need to start seeing the flow-on effects from visiting superyachts.”

To learn more about Rivergate’s expansion plans, visit www.rivergatesuperyachts.com.au