Rivergate’s commitment to a highly skilled maritime workforce
Superyacht refit and maintenance is labour-intensive work that is highly valuable to the economy, requiring skilled tradespeople to carry out the work to the highest standard.
A highly skilled marine industry in southeast Queensland, particularly within the superyacht sector, is important for several reasons, helping to bolster the region’s economy and tourism.
Because of this, the Queensland Government is committed to engaging with industry to develop and strengthen a skilled and adaptive workforce that’s agile, resilient and capable of rapidly responding to the significant opportunities emerging in the marine industry.
Rivergate also supports a skilled and adaptive workforce by ensuring its workers and onsite contractors carry out work to the highest standard, while also encouraging people to regularly upskill and further their career in the marine industry.
In this blog, we look at the importance of a robust marine industry in southeast Queensland and how Rivergate actively supports it.
A bolstered economy and tourism industry
A robust marine industry contributes significantly to the national economy by generating employment opportunities and fostering economic growth. It includes shipbuilding, maritime transport, fisheries, and tourism. Skilled workers in these sectors contribute to innovation, productivity, and competitiveness, enhancing local economic performance.
Similarly, a highly skilled marine industry delivers big results for Queensland and Australia’s tourism. While our marine environments are already major attractions for tourism and recreation, a thriving marine industry – particularly the superyacht sector - supports activities such as cruising tourism, recreational yachting, and water sports, contributing to the country's tourism sector and providing recreational opportunities for its residents.
A highly skilled marine industry has better outcomes for our waterways
A well-developed marine industry is better equipped to implement and adhere to environmental regulations and sustainable practices, including measures to protect marine ecosystems, prevent pollution, and minimise the environmental impact of maritime activities.
Rivergate utilises its highly skilled workers to ensure its environmental practices are of the highest standards.
Rivergate Dockmaster Sarah Toxward is responsible for the cleanliness of Rivergate’s marina.
“With a Certificate IV in Environmental Management and Sustainability, I have had the opportunity to share some of the knowledge I obtained and provided input into Rivergate’s overall environmental and sustainability strategies since I began my role as Dockmaster,” she said.
“As someone with a strong passion for both the maritime industry and encouraging a more sustainable work environment, I am really proud to work for an International Clean Marina.”
Rivergate’s commitment to a highly skilled marine workforce
Rivergate’s team of project managers, shipyard workers and onsite contractors are specialists in their chosen fields, holding the relevant experience and qualifications to deliver quality refit and maintenance work.
Passionate about fostering an environment where workers want to upskill, Rivergate encouraged Shipyard Manager Brandon Hoy to complete his Diploma in Boatyard and Marina Operations from the United Kingdom Maritime Training Academy.
Over 12 months, the 10 modules of the Boatyard and Marina Operations course covered all aspects of managing a boatyard or marina, covering best practices, understanding high-risk operations such as hot works, safety, project management, preparing a quote, each phase of a project, and aspects of marina management, including development and expansion.
Of course, Brandon already holds the relevant tickets for travelifts, forklifts and operations, but wanted to push himself further and undertake this Diploma to improve the day-to-day operations in Rivergate’s shipyard.
“This was my first time back into the books since I entered the marine industry 20 years ago,” he said.
“There was a lot of reading, a lot of study, but once I knocked over a few modules, it was really satisfying, I learned a lot.”