- The Palaszczuk Government has approved grants to two companies to help revitalise Queensland's coastal shipping industry, wholly funding 12 new maritime jobs.
- Maritime Safety Queensland will initiate funding to the successful applicants under the Coastal Shipping Grants Program, as part of the government's $21 million Backing Queensland Maritime Jobs initiative.
- The successful applicants were Tn Marine Pty Ltd (Cairns) and ASP Ship Management Pty Ltd (Brisbane)
- A second round of grants will open today to target Registered Australian Vessels.
The Palaszczuk Government is revitalising coastal shipping in Queensland by issuing grants to successful applicants under its Backing Queensland Maritime Jobs (BQMJ) initiative.
BQMJ is providing $21 million of financial assistance to Queensland's maritime sector through three grants programs:
- Maritime Training Grant Program,
- Maritime Employment Grant program, and
- Coastal Shipping Grant Program.
The BQMJ election commitment aims to assist economic growth and create strategically important maritime jobs and training opportunities in Queensland.
Two companies, Tn Marine Pty Ltd (Cairns) and ASP Ship Management Pty Ltd (Gladstone), were awarded grants by Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) following a rigorous assessment of applications received under the Coastal Shipping Grants Program.
Tn Marine Pty Ltd, trading as North Marine, will use the grant to create a new barge service from Cairns which will provide general cargo and fuel to island communities and resorts in Far North Queensland. The service will provide new employment for six people.
ASP Ship Management Pty Ltd originally received partial funding from the Maritime Employment Grant Program for six new positions in its cruise ship bunkering service in the port of Brisbane.
After consideration, the six roles will now be fully funded under the Coastal shipping grants program, allowing ASP Ship Management Pty Ltd to increase its scope and provide Queensland seafarers with enhanced career opportunities, including training towards higher qualifications.
MSQ will call for a second round of applications under its Coastal Shipping Grants Program, with revised and clarified criteria to encourage further applicants.
Round two opens today and closes on 9 February 2024. Further information on the application process can be found on Maritime Safety Queensland's website.
The new program will target operators of Regulated Australian Vessels that will deliver new coastal shipping services to regional Queenslanders.
The BQMJ initiative will help to improve Queensland's economic and logistical resilience and reduce reliance on foreign flagged vessels and associated risks to the state's supply lines.
Quotes attributable to the Minister for Transport and Main Roads, Mark Bailey:
"The grants to Tn Marine Pty Ltd (Cairns) and ASP Ship Management Pty Ltd are a vote of confidence in the ability of these companies to deliver new jobs and up-skill Queensland's maritime sector.
"This brings the total to 16 jobs created under BQMJ initiative, combined with grants already issued under the Maritime Employment Grant Program and are in addition to the 29 training opportunities created by the Maritime Training Grant Program.
"These funds will kick-start maritime careers and businesses in Queensland and support locally based jobs and supply chains.
"The second round of coastal shipping grants will target organisations that will not only deliver new shipping services but are also prepared to invest in employing mariners with the highest competencies.
"This will build the capacity of Queensland mariners to support state and international shipping responsibilities more ably.
"This provides an important signal to business and the community that there's a future in coastal shipping and maritime careers."
Quotes attributable to Tn Marine Company Director, Courtney Hansen:
"The award of a coastal shipping grant will allow us to enter new markets, increase our employment capabilities and aid in the sustainable growth of our business," Ms Hansen said.
"This will revolutionize our business, in terms of productivity, and we are thrilled to be given the opportunity to deliver high-quality outcomes.
"Coastal shipping has a long and rich history in Far North Queensland. Our region is geographically sparse and shipping provides the lifeline between our major hubs and the remote communities that are dotted along the coastline, through the Torres Strait and into the Gulf of Carpentaria.
"Through this grant opportunity, North Marine is eager to provide these communities another service to better enable connectivity to the mainland.
"North Marine is proudly owned and operated by two Cairns families. As locals, we believe in the power of community, investing in regional Australia and the profound effect that meaningful and sustainable employment opportunities can provide to the region.
"We are passionate about providing training pathways for our employees and are proud to be entrusted by MSQ to deliver diverse employment outcomes for the maritime sector in FNQ."
Quotes attributable to ASP Ships Group Chief Executive Officer – Australia, Mr Mark Patman:
"Shipping is a capital-intensive business with high operating costs. This grant will enable ASP to develop our shipping activity in Queensland with a higher degree of certainty and confidence of success for the longer term.
"The coastal shipping grant demonstrates the Queensland Government's support for coastal shipping and the importance this plays in Queensland.
"The grant will enable us to grow ASP's shipping activity in Queensland. It is also important to note that shipping generates significantly lower CO2 emissions than road, rail and air transport.
"The grant has enabled ASP to grow the number of Queenslanders we employ and will also increase the opportunities for us to provide additional training opportunities for those seeking a career in the Queensland maritime industry."
