With our first Forum lunch kicking off in February we hit the ground running in 2023.

We welcome back a familiar face Andrew Hayes, who will provide an interesting overview on Norsta.

NORSTA Maritime (NORSTA) is a collaboration between their consortium (Norship, Tropical Reef Shipyard, Nova Systems and SECORA) and the Commonwealth Government in support of an all-Australian consortium (Norship Marine, Tropical Reef Shipyard, Nova Systems and SECORA Australasia) and the Department of Defence in support of Plan Gallileo.

Their focus is on managing and coordinating suppliers and local workforce to deliver a multi-year maritime sustainment and maintenance support program on behalf of the Royal Australian Navy.

To support this work, NORSTA is working with the local community to source and build local industry capability.

NORSTA is an Australian owned and controlled Australian Maritime business. The broader Team NORSTA incorporates Norship Marine, Tropical Reef Shipyard, Nova Systems and Secora Australasia, making this a genuine Australian owned and controlled team delivering sustainment services at scale. NORSTA secured the contract to serve as the Regional Maintenance Provider for the Regional Maintenance Centre Northeast (RMC NE) which is located in Cairns Far North Queensland. It will deliver maritime sustainment services for North-Eastern Australia and is already well-integrated with Defence in the region.

19 Jan 2022 - NORSTA: 100% Australian Sovereign Entity Underwritten by Norship and Tropical Reef Shipyard Fully invested in the Region and Community wins the $70M naval maintenance contract.

Minister for Defence, the Hon Peter Dutton MP announced NORSTA Maritime as the Regional Maintenance Provider to deliver the Cairns Regional Maintenance Centre – otherwise known as RMC North East.

“As the Regional Maintenance Provider in Cairns, NORSTA Maritime will be a vital part of the integrated workforce, performing management services, coordinating and scheduling maintenance and developing and stewarding sovereign sustainment capability.”

The Royal Australian Navy is growing its fleet and retaining its edge through a major maintenance contract in Cairns, delivering jobs and security in Far North Queensland.

Minister for Defence, the Hon Peter Dutton MP announced NORSTA Maritime as the Regional Maintenance Provider to deliver the Cairns Regional Maintenance Centre – otherwise known as RMC North East.

“RMC North East will deliver world-class continuous maintenance that is consistent and streamlined, ensuring Navy has the vessels it needs, where and when it needs them,” then Minister Dutton said.

“Cairns is a major Navy base and a gateway to the Pacific, a strategically important location for Navy.

“This five-year $70 million contract, will deliver maintenance management services, reaffirming the Morrison Government’s ongoing commitment to supporting regional development and developing our national resilience.”

The RMC North East is the first of four maintenance centres to be developed at strategic ports around the country — in Cairns, Henderson (WA), Darwin and Sydney.

NORSTA Maritime will build a regional sovereign sustainment capability by developing and maintaining supply chains, nurturing existing regional capabilities important to Defence, and establishing new regional capability required by Defence.

Minister Dutton said the contract contains incentives to ensure local and regional small and medium businesses are given a fair opportunity to compete for work.

“This model will build Australian Industry Capability, with local industry set to benefit from reduced barriers to entry and administrative overheads, as well as greater certainty and predictability so that they can better plan and invest,” then Minister Dutton said.

Growth in the maritime sector positively affects all Cairns businesses with massive growth opportunities, gaining the essential understanding and insight into how you can best tap into this potential will provide you and your business the edge.

This will be a most informative lunch providing you with the real picture and some great networking and we look forward to seeing you there.