Hart Marine

What Hart Marine does

Hart Marine is a privately held Australian composite boat builder founded in 1983 by Mal Hart and headquartered at Yaringa Boat Harbour in Western Port, Victoria. The company manufactures ORC (Optimised Rapid Craft) pilot boats and police/rescue vessels under an exclusive Australian build partnership with Pantocarene French naval architects. Vessels are constructed using fibre-reinforced plastic (FRP) composites, DIAB structural cores, and resin infusion techniques, producing 12.5m to 18.57m craft with self-righting capability, wave-piercing beak bow hull form, and 30+ year operational lifespans. Two product lines (ORC Pilot and ORC Police) are offered in multiple size variants, supported by a servicing and shipyard operation at the Yaringa facility with travel lifts for vessels up to 50 tonnes.

The company operates a direct enterprise field sales model, supplying custom-specification vessels to government port authorities, pilot services, and police forces on multi-year contracts. Vessel pricing is custom and has reached AU$3 million for 17.3m ORC craft (Port of Townsville, 2020), with smaller vessels in the AU$2-2.3M range. Revenue streams include one-time vessel sales and recurring servicing (composite work, mechanical, structural, electrical, and survey work). Anchor customers include Port Phillip Sea Pilots (7 builds), Flinders Ports (3 contracted), DP World (6 planned for UAE), Queensland and Victoria Police, and multiple Australian and New Zealand port authorities.

Technology partnerships underpin product capability: Pantocarene (naval architecture), Volvo Penta (IPS propulsion), Hamilton Jet (waterjets), Caterpillar (engines), and DIAB (composite cores). The company has earned Ausmarine Best Pilot Boat Builder awards in 2012 and 2014 and Best Police Boat in 2019, operates with ~85-90 staff including 26 apprentices, and secured AU$5M in Business.gov.au funding in July 2025 to support growth. Past strategic milestones include the 2018 relocation to Yaringa Boat Harbour, the 2021 Al Dairah export to DP World/P&O Maritime Dubai, and ongoing trans-Tasman expansion through Port Nelson, Lyttelton, and PrimePort.

Name

Hart Marine

Legal name

Hart Marine

Website

https://hartmarine.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Hart Marine is a privately held Australian composite boat builder that designs and manufactures ORC pilot boats and police/rescue vessels using Pantocarene French naval architecture, supplying government port authorities, pilot services, and police forces across Australia, New Zealand, and the UAE.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Vessel Manufacturing

NAICS

Ship Building and Repairing (336611), Boat Building (336612)

SIC

Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730)

akta.pro primary industry

Search & Rescue (SAR) & Lifeboats (IMAJADAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Naval & Government Vessel Maintenance & Modernization (TLAKAKAB), Stability, Weight & Load Analysis (Intact/Damage Stability, Weight Control) (IMAJAGAI), Safety, Risk & Compliance Engineering (SOLAS, Class Rules, HAZID/HAZOP, FMEA) (IMAJAGAJ)

Keywords

• Pilot boat manufacturing
• Composite boat building
• Commercial vessel construction
• Police patrol vessels
• Marine servicing and repair

Headquarters

HQ city

Victoria

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Vessel Manufacturing and Sales: Custom-built commercial vessels (pilot boats, police boats, rescue boats) sold directly to port authorities, police forces, and maritime operators. Revenue from design, engineering, construction, and commissioning of vessels.
2. Servicing and Shipyard Operations: Maintenance, repairs, and servicing of vessels including composite work, mechanical work, engineering, structural work, survey requirements, and electrical work. Includes parts and labour.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Hart Marine designs, engineers, and builds custom commercial ORC pilot boats and ORC police/rescue vessels using composite FRP construction and the proprietary Pantocarene beak bow / self-righting naval architecture. Vessels range from 11.89m to 18.57m and are sold directly to port authorities, pilot services, and police forces across Australia, New Zealand, and international markets. The company also operates a full-service shipyard at Yaringa Boat Harbour delivering composite, mechanical, structural, and electrical repair and maintenance.

Product overview

Hart Marine is a composite boat builder specializing in ORC (Pantocarene-designed) pilot boats and police/rescue vessels. The product portfolio consists of two core product lines: ORC Pilot Boats and ORC Police Boats, available in multiple size configurations (12.5m to 18.57m). All vessels feature the signature Pantocarene beak bow design, self-righting capability, suspended wheelhouse, and composite FRP construction. The ORC Pilot series includes the ORC 125, ORC 143, ORC 156, ORC 173, and ORC 181 models, while the ORC Police series includes the ORC 119, ORC 151, and ORC 173 Police variants. Hart Marine also provides comprehensive servicing and shipyard services including composite work, mechanical, engineering, and electrical services at their Yaringa Boat Harbour facility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ORC Pilot Boats Self-righting composite pilot boats with Pantocarene French naval architecture, featuring wave-piercing beak bow design, suspended wheelhouse, and 35+ year operational lifespan. Range includes ORC 125 (12.5m), ORC 143 (14.3m), ORC 156 (15.5m), ORC 173 (17m), and ORC 181 (18.1m) fast pilot craft with twin main engines delivering 28-35 knot maximum speeds, 25-28 knot cruising speeds, and capacity for 5-7 pilots plus 2 crew. Named 'Pilot Boat of Choice' in Germany, London, Belgium, France, Australia, New Zealand, and UAE.
• ORC Police Boats Jet-driven police and rescue vessels combining Pantocarene French design with Hart Marine composite FRP construction. Range includes ORC 119 (11.89m), ORC 151 (15m), and ORC 173 Police (17m) multipurpose fast craft with Hamilton Jet waterjet propulsion, twin main engines, 35-42 knot top speed, and self-righting capability. Features include open aft working deck with 500kg crane, shallow-draught operation, and 2+6 crew capacity for patrol, rescue, and water policing duties.
• Servicing & Shipyard Marine servicing and repair services including composite work, mechanical work, engineering, structural work, survey requirements, and electrical work. Located at Yaringa Boat Harbour with travel lifts accommodating vessels up to 50 tonnes and weatherproof painting sheds. Serves commercial vessels and supports Hart Marine's installed base of pilot and police boats.

Quantifiable outcome

• Port Phillip Sea Pilots reduced port closure times from days to hours due to Hart Marine boat handling capabilities
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers19 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and major.

• Flinders PortsflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2023Three-vessel contract for pilot boats with launches in 2024. Flinders Ports showed industry collaboration by postponing their build to allow Hart Marine to prioritize Port Phillip Sea Pilots replacement vessel. Spirit delivered with Volvo Penta IPS systems.
• DP World / P&O Maritime LogisticsflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019DP World is the world's largest port operator with 78 ports. Approached Hart Marine in 2019 for custom self-righting pilot vessels. Al Dairah is the first of 6 planned pilot boat builds for DP World operations in UAE (Jebel Ali and Rashid ports). Hart Marine learned extensively how to build for export through this partnership.
• Pantocarene (French Naval Architects)coreTechnology or IntegrationFrench naval architects with 35+ years of ORC (Optimised Rapid Craft) design development. Pantocarene has spent over 30 years refining the beak bow hull form and self-righting design. Partnership produces the ORC Pilot Boat range considered the pilot boat of choice internationally.
• Port Phillip Sea PilotsflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner7 builds delivered including ongoing partnership. Port Phillip Sea Pilots chose Hart Marine for new vessel construction after industry collaboration during accident recovery. New vessel featuring Volvo IPS system.
• Yaringa Boat HarbourcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerYaringa Boat Harbour owner Stefan Borzecki provides facility lease to Hart Marine including hard stand area, boat lifter, and marine services area. Hart Marine relocated manufacturing headquarters from Mornington to Yaringa for improved boat launching capabilities.
• Queensland Police ServicemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTwo high-speed police patrol vessels (Mooloolaba and sister ship) built to custom specifications including Hamilton HJ403 waterjets, Czone switching, and 42-knot performance for patrol and rescue operations.
• Port Nelson (New Zealand)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInaugural build for Port Nelson due mid-2024 - 173 ORC Pilot Boat. Port Nelson has long provided safe harbor and hospitality during Hart Marine's trans-Tasman deliveries.
• Port of TownsvillemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAU$3 million contract for 17.3m ORC vessel to expand fleet from three to four pilot boats. Design features include self-righting capability, oversized rudders, and wave-piercing beak bow.
• Volvo PentamajorTechnology or IntegrationVolvo Penta Inboard Performance System (IPS) being integrated into Hart Marine vessels for Flinders Ports and Port Phillip Sea Pilots. IPS provides fuel efficiency through twin counter-rotating propellers and enhanced maneuverability.
• Hamilton JetmajorTechnology or IntegrationHamilton HJ403 and HJ322 waterjets installed in police vessels for shallow draught operation and high-speed performance. Removal of gearboxes provides weight savings and eliminates power losses.
• Caterpillar (Engines)majorTechnology or IntegrationCaterpillar C18 engines powering Al Dairah pilot boat (2x500kW) and C2.2 generator sets. Engines configured for 6,000 hours per year operation requirement.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Camarc Ltd: UK-based specialist builder of pilot boats, patrol vessels, and workboats using advanced composite construction. Direct competitor to Hart Marine in the international pilot boat market, with overlapping customer base of port authorities and government agencies.
• South Boats IOW: Isle of Wight-based composite boat builder producing ORC pilot boats under license, patrol vessels, and windfarm support craft. Closest competitor in ORC technology and direct rival for European and Middle Eastern pilot-boat tenders.
• Kooiman De Vries Scheepsbouw: Dutch shipbuilder of pilot boats, patrol vessels, and workboats with deep European port authority relationships. Competes with Hart Marine in international tenders for high-end composite pilot vessels.
• Birdon: Australian boat builder specializing in commercial workboats, pilot boats, and military vessels with government and defense customers across Australia. Direct domestic competitor with similar customer profile to Hart Marine.

Broad incumbents

• Incat Tasmania: Australian composite boat builder famous for high-speed catamarans and ferries, also supplying military and government vessels. Uses similar FRP composite construction technology to Hart Marine but operates at much larger scale across broader vessel segments.
• Austal: Australian-listed global shipbuilder of defence and commercial vessels including patrol boats. Larger-scale, publicly-traded competitor that supplies naval and government customers in similar procurement channels as Hart Marine.
• Damen Shipyards: Dutch global shipbuilder offering patrol vessels, pilot boats, tugs, and workboats across 100+ countries. Broad incumbent with deep relationships at major port operators (including competitors of DP World) that could displace Hart Marine on international tenders.
• Fassmer Shipyard: German shipbuilder producing patrol boats, pilot boats, SAR vessels, and lifeboats for governments and port authorities worldwide. Direct overlap in pilot boat and rescue vessel categories with Hart Marine.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hart-marine
• Xx.com/hartmarineboats
• Facebookfacebook.com/hartmarine

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hart Marine