Harwood Marine

What Harwood Marine does

Harwood Marine (legal entity Harwood Slipway Pty Ltd) is an Australian-owned marine services company operating an all-in-one shipbuilding, boat building, and vessel repair facility on the Clarence River at East Harwood Island, Northern NSW. Established in its current structure in 1983/1984 (with predecessor Harwood Slipway and Engineering Company dating to 1969), the company serves commercial maritime customers (freight ships, fast ferries, barges, patrol boats, workboats, tugboats) as well as luxury yacht owners, with a portfolio including notable refits such as the $12M MV Kokomo superyacht relift and the conversion of MV Atlas (formerly Sir Hubert Wilkins) from Arctic expedition vessel to luxury charter yacht. The company is currently owned and managed by Polaris Marine Group.

The facility combines heavy steel and aluminium fabrication with DNV-certified welding, ISO 9001:2015 quality management, and EPA Licence No. 10807. Its physical infrastructure - a 3,000-tonne slipway accepting vessels up to 100 metres in length and 25 metres in beam, a 50-ton travel lift, a 450-tonne crane currently being commissioned, and a 31m x 25m blasting and spray paint shed - provides scale advantages in a capital-intensive industry. Harwood Marine also holds the patented GILLS (Gas Injected Liquid Lubrication System), a microbubble hull-drag reduction technology developed with R&D Engineering in Tokyo that delivers 5-15% net power savings for large ocean vessels and is offered via licensing to international shipbuilders.

Revenue is generated through project-based, quote-driven engagements spanning new vessel construction (yachts, workboats, tugs, landing craft, barges), vessel refits and conversions, mechanical and electrical engineering, abrasive blasting and painting, hardstand and travel-lift services, used-vessel sales, and GILLS technology licensing. The company markets primarily through direct engagement at its Clarence River facility, its website (harwoodmarine.com.au), and organic social channels (Facebook, LinkedIn). Customers are served domestically across Northern NSW (with Harwood designated as a First Port of Entry for commercial vessels) and internationally through GILLS licensing partnerships.

Name

Harwood Marine

Legal name

Harwood Slipway Pty Ltd

Website

https://harwoodmarine.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Harwood Marine is an Australian shipbuilding and vessel repair company operating a 3,000-tonne slipway and full fabrication facility on the Clarence River in Northern NSW, serving commercial maritime operators and luxury yacht owners with new builds, refits, conversions, and licensing of its patented GILLS hull-drag reduction technology.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Shipbuilding and Marine Repair Services

NAICS

Ship Building and Repairing (336611)

SIC

Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730)

akta.pro primary industry

Barge & Coastal Freighter Shipbuilding (IMAJAAAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Landing Craft & Amphibious Workboats (LCM/LCT-style, Beaching Craft) (IMAJADAK), Sailing Yacht Manufacturing (IMAJAEAA), Underwater Hull Inspection, Cleaning & Propeller Services (TLAKAKAJ)

Keywords

• Shipbuilding services
• Ship repair services
• Boat building
• Marine engineering
• Vessel maintenance

Headquarters

HQ city

Harwood

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Shipbuilding & Repair Services: New vessel construction and repair services for commercial vessels, freight ships, small ships, fast ferries, barges, patrol boats, workboats, tugboats, cruising restaurants, and luxury yachts. Services include mechanical, fabrication & welding, high-pressure washing, abrasive blasting, painting works, electrical, steel renewals, and pipe renewal/installation.
2. Custom Boat Building: Custom vessel design and construction in steel and aluminium. Works with naval architects and customers to create custom-designed vessels. Boat building approach blends traditional craftsmanship with 21st-century technology for fine yachts, cruisers, workboats and commercial vessels.
3. Marine Engineering Services: Aluminium and steel fabrication services, marine engineering, equipment installation on board vessels. Specializes in combinations of steel hull and aluminium superstructures.
4. Tugboat & Workboat Construction: Custom tugboat and workboat building services. Engineers and qualified experts build boats of all shapes and sizes according to customer specifications. Also offers workboat hire services.
5. Boat Conversions: Modification and upgrade services including stainless steel fabrication, welding & hull repairs, rewiring, electrics & electronics, fuel tanks, fibreglass refinishing, hard top conversions, and mechanical work including engine fit-outs.
6. Abrasive Blasting Services: Hull surface preparation service in 31m by 25m blasting and spray paint shed. Prepares hull for antifouling and paint to avoid drag for better fuel consumption. Includes primer application within four hours of blasting.
7. GILLS Technology Licensing: Patented GILLS Vortex Generators and technology licensing for large ocean vessels. Provides evaluation of proposed vessels, estimated frictional drag reduction, commercial offers, technical drawings, equipment lists, and installation guidelines.
8. Hardstand & Travel Lift Services: Marine facility services including vessel lifting via 450-tonne capable travel lift, hardstand areas, and marine facility access for maintenance and repairs.
9. Vessel Sales: Sale of new and used boats including workboats, tugs, power boats, yachts, landing craft and barges.
10. Agency & Port Services: Full agency and providoring services including customs clearance, quarantine inspections, bunkering, fresh water, shipboard provisions, spare parts and oil, waste removal. First Port of Entry services for commercial vessels.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Harwood Marine designs, builds, and repairs commercial and recreational vessels in steel and aluminium from its all-in-one shipyard on the Clarence River in Northern NSW, Australia. The company fabricates yachts, workboats, tugs, landing craft, and barges, and also licenses proprietary GILLS hull-drag-reduction technology to international shipowners.

Product overview

Harwood Marine is an Australian-owned boat building, shipbuilding, and marine services company offering a comprehensive portfolio of vessels and marine solutions. Their product range includes custom-designed yachts (Cyber 4800 catamaran, Sayer HI 35), workboats and tugboats (multi-purpose work boats in various sizes from 5.99m to 16.45m, pusher tugs), power boats (Lapu Lapu aluminium plate boats, Sealife plate boats, Aluminium Utility Line Boat), and landing craft & barges (excavator barges, landing craft, truckable barges). The company also offers GILLS (Gas Injected Liquid Lubrication System), a proprietary hull drag reduction technology that generates microbubbles to reduce frictional drag on ocean vessels. Services span ship building and repair, boat building, design and project management, boat conversions, engineering (aluminium and steel fabrication), abrasive blasting, and travel lift operations (up to 450 tonnes capacity).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ship Building & Repair New vessel construction and repair services for commercial vessels, freight ships, fast ferries, barges, patrol boats, workboats, tugboats, cruising restaurants, and luxury yachts, including mechanical, fabrication, welding, high-pressure washing, abrasive blasting, painting, electrical, and pipe renewal work.
• Tugboat & Workboat Construction Custom tugboat and workboat construction, with engineering and qualified experts building vessels of varied shapes and sizes to customer specifications, plus workboat hire services.
• Custom Boat Building Custom vessel design and construction in steel and aluminium, working with naval architects and customers to create fine yachts, cruisers, workboats, and commercial vessels blending traditional craftsmanship with modern technology.
• Design & Project Management Marine design services combined with project management for vessel construction, repair, and conversion projects, working with naval architects and customers from concept through delivery.
• Boat Conversions Modification and upgrade services including stainless steel fabrication, welding, hull repairs, rewiring, electrics and electronics, fuel tanks, fibreglass refinishing, hard top conversions, and engine fit-outs.
• Engineering (Aluminium & Steel Fabrication) Aluminium and steel fabrication services and marine engineering including equipment installation on board vessels, with specialization in combined steel hull and aluminium superstructures.
• Abrasive Blasting & Painting Hull surface preparation service in a 31m by 25m blasting and spray paint shed, including primer application within four hours of blasting to avoid drag and improve fuel consumption.
• Hardstand & Travel Lift Services Marine facility services including vessel lifting via 450-tonne capable travel lift, hardstand areas, and marine facility access for maintenance and repairs.
• GILLS (Gas Injected Liquid Lubrication System) Licensing Patented GILLS Vortex Generators and technology licensing for large ocean vessels, providing evaluation of proposed vessels, estimated frictional drag reduction, technical drawings, equipment lists, and installation guidelines.
• Agency & Port Services Full agency and providoring services including customs clearance, quarantine inspections, bunkering, fresh water, shipboard provisions, spare parts and oil, and waste removal for vessels entering Australia via First Port of Entry at Goodwood Island Wharf.
• Cyber 4800 Sailing & Cruising Yacht Aluminium catamaran designed by Tim Mumby, offering a cruising speed of 7 knots with accommodation for 10+ guests in 3 en-suite queen-size cabins plus additional cabins.
• Sayer HI 35 Sailing Yacht Offshore cruiser designed by Jon Sayer, priced at $220,000, providing strong, fast, and affordable performance for individuals and club sailors.
• Multi-Purpose Work Boat / Pusher Tug (9.93m) 9.93 metre work boat with twin Cummins 6CTA8.3-C260 main engines producing 260HP each, capable of 10 knots with 2,000 litre fuel capacity.
• Self-Propelled Multi-Purpose Work Boat (5.99m) Compact 5.99m work boat with twin 50hp Mercury outboards and safety equipment to 2D Survey, priced at $75,000.
• Self-Propelled Multi-Purpose Work Boat (14.95m) 14.95 metre self-propelled work boat with twin CT 3306 TA engines (220kW @ 2000RPM), 7.00m beam, and dual 4BL Kaplan bronze propellers.
• Self-Propelled Multi-Purpose Work Boat (16.45m) 16.45 metre work boat built in 2012 with twin Volvo TAMD122A 400 BHP engines, 30 tonne central deck winch, and 12.6 tonne/mt HIAB deck crane, surveyed to 2C/2D.
• Lapu Lapu 6.5m Aluminium Plate Boat 6.5 metre aluminium plate boat designed for versatile marine applications.
• Lapu Lapu 8.7m Centre Console 8.7 metre centre console aluminium boat designed for fishing and recreational use.
• Aluminium Utility Line Boat 11m x 3.25m aluminium line boat with 0.40m draft and cruising speeds of 20 knots.
• Sealife Plate Boats Range of aluminium plate boats including the Sealife Ocean Prowler 5.9mtr Centre Console and Walkaround models, for recreational and commercial use.
• Excavator Barge 12m x 9m x 1.5m barge with 66 tonnes displacement at design waterline and 0.64m draft, designed for excavator deployment.
• Landing Craft Landing craft vessel with 11.64m length overall, 3.60m moulded beam, 0.9m moulded depth, and 0.5m design draft, fully equipped with machinery and safety gear.
• Truckable Barges Modular truckable barge system with a 12mtr dumb pontoon barge (12m x 3m x 1.2m), 10 tonne cargo deck load per pontoon or 20 tonne per pair.
• Vessel Sales (New & Used) Sale of new and used vessels including workboats, tugs, power boats, yachts, landing craft, and barges produced or sourced through the shipyard.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5-15% net power saving for ships using GILLS technology
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• R&D Engineering (Tokyo, Japan)coreTechnology or IntegrationR&D Engineering, led by Mr. Yoshiaki Takahashi, developed and tested the GILLS technology. Harwood Marine's managing director Ross Roberts has collaborated with Mr. Takahashi for the last decade on this technology development. The partnership enables Harwood Marine to offer GILLS units to international shipbuilders and shipping companies.
• Polaris Marine GroupcoreOthersPolaris Marine Group is the parent company that now owns and manages Harwood Marine. Harwood Marine operates as part of the Polaris Marine Group portfolio of marine services.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php?id=100057453759954
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/harwood-marine-australia
• Xx.com/harwoodmarine

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Harwood Marine