What Auriga does

Auriga Group Pty Ltd is an Australian private maritime services company, majority-owned by pension fund OPTrust, that operates three integrated divisions: marine pilotage, aviation (Helicopter Marine Pilot Transfer), and marine logistics. Its pilotage division provides 24/7 port and reef pilotage across 13 Australian locations via over 80 Marine Pilots (including 45+ Master Mariner Reef Pilots), executing more than 9,000 pilotage movements annually and servicing over 80% of Australia's bulk commodity export ports by volume. The aviation division operates Airbus H135 and H145 Helionix helicopters across six ports, executing 16,000+ Helicopter Marine Pilot Transfer (HMPT) missions per year at a 99.3% technical dispatch reliability, and is the only CASA-approved HMPT operator in Australia using Night Vision Goggles with winch capability. The marine division runs a modern fleet of landing craft, tugs and workboats (average age eight years), providing remote logistics to Indigenous communities and mining operations across Northern Australia.

The business model is enterprise contract-based: long-term, recurring service agreements with port authorities (Pilbara Ports Authority, Port of Melbourne, Geelong Port, Port of Onslow) and resource majors (Rio Tinto, BHP, Chevron, Woodside, Maersk, Citic Pacific), supplemented by a 24/7 self-serve online booking system and direct sales outreach. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, with revenue derived from per-movement pilotage fees, helicopter transfer rates, and contracted logistics runs. Auriga's economic moat rests on regulatory licences, ISPO/ISO/BARS accreditations, exclusive Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Master Reef Guide credentials, capital-intensive modern fleets (including five new Airbus helicopters ordered in 2024), and in-house pilot training organisations.

Operations span 20+ Australian locations with 300+ staff, headquarters in Albion (Brisbane), Queensland, and key operational bases at Brisbane, Karratha, Port Hedland, Melbourne and Darwin. The December 2024 acquisition of Darwin Tug and Line Service (DTLS) added four tugs and multiple workboats, materially expanding the Northern Australia marine business. OPTrust's stated support for both organic growth and continued M&A indicates an ongoing consolidation strategy in a sector characterised by high regulatory barriers, specialised talent scarcity, and capital intensity.

Name

Auriga

Legal name

Auriga Ports Service

Website

https://auriga.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Auriga Group is an Australian private maritime services provider operating integrated marine pilotage, Helicopter Marine Pilot Transfer (HMPT), and remote marine logistics across 20+ Australian locations for port authorities and resource majors including Rio Tinto, Pilbara Ports Authority, BHP, Chevron, and Woodside.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maritime Pilotage Services

NAICS

Navigational Services to Shipping (488330)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400)

akta.pro primary industry

Pilotage Authority & Dispatch Services (Pilot Stations, Rostering, VTS Interface) (TLAHAGAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Pilot Boat / Pilot Transfer Services (Pilot Launch Operations) (TLAHAGAH), Deep-Sea / Coastal Pilotage (Non-Harbor Coastal Transits) (TLAHAGAF)

Keywords

• Marine pilotage services
• Helicopter pilot transfer
• Port authority services
• Remote marine logistics
• Coastal shipping

Headquarters

HQ city

Albion

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Maritime Pilotage Services: Provides marine pilotage services across reef and port locations in Australia, including the Great Barrier Reef, Torres Strait, Port of Melbourne, Port Hedland, and others. Performs over 9,000 pilotage movements annually across 13 locations.
2. Helicopter Marine Pilot Transfer (HMPT): Specialist aviation services providing helicopter-based pilot transfers to vessels at major Australian ports. Services are provided under long-term contracts with port authorities and resource companies. Over 16,000 HMPT missions executed annually with 99.3% technical dispatch reliability.
3. Marine Logistics Services: Remote marine logistics and coastal shipping services, operating landing craft and tugs serving remote Indigenous communities and mining operations in Northern Australia. Provides freight consolidation services with strategic supply bases.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Auriga Group is a marine transportation company providing 24/7 marine pilotage (reef and port), Helicopter Marine Pilot Transfer (HMPT), remote marine logistics and coastal shipping, and bunkering services across Australia. Operations are anchored by 80+ marine pilots executing 9,000+ pilotage movements and 16,000+ HMPT helicopter missions annually, supported by modern Airbus H135/H145 Helionix helicopters and an average-eight-year-old marine fleet serving port authorities, mining majors, and remote communities.

Product overview

Auriga Group operates three core service divisions: Pilotage, Aviation, and Marine. The Pilotage division provides Australia's extensive 24/7 marine pilotage service covering reef and port operations across 13 locations, performing over 9,000 pilotage movements annually. The Aviation division delivers specialist Helicopter Marine Pilot Transfer (HMPT) services using Airbus H135 and H145 helicopters with 99.3% dispatch reliability, along with charter and search & rescue support. The Marine division operates landing barges, tugs, and workboats for remote logistics and coastal shipping services. Following the December 2024 acquisition of Darwin Tug and Line Service (DTLS), the Marine division expanded to include tug and line handling operations. Victorian Vessel Waypoints provides supplementary navigation data services for Victorian ports.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Auriga Pilotage (Reef and Port Pilotage Service) 24/7 marine pilotage service covering reef and port operations across 13 Australian locations, with 80+ Marine Pilots performing more than 9,000 pilotage movements annually.
• Auriga Aviation (HMPT and Charter) Specialist Helicopter Marine Pilot Transfer (HMPT) services using Airbus H135 and H145 Helionix helicopters, plus charter, search and rescue, and drone operations. Operates 24/7 at six Australian ports with 99.3% technical dispatch reliability across 16,000+ annual HMPT missions.
• Auriga Marine (Remote Logistics and Coastal Shipping) Coastal shipping and remote marine logistics using landing barges, tugs, and workboats serving remote Indigenous communities and mining operations across Northern Australia (three times per week scheduled services), plus bunkering services.
• Victorian Vessel Waypoints Navigation waypoint data service for Victorian ports (Melbourne, Geelong and surrounds), providing ECDIS routes and inbound/outbound route files for Appleton, South Wharf, Vic Dock, Cruise Ships, Geelong, Maribyrnong, Yarraville, Swanson Dock, and Webb Dock.
• Auriga Search & Rescue Aviation search and rescue support services activated by Australia's Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA).
• Darwin Tug and Line Service (DTLS) Tug and line handling marine services in the Northern Territory, providing streamlined marine service solutions to clients across Northern Australia.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99.3% technical dispatch reliability for aviation HMPT operations
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Darwin Tug and Line Service (DTLS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2024Acquisition completed December 2024, with all regulatory approvals from ACCC and FIRB. DTLS has adjacent operations in NT complementing Auriga Marine's business across Northern Australia. The combined entity provides more streamlined marine service solutions with four additional tugs and multiple workboats. All current DTLS staff remain with the business.
• Rio TintocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2023Major double-digit term contract for Aviation Marine Pilot Transfer services in Dampier and Port Walcott in the Pilbara region. To support the contract, three modern Airbus H135 Helionix helicopters are used along with a state-of-the-art air base at Karratha airport. Auriga is offering targeted scholarships for Indigenous First Officers and Apprentice Engineer positions exclusively for Indigenous candidates as part of this partnership.
• Pilbara Ports AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term strategic partnership providing Helicopter Marine Pilot Transfer (HMPT) services at Port of Port Hedland, the world's busiest bulk commodity port. Contract recently renewed well into the next decade. Auriga operates two Airbus H135 Helionix helicopters 24/7/365 with Night Vision Imaging Systems (NVIS) accreditation, conducting over 16 flights per day (6,000+ HMPT missions per annum).
• Clontarf FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAuriga Group is a proud partner of the Clontarf Foundation, which exists to improve the education, discipline, life skills, self-esteem and employment prospects of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men. This partnership supports Auriga's commitment to Indigenous community engagement and employment.
• Stars FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAuriga Group is a proud partner of the Stars Foundation, which provides a holistic program supporting Indigenous girls and young women to attend and remain engaged at school, complete Year 12 and move into work or further study. This partnership supports Auriga's commitment to Indigenous community engagement and employment.
• Murin AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAuriga Group provides assets, land and labour to support the Murin Association in Wadeye region, Northern Territory. Murrin provides passenger and freight services to the local community.
• Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAuriga's specialist pilots are exclusively recognised by GBRMPA as Master Reef Guides, the only pilots in Australia with this licence. This allows Auriga to exclusively service the international cruise ship and superyacht markets through the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• CHC Helicopter: Global helicopter services operator focused on offshore oil & gas transportation, SAR, and pilot transfer work. Comparable scale, customer base (energy and resource majors), and contracted aviation support model to Auriga Aviation.
• Svitzer: Global towage, pilot launch and terminal services operator owned by Maersk. Directly comparable as a competing provider of pilot transfer via launch and harbour towage, though Svitzer's footprint is global whereas Auriga concentrates on Australian waters.
• Smit (Boskalis): Part of Royal Boskalis Westminster, Smit provides harbour towage, salvage, and pilot launch services globally. Comparable to Auriga's launch-based pilot transfer and tug services, including Darwin-adjacent operations following the DTLS acquisition.

Regional players

• MMA Offshore (formerly Mermaid Marine): Australian-headquartered marine services provider offering vessel supply, towing, and offshore logistics, primarily serving Australian oil & gas clients. Regional comparable to Auriga Marine's vessel and remote-logistics operations.
• Babcock Australasia: Babcock's Australasian division provides maritime, aviation and critical asset support including marine logistics, search & rescue and aviation services. Comparable portfolio of integrated maritime+aviation services delivered to government and resource clients in Australia.
• Helitrans Australia: Australian helicopter operator delivering charter, emergency services and offshore/pilot transfer work in Australia/NZ. A more localized comparable to Auriga Aviation's HMPT and charter business.

Others

• Toll Group (Toll Marine): Toll Group's marine logistics arm handles coastal/remote freight delivery including to NT and northern Australian communities. Partial overlap with Auriga Marine's remote-logistics operations, particularly to Indigenous communities.
• Teekay Shipping Australia: Teekay operates tankers and offshore support vessels often transiting Australian waters and engaging pilots and port services. An adjacent customer/ecosystem player rather than direct competitor but overlapping in Australian maritime services.

Direct peers

• PHI Aviation: Vertically integrated helicopter operator providing offshore and SAR services globally, including helicopter pilot transfers. Highly comparable operating model to Auriga Aviation's HMPT business with similar contracts with energy and resource clients.
• Bristow Group: Leading global helicopter services company serving offshore energy and pilot transfer. Closely comparable to Auriga Aviation given their shared HMPT, search & rescue, and contracted aviation support for offshore/port environments.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/aurigagroupptyltd
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/auriga-group-pty-ltd

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries2 records

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 Auriga