Gippsland Ports

What Gippsland Ports does

Gippsland Ports Committee of Management Inc. is a statutory authority established in 1996 by the Victorian Government to manage five designated local ports (Mallacoota, Snowy River/Marlo, Gippsland Lakes, Corner Inlet and Port Albert, Anderson Inlet) and four waterways (Lake Tyers, Shallow Inlet, Sydenham Inlet, Tamboon Inlet) spanning 720 km of south-eastern Victorian coastline and approximately 1,431 sq km of waterways. The organisation operates the public maritime infrastructure of the region, including roughly 100 wharves and jetties, 900 berths and moorings, four slipways, two commercial boatyards (Bullock Island and Paynesville), and approximately 800 navigation aids. It maintains navigable depths via two owned dredging vessels, the cutter suction dredge 'Kalimna' and the trailing suction hopper dredge 'Tommy Norton', and delivers digital services through the Waterways Online interactive mapping platform and a mobile app on iOS and Android.

Core services split between regulated asset management and commercial operations. Regulated functions include navigation safety, harbour master directions, vessel traffic management, emergency response, oil spill response, derelict vessel removal under the Port Management (Local Ports) Regulations 2025, and statutory permitting under the Port Management Act 1995 and Marine Safety Act 2010. Commercial operations comprise berth and mooring leases, slipway and hardstand services at the two boatyards, on-water fuel sales (diesel at A$2.104/L and unleaded at A$2.013/L as of June 2026), sewage pumpout facilities, and pilotage coordination with partners such as AMS Group for traffic into the Barry Beach Marine Terminal. The organisation is structured as a Committee of Management Inc. with a Board appointed by the State of Victoria; it is not a publicly listed company and has no private equity or venture capital ownership.

Revenue derives from a mix of user-pays fees (berths/moorings, fuel, boatyard services, permits) and government appropriations supporting dredging, infrastructure renewal, and statutory management functions. Customer segments span recreational boaters (the primary user group of the Gippsland Lakes and coastal inlets), commercial shipping and maritime operators, the offshore oil and gas industry using Barry Beach Marine Terminal for Bass Strait logistics (notably ExxonMobil's Esso Australia and service providers such as Qube Energy and Engage Marine), commercial fishing, and tourism charter operators. The organisation is led by CEO Chris Waites (appointed September 2018) and Chair Geoff Hocking, operates from a head office in Bairnsdale with depots at Lakes Entrance, Paynesville, and Port Welshpool, and employs approximately 57 staff.

Name

Gippsland Ports

Legal name

Gippsland Ports Committee of Management Inc.

Website

https://gippslandports.vic.gov.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Gippsland Ports is a Victorian Government statutory Committee of Management that operates five local ports and four waterways spanning 720 km of south-eastern coastline and 1,431 sq km of waterways in Victoria, Australia, providing navigation, dredging, berthing, boatyard, and fuel services to commercial and recreational maritime users.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Port and Waterway Management

NAICS

Water Transportation (483), Port and Harbor Operations (488310), Port and Harbor Operations (48831)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400)

akta.pro primary industry

Maritime & Port Authorities (Public Ports, Harbors, Ferries Terminals) (BPAIALAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Port Equipment Operations (Crane Operators, RTG/RMG, Straddle Carrier Operations) (TLAHALAE), Port Call Clearance & Documentation (Arrival/Departure, Customs/Immigration/Health) (TLAHAJAA)

Keywords

• Port management services
• Waterway navigation aids
• Commercial maritime facilities
• Boatyard slipway services
• Coastal port operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Bairnsdale

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Berths and Moorings: Fees for permanent and temporary berthing at public wharves, jetties, and swing moorings across the managed ports and waterways.
2. Commercial Shipping Services: Fees for commercial shipping operations including pilotage services, port operations management at Barry Beach Marine Terminal, and vessel traffic management.
3. Boatyard Services: Revenue from boatyard operations at Bullock Island and Paynesville including hardstand, slipway services, and vessel maintenance facilities.
4. Fuel Sales: On-water fuel sales at Bullock Island and Paynesville including diesel (DSL) and unleaded petrol (ULP).
5. Permits and Authorisations: Fees for permits, authorisations, and regulatory compliance services under the Port Management Act and Marine Safety Act.
6. Abandoned Vessel Disposal: Recovery of costs associated with removal and disposal of abandoned vessels from waterways.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Gippsland Ports is a Victorian state government statutory body (Committee of Management) that manages five local ports and four waterways spanning 1,431 sq km and 720 km of coastline. The organization operates approximately 800 navigation aids, 100 wharves and jetties, 900 berths and moorings, 4 slipways, and 2 commercial boatyards, delivering integrated port management, vessel support services, marine fuel, and online booking for moorings and berths.

Product overview

Gippsland Ports is a Committee of Management responsible for managing five local ports and four waterways across approximately 1,430 sq km of waterways in Victoria, Australia. The organization operates a portfolio of services including the Waterways Online interactive mapping platform, mobile app for real-time marine information, commercial boatyards (Paynesville and Bullock Island), berths and moorings facilities, and port management services. Core operational services include dredging (using vessels 'Kalimna' and 'Tommy Norton'), sand management, on-water fuel supply, sewage pump-out facilities, webcams, and commercial shipping management including the Barry Beach Marine Terminal. The organization also provides approximately 40 public swing moorings for recreational boaters and maintains over 800 navigation aids across its managed waterways.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Gippsland Ports Boatyards: Boatyard services operated by Gippsland Ports at Bullock Island and Paynesville locations

Products and services

• Port and Waterway Management Services
• Navigation Aids Maintenance
• Wharf, Berth, and Mooring Services
• Boatyard and Slipway Services
• Marine Fuel Sales
• Waterways Online Booking System

Quantifiable outcome

• Comprehensive mapping of Lake Wellington completed - 1,500 kilometres of survey lines collected at 100-meter intervals
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 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

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Esso Australia (ExxonMobil)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 February 2024Esso Australia, through its parent company ExxonMobil, charters vessels for Bass Strait offshore oil and gas operations. The BBC Everest was chartered to deliver vital infrastructure cargo for the Kipper Compressor Project on the Tuna Platform. Barry Beach Marine Terminal, owned by Esso Australia and managed by Qube Energy, facilitates these operations. Gippsland Ports manages port operations and maritime safety for vessels entering Corner Inlet.
• Qube EnergycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 February 2024Qube Energy manages the Barry Beach Marine Terminal (BBMT) on behalf of Esso Australia. BBMT has been a central operations base for the Gippsland Basin Offshore Oil and Gas Industry since 1966. Qube collaborates with Gippsland Ports for safe vessel arrivals and departures.
• AMS GroupcoreTechnology or Integration · 3 February 2024AMS Group is a registered pilotage service provider that collaborated with Gippsland Ports to renew pilot licenses and provide necessary training for safe navigation of foreign-flagged vessels into Barry Beach Marine Terminal.
• Engage MarineminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 February 2024Engage Marine provided towage services using the Tug Engage Renegade for berthing and departure procedures of the BBC Everest at Barry Beach Marine Terminal.
• Carter Marine GroupminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2022Carter Marine Group provided pile driving services for the McLoughlins Beach Jetty reconstruction project, working in partnership with Gippsland Ports who undertook the jetty construction.
• Wagner CFTminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 January 2022Wagner CFT supplied Fibre Reinforced Polymer (FRP) piles, beams, deck and handrail materials for the McLoughlins Beach Jetty reconstruction project.
• Sustainable Infrastructure SystemsminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 January 2022Contracted for detailed design and materials supply for the McLoughlins Beach Jetty replacement project. Manufacturing of FRP components was underway as of early 2024.
• Parks VictoriaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration partner in the Gippsland Lakes Habitat Project, which won a Victorian Coastal Award. Parks Victoria is a government agency managing Victoria's parks and waterways.
• Birdlife East GippslandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner in the Gippsland Lakes Habitat Project. Contributed to restoration of Crescent Island and Pelican Island for bird habitat.
• Nungurner Landcare GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner in the Gippsland Lakes Habitat Project. Contributed volunteer effort to restoration activities.
• Gippsland Lakes Coordinating CommitteeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided funding for installation of 10 additional swing moorings for recreational boaters at popular destinations within the Gippsland Lakes.
• Victorian Department of Transport and Planning (DTP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDTP is the parent government department that delegates port management responsibilities to Gippsland Ports. DTP updated the Port Management (Local Ports) Regulations 2025 which came into effect 22 June 2025.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Pilbara Ports Authority: Western Australian statutory port authority managing Port Hedland, Dampier, Port Walcott, Cape Preston, and Ashburton. Comparable as a multi-port statutory authority in Western Australia providing similar delegated port management, navigation safety, and vessel traffic services.
• Port of Newcastle: NSW regional port authority operating the Port of Newcastle. Comparable as an Australian regional port authority managing a large waterway footprint, multiple berths, and significant bulk and project cargo throughput.
• TasPorts: Tasmanian state-owned port operator managing multiple ports and marine infrastructure. Comparable as a regional Australian port authority with a similar statutory mandate covering multiple ports, vessel traffic management, and commercial/recreational berthing.
• Gladstone Ports Corporation: Queensland Government-owned corporation managing the Port of Gladstone and Port Alma. Comparable as a state-owned multi-port authority with significant industrial throughput and statutory port management responsibilities.
• Port of Brisbane: Queensland Government-owned port operator at the mouth of the Brisbane River. Comparable as a state-owned statutory port authority with diversified commercial cargo and passenger/recreational functions, and a fellow 2024 Australian Shipping and Maritime Industry Awards finalist.
• Port Authority of New South Wales: State-owned port authority managing multiple NSW ports including Sydney Harbour, Port Botany, and Port Kembla. Closely comparable as another Australian state statutory port manager with delegated port management responsibilities, multiple terminal operations, and a mix of commercial and recreational users.
• Flinders Ports: South Australian port operator managing seven ports including Port Adelaide, Port Lincoln, and Wallaroo. Comparable as a multi-port regional authority operating across a defined state coastline with a mix of commercial and recreational berthing.
• Port of Townsville: Queensland Government-owned port authority operating the Port of Townsville. Comparable as a regional Australian port authority competing alongside Gippsland Ports in the same 2024 Australian Shipping and Maritime Industry Awards category and serving mixed commercial, defence, and recreational users.
• Fremantle Ports: Western Australian government port authority operating the Inner Harbour at Fremantle, the Port of Kwinana, and the fishing boat harbour. Comparable as a state-owned port authority providing commercial shipping, recreational boating, and statutory port management functions.

Broad incumbents

• Port of Melbourne: Victorian container port operator and the largest Australian container port. Comparable as a Victorian state-adjacent port authority but operates at significantly larger scale; provides a benchmark for Barry Beach Marine Terminal's potential evolution and represents indirect competition for Bass Strait-adjacent cargo flows.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/GippslandPorts
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gippsland-ports-committee-of-management-inc

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Gippsland Ports