Pelagic Group

What Pelagic Group does

Pelagic Group is a privately-held marine services holding company headquartered at 16 Mews Road, Fremantle, Western Australia, jointly owned by Chris Norman (co-founder of Austal Limited and naval architect) and Michael Sier (Chartered Accountant with marine export finance background at Austal and Macquarie Equities). The group operates four wholly-owned subsidiaries spanning the marine value chain: Rottnest Barge Service provides freight and logistics to Rottnest Island via two dedicated landing craft (Kaya and Spinifex); JMC Marine Group delivers turn-key maritime construction — jetty remediation, pile installation, steel fabrication, and module deployment — supported by an in-house steel fabrication facility and a fleet of tugs, barges, and workboats; The Boathouse Marina offers fully enclosed undercover dry boat storage at Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour; and Pier 21 Marina provides berthing facilities along Perth's Swan River in North Fremantle.

Pelagic's revenue model blends three distinct mechanics: project-based contracts for marine construction (professional services revenue from government and commercial clients), transaction-based freight fees from the barge service, and recurring subscription-style berthing and dry storage revenue from the two marinas. Customers span government marine and island authorities (Rottnest Island Authority, City of Cockburn, Recfishwest with the Department of Primary Industries & Regional Development), commercial fishing and hospitality operators (MG Kailis Group), and subsea infrastructure contractors (DiveCo Marine). Distribution is direct and bespoke — each project is individually scoped and contracted, while marina services are sold through physical facilities to private Perth boat owners.

The technology stack is conventional marine-engineering rather than software-driven: dedicated steel fabrication, FRP structural capability, Denso shield protective systems, and concrete module deployment (including the world-first Bombara wave attenuating modules via Subcon). Go-to-market relies on a website portfolio of project case studies, news content, and community event sponsorship (e.g., Warren Jones International Regatta), with sales driven by direct enterprise engagement rather than digital channels. Geographic operations are primarily Western Australia, with selective extension into New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia through the SMAP transcontinental subsea cable project.

Name

Pelagic Group

Legal name

Pelagic Group

Website

https://pelagic.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Pelagic Group is a private Fremantle-based marine services holding company operating four wholly-owned subsidiaries — Rottnest Barge Service, JMC Marine Group, The Boathouse Marina, and Pier 21 Marina — delivering marine construction, island freight, and marina operations across Western Australia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Construction and Marina Services

NAICS

Ship Building and Repairing (336611), Ship and Boat Building (3366), Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883), Marine Cargo Handling (488320), Marinas (713930)

SIC

Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730), Water Transportation (4400)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTLAHAMAA

Dry Docking & Dockyard Operations (Graving/Floating Docks, Docking Services)

Transportation & Logistics/Ports, Terminals & Maritime Services/Ship Repair, Dry Docking & Marine Engineering Services

SECONDARYIMAJALAD

Heavy Lifting & Material Handling Infrastructure (Goliath Cranes, Jib Cranes, Hoists)

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Marine & Shipbuilding/Shipyards & Drydock Infrastructure (Facilities, Lifting, Docking Systems)

SECONDARYIMAJADAK

Landing Craft & Amphibious Workboats (LCM/LCT-style, Beaching Craft)

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Marine & Shipbuilding/Small Craft & Workboat Building (Tugs, Ferries, Patrol, Fishing)

SECONDARYTLAHAJAI

Marine Service Provider Coordination (Diving, Inspection, Class/Survey Support)

Transportation & Logistics/Ports, Terminals & Maritime Services/Ship Agency, Husbandry & Port Call Services

Keywords

• Marine construction services
• Maritime freight transport
• Marina berthing facilities
• Dry boat storage
• Marine infrastructure projects

Headquarters

HQ city

Fremantle

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Marine Construction Services: JMC Marine Group provides turn-key maritime construction projects including jetty remediation, pile installation, steel fabrication, and module deployment. Revenue is generated through project-based contracts with government and commercial clients.
2. Marine Transport and Freight: Rottnest Barge Service provides freight transport to Rottnest Island via dedicated landing craft (Kaya and Spinifex), delivering utilities, supplies, and construction materials on a scheduled and on-demand basis.
3. Marina Berthing and Dry Storage: The Boathouse Marina and Pier 21 Marina generate revenue through berthing fees, dry boat storage rack rental, and associated marina lifestyle services for boat owners in the Perth/Fremantle region.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Pelagic Group is a privately held marine services holding company that invests in and operates four complementary businesses across marine construction (JMC Marine Group), marine transport to Rottnest Island (Rottnest Barge Service), and marina operations including premium dry boat storage and berthing (The Boathouse Marina and Pier 21 Marina) in Western Australia. Its core deliverable is turn-key maritime construction, freight logistics, and marina services backed by in-house steel fabrication and a dedicated fleet of tugs, barges and workboats.

Product overview

Pelagic Group is a marine services holding company that invests in marine construction, marine transport, and marina industries across Western Australia. The group operates as a unified platform comprising four subsidiary brands: Rottnest Barge Service provides freight and logistics to Rottnest Island via dedicated landing craft; JMC Marine Group delivers turn-key maritime construction projects with steel fabrication capabilities; The Boathouse Marina offers premium undercover dry boat storage and berthing in Fremantle; and Pier 21 Marina provides berthing facilities along the Swan River. Together, these four distinct business units deliver services spanning sea, shore, and marine transport.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Rottnest Barge Service Freight and logistics service that delivers all freight requirements to Rottnest Island, including utilities, supplies and construction materials, via two dedicated landing craft (Kaya and Spinifex). It serves government agencies and commercial operators needing reliable island transport on scheduled and on-demand bases.
• JMC Marine Group Diversified marine services business offering professional expertise, tugs, barges and workboats for turn-key maritime construction projects, complemented by a dedicated steel fabrication facility. It delivers jetty construction and remediation, pile installation, steel fabrication, and module deployment for government and commercial clients.
• The Boathouse Marina Fully undercover, enclosed dry boat storage facility and private marina located in Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour along Mews Road, offering secure storage racks that protect boats from sun, wind, salt and rain. It targets private boat owners in the Perth metropolitan area seeking premium protected berthing.
• Pier 21 Marina Premium marina destination along Perth's Swan River in North Fremantle, offering a wide range of berth sizes with a mixture of fixed and floating jetties for boat owners in the Perth metropolitan area.

Quantifiable outcome

• Deployed 135 three-tonne wave attenuating modules addressing 50+ metres of shoreline erosion at CY O'Connor Beach for the City of Cockburn.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club / Warren Jones International RegattaminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Pelagic Group was proud to sponsor the 2025 Warren Jones International Regatta, an international youth sailing event hosted by the Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club. The sponsorship supports young aspiring sailors and builds brand visibility within the WA marine community.
• RecfishwestcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Pelagic Group's JMC Marine Group was engaged by Recfishwest (WA's recreational fishing peak body) to deploy the Carnarvon Artificial Reef — WA's largest artificial reef to date. JMC leveraged dedicated marine assets and specialised crew to deploy 300 concrete modules in 9 metres of water, creating fishing habitat for the WA fishing community. The project was conducted in collaboration with the Department of Primary Industries & Regional Development.
• MG Kailis GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024JMC Marine Group was engaged by MG Kailis Group to replace three existing timber jetties with three new 30-metre steel and Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (FRP) structures. The full scope — demolition, steel frame fabrication, fender systems, and pile installation — was performed in-house using JMC's fabrication division.
• Rottnest Island AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJMC Marine Group conducted major remediation work to berths 1-3 on the Rottnest Island Ferry Jetty for the Rottnest Island Authority. Work included demolition and replacement of concrete coping beams, fabrication and installation of 22 fender piles, fender systems, and Denso shield protective system. The project required all works to be conducted from the water without disrupting the ferry timetable.
• Subcon (on behalf of City of Cockburn)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerJMC Marine Group was engaged by Subcon (as subcontractor) to deploy 135 three-tonne wave attenuating Bombara modules at CY O'Connor Beach for the City of Cockburn. Subcon's world-first Bombara modules are environmentally-friendly concrete units that also create marine habitat. JMC handled module loading, transportation, and deployment.
• DiveCo MarineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJMC Marine Group supported DiveCo Marine on the SMAP (Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide & Perth) transcontinental subsea cable project. JMC's team conducted marine operations including pulling dyneema cable and enabling underwater connection work for the future-proof subsea cable infrastructure.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Maritime Constructions: Australian marine construction specialist delivering wharf, jetty, pontoon and breakwater projects with in-house design and fabrication. Closest direct peer to JMC Marine Group's jetty remediation, pile installation, and steel fabrication capability.
• AW Maritime (Australian Wetline): Australian marine construction contractor specializing in jetty, wharf, and pontoon builds with in-house steel fabrication. Direct comparable on marine infrastructure construction scope and delivery model.
• Pacific Marine Group: Western Australian marine services company offering barging, dredging, civil marine construction, and crew transfer. Comparable regional peer with overlapping fleet-based marine construction and transport capabilities.
• Subcon International: Western Australia-based marine engineering and construction firm that partnered with JMC on the Bombara wave attenuator deployment. Overlaps directly on marine infrastructure projects and innovative concrete product deployment.

Broad incumbents

• Austal Limited: Global shipbuilder and marine vessel operator headquartered in Australia. The Pelagic Group co-founders both came from Austal, and the company operates in overlapping marine services territory, though at a far smaller scale and without Austal's defense/ferry newbuild focus.
• Svitzer Australia: Global towage and marine services operator (Maersk group) with extensive Australian port operations. Comparable as a large, asset-heavy marine services incumbent operating fleets across Australian harbours.
• MMA Offshore: ASX-listed Australian provider of offshore marine services and vessel charter. Comparable as a diversified marine services operator serving oil & gas, infrastructure, and government clients across Australia and the Asia-Pacific.

Others

• Fremantle Ports (as operator): Government port authority operating the Port of Fremantle. Pelagic's marina and barge operations are co-located in Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour, and the authority is a potential counterparty for waterfront infrastructure work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pelagicgroup

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries4 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 Pelagic Group