Aus Ships Group
Aus Ships Group is a Brisbane-based private shipbuilder providing integrated design, build, and maintenance services for commercial passenger ferries, defence vessels, and luxury yachts, serving government transport authorities, marine tourism operators, and resort clients across Australia, Fiji, the UK, and New Zealand.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2008
- HeadquartersAustralia, Philippines
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Aus Ships Group does
Aus Ships Group is a Brisbane, Australia-based private shipbuilding group operating through two wholly-owned Queensland proprietary limited companies: Aus Yachts Pty Ltd (naval architecture and design, founded 2008) and Aus Ships Pty Ltd (construction, refit, repair and maintenance, founded 2011). The group delivers an integrated Design/Build/Maintain solution for commercial passenger ferries, defence vessels, and luxury yachts, holding Lloyd's Register Shipyard Certification — the first Australian company to do so — and operating shipyard facilities at Murarrie and Hemmant with a 300-tonne travel lift, 4,000-tonne slipway access, 15,000 m² of hardstand, and enclosed construction halls.
The group's project portfolio spans 24-knot aluminium passenger catamarans (the ten-vessel Gen 4 CityCat series for Brisbane City Council delivered 2018–2025, Fiji's Yasawa Flyer III, the Goodna for Sealink Gladstone), London's first fully electric zero-emission ferry (Orbit Clipper for Thames Clippers), luxury vessels (Sun Harmony for Intercontinental Hayman Island Resort, superyacht refits), and is currently constructing Australia's first fully electric Domestic Commercial Vessel (ASLET) with Volvo Penta and CSIRO support, due Q4 2026. Core technology centres on aluminium, steel, and composite fabrication with certified welding to Lloyd's Register, DNV, and Australian Standards, in-house design using AutoCAD, Rhino 3D, Maxsurf, and Bentley, plus large-scale 3D printing for prototyping.
Revenue is generated through custom, quote-based enterprise sales secured via direct engagement and tender processes. Customers include municipal transport authorities (Brisbane City Council), commercial marine tourism operators (South Sea Cruises Group, Sealink, Uber Boat by Thames Clippers), luxury yacht owners, and resort hospitality groups. The go-to-market is sales-led with industry awards, association memberships (Interferry, Royal Institution of Naval Architects, Engineers Australia, Superyacht Australia), and a demonstrated on-time/on-budget track record serving as the primary credibility mechanism. Pricing is non-public and project-specific.
Aus Ships Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Aus Ships Group
- Legal name
- Aus Ships Group
- Website
- https://ausships.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2008
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Aus Ships Group is a Brisbane-based private shipbuilder providing integrated design, build, and maintenance services for commercial passenger ferries, defence vessels, and luxury yachts, serving government transport authorities, marine tourism operators, and resort clients across Australia, Fiji, the UK, and New Zealand.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Aus Ships Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Shipbuilding and Marine Vessel Construction
- NAICS
- Ship Building and Repairing (336611), Ship and Boat Building (3366)
- SIC
- Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Semi-Custom & Series Production Yacht Manufacturing (IMAJAEAM)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Yacht & Recreational Boat Service & Refit (TLAKAKAD), Safety, Risk & Compliance Engineering (SOLAS, Class Rules, HAZID/HAZOP, FMEA) (IMAJAGAJ), Naval & Government Vessel Maintenance & Modernization (TLAKAKAB)
Keywords
Where Aus Ships Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Australia
- HQ country
- Philippines
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices2 records
Markets served
Aus Ships Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- New Vessel Construction: Design and construction of new commercial passenger ferries, luxury yachts, and defence vessels. Projects include the Gen 4 CityCats for Brisbane City Council, Yasawa Flyer III for South Sea Cruises, and electric passenger ferries.
- Vessel Refit & Conversion: Major refits, conversions, and modifications to existing vessels including the 45m Yasawa Princess II refit, superyacht transom extensions, and engine replacements.
- Repair & Maintenance Services: Ongoing maintenance, repair, and service support for commercial and luxury vessels. Includes access to 4,000-tonne slipway, multiple travel lifts up to 600 tonnes, and 90m service berth.
- Naval Architecture & Design Services: Design, naval architecture, drafting, and technical & professional maritime consulting services through Aus Yachts business unit. Includes owners' representative services.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Aus Ships Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Aus Ships Group designs, builds, and maintains marine vessels through its two divisions: Aus Yachts (naval architecture and design) and Aus Ships (aluminum, steel, and composite vessel construction). The company produces custom ferries, catamarans, patrol boats, and luxury yachts for government, commercial tourism operators, and private clients. Services span new builds, refits, conversions, and ongoing repair/maintenance support.
Product overview
Aus Ships Group is a maritime business providing design, build, and maintain solutions for the commercial, defence, and luxury marine industry. The group comprises two distinct entities: Aus Yachts (design, established 2008) and Aus Ships (shipbuilding and manufacturing, established 2011). Services include naval architecture, new vessel construction (aluminium and steel), refit, repair and maintenance. The product portfolio spans passenger ferries (CityCat series, Yasawa Flyer III, Orbit Clipper), luxury vessels (Sun Harmony, superyachts), and purpose-built commercial vessels. The group holds Lloyd's Register Shipyard Certification covering new building, design, refit and repair services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- New Vessel Construction (Aluminum, Steel, Composite)
Quantifiable outcome
- 10 from 10 vessels delivered exactly to contract schedule and budget for Brisbane City Council Gen 4 CityCat program
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Aus Ships Group
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Aus Ships Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Aus Ships Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Volvo PentacoreLandmark collaboration between Aus Ships Group and Volvo Penta to develop Australia's first 100% electric drive passenger ferry. The vessel is currently under construction with commissioning due Q4 2026, after which it will serve as a demonstrator before entering operation.
- Australian Federal GovernmentcoreCollaboration on Australia's first fully electric Domestic Commercial Vessel (DCV). The project is supported by the Australian Federal Government and marks a significant step forward in sustainable maritime transport. The vessel will be built to full Lloyd's Classification standards.
- Rivergate Marina & ShipyardcoreAus Ships Group is headquartered within the Rivergate Marina & Shipyard precinct, providing access to 75 & 300 tonne travelifts, fuel wharf, marina, and a range of high-quality suppliers and maritime contractors.
- Woods Prince LawyersminorLegal advisory services accessed through the group's professional network.
- Adrians Chartered AccountantsminorAccounting and financial advisory services accessed through the group's professional network.
- Australian Commercial Marine GroupminorIndustry body affiliation providing access to commercial marine sector expertise and networking.
- InterferryminorInternational ferry industry association membership providing industry advocacy and networking.
- Royal Institution of Naval ArchitectsminorProfessional institution membership providing access to naval architecture expertise and standards.
- Engineers AustraliaminorProfessional engineering body membership providing access to engineering standards and expertise.
- Superyacht AustraliaminorIndustry association membership supporting superyacht sector operations and networking.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Aus Ships Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Damen Shipyards Group: Damen is a major global shipbuilding group with extensive workboat, ferry, and patrol vessel capabilities. It represents the broader incumbent threat Aus Ships faces when bidding internationally, with a wider product portfolio and substantially greater resources.
- Sunseeker International: Sunseeker is a leading global luxury motor yacht manufacturer. While operating at much greater scale in series production, it is comparable to Aus Ships' luxury vessel and superyacht refit capabilities, particularly for ultra-high-end finish and customisation work.
- Austal Limited: Austal is Australia's largest commercial shipbuilder, producing high-speed aluminium ferries and naval vessels. It competes directly with Aus Ships for export ferry tenders and defence work, and operates at substantially greater scale across multiple shipyards globally.
Others
- Volvo Penta: Volvo Penta is a strategic technology partner (not a competitor) supplying marine propulsion and the electric drive system for Aus Ships' ASLET vessel. It is included as an ecosystem peer given its central role in Aus Ships' electric ferry strategy and as a benchmark for marine propulsion technology partners.
Direct peers
- Birdon Group: Birdon is an Australian marine and engineering services company with shipbuilding, vessel refit, and defence capabilities. It competes with Aus Ships in Australian defence vessel programs and commercial marine MRO services, operating from multiple Australian sites.
- Incat Tasmania: Incat builds large aluminium wave-piercing catamarans and high-speed passenger ferries from Hobart, Tasmania. It is the most direct Australian competitor to Aus Ships' CityCat and Yasawa Flyer programmes, serving similar commercial ferry and tourism operator clients globally.
- Echo Yachts: Echo Yachts is an Australian luxury superyacht builder operating from Henderson, Western Australia. It competes with Aus Ships' luxury yacht build and refit business, particularly for high-end custom and semi-custom motor yacht projects in the Australian and broader APAC market.
- Richardson Devine Marine: Richardson Devine Marine is a Tasmania-based aluminium vessel builder focused on commercial and workboat newbuild and refit. It is comparable to Aus Ships in scale and capability, serving similar commercial fishing, tourism, and government clients in Australia.
- Brødrene Aa: Brødrene Aa is a Norwegian builder of high-speed aluminium passenger ferries and commercial vessels. It competes with Aus Ships for international fast-ferry tenders and is a recognised technology leader in lightweight composite-aluminium vessel design.
Regional players
- Wight Shipyard Co: Wight Shipyard Co is a UK-based commercial vessel builder producing ferries and passenger catamarans. It is geographically comparable as a regional competitor for the same UK and European ferry tenders Aus Ships has begun to address with the Orbit Clipper contract.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Aus Ships Group social profiles
Digital presenceAus Ships Group compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
Aus Ships Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Aus Ships Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Aus Ships Group subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Aus Ships Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Aus Ships Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Aus Ships Group
What does Aus Ships Group do?
Aus Ships Group designs, builds, and maintains marine vessels through its two divisions: Aus Yachts (naval architecture and design) and Aus Ships (aluminum, steel, and composite vessel construction). The company produces custom ferries, catamarans, patrol boats, and luxury yachts for government, commercial tourism operators, and private clients. Services span new builds, refits, conversions, and ongoing repair/maintenance support.
Is Aus Ships Group a public or private company?
Aus Ships Group is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Aus Ships Group founded?
Aus Ships Group was founded in 2008. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Aus Ships Group based?
Aus Ships Group is headquartered in Australia, Philippines, in the Asia region.
How does Aus Ships Group make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. New Vessel Construction is the primary driver. The others are vessel Refit & Conversion, repair & Maintenance Services and naval Architecture & Design Services.
Who are Aus Ships Group's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Damen Shipyards Group, Sunseeker International and Austal Limited. Volvo Penta is listed as an others. Direct peers are Birdon Group, Incat Tasmania, Echo Yachts, Richardson Devine Marine and Brødrene Aa. Wight Shipyard Co is listed as a regional player.
Does Aus Ships Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for Aus Ships Group.
What industry is Aus Ships Group in?
Aus Ships Group's product category is Shipbuilding and Marine Vessel Construction. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAJAEAM, Semi-Custom & Series Production Yacht Manufacturing, with a secondary code of TLAKAKAD, Yacht & Recreational Boat Service & Refit. Its NAICS code is 336611 and its SIC code is 3730.