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Experts In Marine Support In Queensland For Over 30 Years
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The North Marine fleet delivers a range of tug and barge capabilities, commercial dive services, workboat charters and remote area supply.
Based in the Port of Cairns, Australia, primary service areas include Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef, the Torres Strait and the Gulf of Carpentaria. Headquarters are in Cairns City, with a waterfront facility in Cairns ‘North Wharf’ and an office in Mackay.
Our charter vessels work within the Australian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
North Marine provides safe and efficient solutions. Over 30 years, our mission has remained strong – to support each client’s productivity.
Our suite of services includes tugboat charters, an extensive commercial dive division and a fleet of support vessels for hire.
We are proudly an ISO accredited marine company.
Marine Projects
April 7, 2021
Tugboat Assist for Bulk Carrier Ocean Crossing, Torres Strait
The Torres Strait,
Queensland, Australia
Scope of Work North Marine was tasked to provide a tugboat assist to a 180-meter, 25,000 gross-ton cargo bulk carrier, the ‘M.V. Funing’. Our charter tug assisted the bulk carrier’s voyage from Bligh Entrance through the Prince of Wales Channel, in Queensland’s Torres Strait. Project Brief – Tugboat Assist The North Marine tugboat ‘Gulf Explorer’ mobilised to the Torres Strait from the Port of Cairns, Queensland. From here, she assisted with the ship’s tug escort, taking up the stern tow position. An 80-meter super tug took up the forward tow position. The Gulf Explorer’s tug escort voyage involved transiting through a narrow passage of the Great Barrier Reef. Commencing at Bligh Entrance, near Bramble Cay, the tow assist passed via the Prince of Wales Channel in the Torres Strait. The Gulf Explorer’s role is to assist the bulk carrier in holding straight throughout the voyage, limiting yawing during the ocean crossing. Project Outcome The M.V Funning made its transit safely and on schedule. The crossing was successful with no delays.
March 25, 2021
Install a Boat Swing Mooring in the Torres Strait
The Torres Strait
Cyclone Mooring Installation in Torres Strait Project Brief The commercial dive division of North Marine was tasked to install cyclone-rated, 360-degree swing moorings off Thursday Island in the Torres Strait for the shipping company Sea Swift. Scope of Works The 360-degree swing mooring consists of a 54mm stud-link chain running out to three Stingray anchors. The cyclone moorings are rated to hold cargo vessels up to 500 tons in weight. Project Outcome North Marine completed the project installation on time and to budget. Installing a Swing Mooring off Thursday Island, Torres Strait The Torres Strait is a group of Islands located north of Queensland, Australia and south of New Guinea. The remote location of Thursday Island, Port Kennedy, poses numerous environmental and logistical challenges for the mooring installation. Critical factors such as strong tidal movements are key considerations for North Marine’s commercial dive division when planning and installing vessel moorings throughout the Torres Strait. Our Clients Sea Swift is the largest shipping company in Northern Australia. Sea Swift operates both domestically and internationally, providing cargo and freight shipping services. They have bases of operation in Far North Queensland and the Northern Territory. North Marine commercial divers install and maintain numerous boat mooring infrastructure for Sea Swift in Cairns, Queensland and the Torres Strait. Commercial Dive Company Based In Cairns, Queensland, Australia North Marine operates a full commercial dive division, providing a suite of dive services throughout Queensland and the Torres Straits. Our commercial dive experience spans over 30 years, working in both Australian and international waters. We work efficiently and safely, offering excellent value and quality guarantee. North Marine offers competitive quotes for commercial diving jobs throughout Australia’s EEZ. Visit these pages for more information on North Marine Services: Marine Services Commercial Diving Boat Mooring Installation & Maintenance Cyclone Mooring Installation
January 28, 2021
Vessel Evacuation from Cairns Marlin Marina | Severe Weather Cyclone Warning
Cairns Marlin Marina, Queensland
Marina Evacuation Assistance Of Cairns Port During Cyclone Warning Watch as vessels are evacuated to safer moorings up Trinity Inlet, from Cairns Marlin Marina, Cairns Port. The severe weather warning issued for the impending Tropical Cyclone Kimi saw ‘all hands on deck’ as the crew of North Marine assisted vessels to brace for the storm. Crews worked into the night and the following day to towboats and barges from the Cairns Marina. In this video, see the North Marine tug boat ‘Gulf Explorer’, followed by workboat ‘Viking’, maneuvering the red barge away from the wharf to a protected cyclone mooring further upstream. This incredible video was captured by Jim Bradley, of Edge Smartech. Tropical Cyclone – False Alarm As severe weather is not uncommon in Far North Queensland, marina users are familiar with marina evacuations. Fortunately, this time, the unpredictable Tropical Cyclone Kimi decided to avoid the shore. During a tropical cyclone weather warning, users of the Cairns marina must adhere to the Cairns Regional Harbour Master’s directives. Extreme Weather Warning – Red alert for vessels in the Port of Cairns When the Regional Harbour Master issues a ‘Red Alert’, destructive winds are forecast, and the port is closed. Directions during extreme weather events and emergencies are laid out in the ‘Port of Cairns Extreme Weather Event Contingency Plan’, available from Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ). » Extreme Weather Event Contingency Plan, Cairns – 2021/2022 (PDF, 410 KB) Visit the Bureau Of Meteorology for Cairns Queensland Weather Updates Where severe weather is concerned, preparation is key. Marine weather forecasts are generally accurate when predicting major weather events such as tropical cyclones, but can be less accurate when predicting local severe weather such as high winds, storms and surge. Being prepared is essential to ensuring the safety of your vessel/s. Visit the Bureau of Meteorology website for up to date forecasts on marine weather conditions, tidal conditions, wind and coastal warnings. Prepare your vessel for severe weather well in advance and have a cyclone mooring installation ready-to-go and well maintained as a safe harbour. Harbour Evacuation Assistance – Vessel Relocation Service to Far North Queensland North Marine is a Cairns-based, marine services company. We offer vessel relocation services, including harbour evacuation assistance to Far North Queensland vessel owners. If you may require your vessel to be relocated in the event of a mandatory harbour evacuation order, North Marine can assist. Please contact us if you need assistance or towage of your vessel. In the event of a harbour evacuation, if you direct us to do so, we can help you move your vessel safely to your preferred location. Contact Visit these pages for more information on North Marine services Marine Services Harbour Towage Cyclone Mooring Installation * Banner photograph, courtesy of Ports North
January 22, 2021
Salvage of the Iconic Underwater Observatory at Green Island
Green Island, Queensland
The 1954 Green Island Underwater Observatory is Salvaged The experienced commercial dive division of North Marine successfully executed the salvage and removal of the submerged structure, located at Green Island out of Cairns. A Key Piece of Queensland Tourism History It is with a sad heart and happy memories that North Marine undertook the massive task of deconstructing and salvaging the iconic 1954 Underwater Observatory at Green Island. About the Green Island Underwater Observatory The underwater observatory at Green Island was the brainchild of Vince Vlassoff, a 37-year-old Australian born Engineer, and Lloyd Grigg after they met on a crocodile safari cruise operated by Vlassoff. Before snorkelling or scuba diving had become mainstream activities, this pioneering piece of architecture truly was a revolution in reef tourism, which up until this point had largely been occasional ferry trips taking people to offshore islands for a day trip. Never before had the general visitor had access to freely view the Great Barrier Reef beneath the surface. The entrepreneurial pair imagined an underwater theatre, unlike anything ever constructed of its kind before. They envisioned a place where the public could venture beneath the waves to a chamber of windows, whereby they could witness the marvellous fish, coral and aquatic life to be seen. Construction of the chamber began in 1951 and took twelve months from planning to final submersion – an incredible time frame considering the challenge of the task and all the unknown factors. For nearly 60 years the underwater observatory delighted visitors and provided a means of viewing the incredible underwater world. Visit these pages for more information on North Marine services Marine Services Commercial Diving Services
January 16, 2020
Quicksilver Pontoon Tow – Great Barrier Reef to Port of Cairns, QLD
Great Barrier Reef to Cairns Harbour, Queensland
Watch as Queensland tug boat ‘Gulf Explorer’, tows the Quicksilver reef pontoon on its journey from the Great Barrier Reef. A team effort between North Marine occupational divers and our fantastic tug boat crew. Pontoon Towage Cairns Port & Cairns Trinity Inlet The Quicksilver pontoon tow, from the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, to Cairns harbour takes place annually for maintenance and upkeep. Watch as the much-loved tourist pontoon voyages past Cairns Marlin Marina and Cairns Cruise Liner Terminal, up Trinity Inlet, in Far North Queensland. The Great Barrier Reef pontoon makes its journey with North Marine around the same time every year. Seen here in December 2019 – getting ready for safe harbour during the impending Australian tropical cyclone season. An Australian icon – The Great Barrier Reef pontoon is disconnected from the Great Barrier Reef by our expert commercial dive team Annually, the magnificent Quicksilver Group, ‘Great Adventures Pontoon’ leaves the Great Barrier Reef for a 37 nautical mile tow to Cairns Port for maintenance and refurbishment. The much-loved tourist attraction hosts guests from all over the world. On an outer reef tour to the pontoon, passengers experience the very best of Australia’s Outer Great Barrier Reef – located in the heart of the Coral Sea – where it resides for most of the year. Marine Tow To Cairns, Queensland North Marine’s expert commercial divers’ team disconnects the pontoon from its secure mooring on the ocean floor. The Great Barrier Reef floating pontoon is then towed to Cairns Port, by the tug boat ‘Gulf Explorer’. When ready, the tug boat will return the pontoon to its home on the Great Barrier Reef. Ready for another wonderful season of snorkelling, scuba diving, boat tours and scenic helicopter flights. Occupational divers reinstall the Quicksilver Pontoon to its pride of place at the iconic ‘Norman Reef’, north of Cairns, QLD. Visit these pages for more information on North Marine services: Marine Services Marine Towage Services Tug Boat ‘Gulf Explorer’
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