About Us – Marine Support Company
North Marine is a leading marine support company based in the Port of Cairns in Queensland, Australia. Marine support is delivered via 3 departments: Workboat & Charter Vessels, Commercial Diving Services, and North Wharf shipyard. See our capability overview, here.
We build genuine, long-term relationships with our clients to achieve efficient results in a safe work environment. Our mission is to support and strengthen your productivity – with ISO-accredited systems and a first-rate team of professionals delivering all your project needs.
On This Page
- Sustainability, Environment & Community Engagement
- Company History: 30+ Years Of Reliable Marine Contracting
- North Marine Management
- Our Clients
- North Wharf
Sustainability, Environment & Community Engagement
Dedicated to sustainability through environmental initiatives & supporting local communities
A deep respect for the ocean, the communities and the industries we support is at the core of North Marine.
Below, you will see only a brief overview of our dedication to regional North Queensland. Please visit our sustainability page to learn more about the meaningful initiatives we’re part of.
Volunteering & Community Initiatives
North Marine volunteer time and resources to community and environmental initiatives, including but not limited to:
- The Reef Restoration Foundation
- Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef
- Cairns Local Marine Advisory Committee (LMAC)
- Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Center
- PCYC Queensland’s Youth Employment Program: Breaking the Cycle
- FNQ Regional Jobs Committee
- AFL Cape York House
- The ‘Eye On The Reef’ program
- The Great Reef Census
- The Minke Whale Project
Supporting Future Generations – Youth & Indigenous Initiatives
North Marine proudly commenced a ‘Commercial Diving Traineeship Program’ – the first of its kind in Far North Queensland. North Marine is excited to offer training pathways to provide long-term job opportunities in the maritime sector.
The first round of graduates completed their training in 2022, and we look forward to expanding our commercial diving trainee program in the coming years.
Furthermore, North Marine works with AFL Cape York House to help showcase career opportunities to Indigenous youths.
Our staff volunteer time to worthwhile causes such as PCYC Queensland’s “Breaking The Cycle Mentor Volunteer Program.”
North Marine also provides a limited number of maritime work experience placements for year 12 students in Cairns, Queensland. This delivers a first-hand taste of some of the opportunities that a career on the water can offer.
Commitment to the Environment & Sustainable Practices
As a conscientious marine contractor, we are commited to an environmentally sustainable future.
North Marine consults with Traditional Owners, scientists and marine experts to ensure best practices.
We are accredited with ‘Advanced Eco Certification’ and ‘Climate Action Business’ ratings. Sustaining these prestigious ratings is of great importance, and we proudly maintain them by striving to adopt new and innovative business improvements.
Furthermore, we have a proud past, present and future of being an environmentally-minded organisation.
Currently, we are working to revolutionise the way vessels anchor on the Great Barrier Reef with innovative mooring systems that leave only a small environmental footprint.
We are also collaborating on projects to reduce ocean pollution.
As far back as 1989 North Marine’s founder, Tim North, pioneered the installation of mooring blocks on the Great Barrier Reef. He advocated for permanent concrete blocks as a means to prevent the coral damage that was being caused by widespread anchor drops.
Today, North Marine strives to continue this legacy.
In addition, we frequently consult with ‘Sea Country Education’, and Traditional Owners of the lands and waters on which we work.
Visit our Community & Sustainability Page to learn more.
North Marine Company History: 30+ Years
Formerly ‘Tim North Marine’, North Marine was re-branded in 2020
North Marine Company History
Over 30 Years Of Trusted Marine Contracting In Queensland, Australia
Formerly ‘Tim North Marine’, the company was re-branded ‘North Marine’ in 2020.
Owned by business partners Ben Hales and Courtney Hansen, the company was originally founded by the renowned mariner and businessman, Tim North.
A leading marine support company grew from his love of the Pacific Ocean and a desire to support maritime industries to thrive in their field.
Notably, in its early days, the company was instrumental in developing and implementing positive changes to protect and showcase Australia’s natural assets – in particular, the Great Barrier Reef.
Importantly, this included working in close collaboration with both Government and the private corporate sectors. Positive relationships were forged and remain strong to this day.
Tim North revolutionised the use of boat moorings throughout Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef. Formerly an uncommon practice, he advocated with Government and industry partners for permanent mooring installations – to limit the damage caused when vessels drop anchor.
This solidified North Marine’s long-standing reputation as the ‘Great Barrier Reef, Boat Mooring Specialists’.
Mooring installation and maintenance remain a cornerstone of our Commercial Diving Department to this day – although now our influence reaches further than Queensland. Our expert team deploy internationally to consult on mooring practices and installation.
Our professional diving services are continuously reviewed to adopt new technologies, enhance sustainable mooring installation and employ environmental best practices.
Learn more about North Marine’s commitment to the environment – past, present and future, here:
Our Management Team
Meet the North Marine Management Team
Meet the North Marine Management team, here:
North Wharf
North Wharf in Cairns Harbour, Queensland
North Wharf in Cairns Harbour, Queensland
North Marine’s waterfront property, North Wharf, is a multi-purpose shipyard and marine facility.
Situated on the east side of Cairns Port, North Wharf is approximately 30 minutes from Portsmith via road or 5 minutes by boat.
It is the base for North Marine’s commercial vessel charter operations.
There’s deep water access on all tides and a roll-on-roll-off ramp for loading / offloading / barge operations.
Due to its location and amenities, North Wharf may be utilised as a raw material / cargo load-out facility, a holding yard, or a precast facility.
There’s ample space for project deliveries, machinery, freight, container storage and storage shed facilities. Furthermore, North Wharf has moorings situated in Cairns Inlet.
Our Valued Clients
View our diverse range of clientele including Government, Industry and Private
North Marine proudly maintains excellent working relationships with both clients and stakeholders alike.
To give an overview of who we work with and some recent projects we’ve undertaken, please visit our Projects page.
Government Clients
Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) – Federal Government
North Marine holds a long-term contract to provide the re-supply service for the remote Bureau of Meteorology weather station located at Willis Island in Queensland.
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) – State Government
North Marine holds a long-term contract with Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) to maintain public moorings throughout Australia’s Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.
Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) – State Government
North Marine works with Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) in various capacities, including but not limited to marine salvage for the ‘War on Wrecks’ initiative.
Sea Swift
Northern Australia’s largest shipping company, Sea Swift, is owned by the State Government Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC).
North Marine installs and maintains Sea Swift vessel mooring infrastructure, between Cairns and the Torres Strait Islands. Due to the remote locations and the essential nature of the work, these moorings are amongst the largest boat mooring installations in Australia.
Public Sector – Other
North Marine frequently works with local councils on a broad scope of projects, ranging from in-water inspection services to project managing large-scale infrastructure projects. We have worked with Councils both inland, in rural Queensland, and along the Queensland coastline.
Universities
At North Marine, we are passionate about environmental and marine research projects. Among other institutions, we frequently charter vessels to James Cook University for various research charters.
Shipping, Tourism & Superyacht Industry Clients
Shipping Industry
North Marine has close working relationships with many prominent Australian shipping agents and international shipping companies.
We provide a range of services, including tug assist charters when navigating the Great Barrier Reef, a launch service for cargo & provision deliveries, crew transfer vessels and vessel mooring installation services.
Tourism Industry
North Marine looks after the in-water infrastructure of most Far-North Queensland Marine Tourism operators.
We install, maintain and ensure compliance standards for over 30 reef tourism operations between Mackay in the south to Lizard Island in the north of Queenslands Great Barrier Reef. This includes, but is not limited to, installing and maintaining vessels, helipads and pontoon moorings, towage of vessels, helipads and pontoons between locations and into Port for refit and severe weather.
Superyacht Industry
North Marine delivers superyacht support, both via agents and directly, to superyachts visiting Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef region. We provide deliveries to vessels in the coral sea, underwater inspection services and itinerary assistance/expert reef guides.
General Public
North Marine work within the community for private individuals who own vessels and require in-water infrastructure. Services for these clients include mooring installation, mooring inspections and in-water maintenance work.
Marine Support During COVID-19
Reliable marine support to the industry through COVID-19
Marine Support Company During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Marine support companies are classed as an ‘essential service’. As such, North Marine will continue to offer high-quality marine support as long as it is safe to do so.
We will maintain our shipping activities, including marine support services, during the COVID-19 pandemic unless directed otherwise.
Strict safety processes and procedures are followed for all company operations.
Furthermore, North Marine are the only approved ‘COVID Safe’ crew transfer provider with a base in the Port of Cairns, on Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef.
Learn more about our marine support services during the COVID-19 pandemic
North Marine, Your Reliable Marine Contractor in Queensland
North Marine can mobilise anywhere in Australia and throughout the Australian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
Primary service areas include North Queensland, the Torres Strait and the Gulf of Carpentaria.
View Our Marine Support Services
Map Of North Marine’s Head Office & North Wharf, Shipyard In Cairns Port
The clickable map provides directions to 2 locations: North Marine head office in Cairns City and our waterfront yard, North Wharf in Cairns, Queensland. Click the map and select the desired pin marker for directions.
