PFG Welcomes Boat Building and Advanced Manufacturing Commitment
Local Tasmanian boat builder PFG welcomed today’s announcement by Premier of Tasmania Peter Gutwein that if re-elected, a Liberal Government will provide a $600,000, three-year, interest free loan to enable PFG to build a next-generation prototype vessel. PFG intends to compete in a forthcoming tender which is the start of a 20-year, more than $70 million build program for sea-boats for the Royal Australian Navy.
“Today’s announcement that was part of a broader innovation and advanced manufacturing policy commitment, would provide certainty to our workforce and would enable us to rapidly commence a build on what we think will be a vessel that will be highly competitive in the forthcoming Tender”, Rob Inches, CEO of PFG said today.
“The Sentinel 1100, built from High Density Polyethylene (HDPE), will enable us to demonstrate operationally that this next generation material offers unmatched performance, safety, durability and whole of life cost.
“HDPE is virtually indestructible, cannot corrode and is maintenance free, delivering a range of advantages to the Navy and broader Military and Defence Force, as well as public security and emergency service organisations.
“Tasmania has a history of innovative boat building stretching back almost 200 years and the skilled and dedicated workforce we have, are proud to continue this tradition.
“On behalf of all our workforce and suppliers we thank the Premier for this commitment. It is important that Tasmanian businesses are given every opportunity to compete on both a national and international stage and this announcement will allow us to demonstrate on the water that we have the proven performance to build boats that will meet the future demands of our Navy,” Mr Inches said.
