Yamba Welding and Engineering continues to go from strength to strength since it was taken over by The Whiskey Project Group in 2021 with the announcement of contracts with the NSW SES and the Royal Australian Navy following their recent success at the Sydney Business Awards.
The Whiskey Project Group build high-performance specialised aluminium vessels for Marine Rescue NSW, NSW SES, Australian Border Force, Australian Defence Force, Australian Federal Police, Queensland Police, and their Naiad vessel designs supply the Victorian and Western Australian police forces.
In June at a gala dinner at Sydney Town Hall, The Whiskey Project Group won the Excellence in International Business and Business of the Year awards.
The honours coming after the business was named Australian Marine Exporter of the Year at the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show in May, and their outstanding apprentice, Max Morfett, was announced as NSW Marine Apprentice of the Year.
Last week, The Whiskey Project Group announced it had secured contracts to build 15 new NSW SES vessels.
“Yamba Welding and Engineering YWE are pleased to be building further vessels for NSW SES, these being 5 x 5.5m Class 3 ‘550 Yamba Plate Boat’ and 10 x 4.5m Class 2 ‘479 Yamba Pro Punt Bow Door’, with fabrication commenced on the Class 2 vessels,” YWE announced on social media.
This NSW SES contract announcement followed the news that The Whiskey Project Group was awarded a contract by The Royal Australian Navy to build 2 all aluminium Landing Craft Light (LCL).
“At 15.4m in length, the new LCL is larger than Navy’s long-serving Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel that are often embarked on the sealift ship HMAS Choules and ADV Reliant,” the Australian Defence Force announced.
“Powered by triple 300hp diesel outboard motors, TWPG says the LCL has improved seakeeping and is also significantly faster, being capable of 26 knots in a fully loaded configuration.
“It can carry 4.5 tonnes of cargo, including a light vehicle, containerised stores or up to 30 personnel.
“A bi-fold bow ramp allows for the transfer of cargo and people across a variety of shoreline terrain and beach conditions.”
Construction on the 2 LCL’s is due to commence this month, YWE said.
This article appeared in the Clarence Valley Independent, 7 August 2024.
