on 1 Jun 2023
Australia's leading superyacht marina and refit yard is now on the market
In late May, the owners of Australia’s Rivergate Marina and Shipyard, a key facility for visiting superyachts, announced that the marina and shipyard is up for sale. The facility, located on the Brisbane River on Australia’s east coast, is now a major superyacht refit yard and one of the busiest shipyards in the southern hemisphere.
Established in 2006, Rivergate has previously announced plans for a major expansion to support the fast-growing global superyacht industry and drive more superyacht visitation to the South Pacific region. In December 2019, the Australian parliament passed the Special Recreational Vessel Legislation to enable foreign-flagged vessels to be chartered in Australian waters. Covid restrictions soon followed, but with restrictions now lifted, superyacht visits to Australia are expected to rise.
Rivergate’s facilities include 300-tonne and 75-tonne travel lifts, a 55-metre refit shed, hardstand, berthing for vessels up to 90 metres, 24-hour fuel wharf and more than 20 world-class marine trades on site. It also features a 105-berth marina with all-tide deepwater access and 24-hour refueling.
Rivergate’s expansion plans include a state-of-the-art 3,000-tonne ship lift, SPMT transfer system, additional open hardstand space, refit sheds and support buildings, and in water service berths suitable for a wide range of superyachts, commercial and naval vessels.
Read: Rivergate Marina and Shipyard approved for A$200 million expansion
In a statement, the owners of Rivergate said that government approvals were “already in place” for the expansion plans.
“This has been a difficult decision for our family-owned business, but we believe the time is right for a new owner to continue our work and oversee the next exciting phase of the Rivergate story,” said Rivergate Director Tom Hill. He added that Australia is well-positioned to take advantage of the buoyant superyacht market, thanks to pent up demand to visit the South Pacific on condition of more service capacity for large superyachts.
Located south of the cyclone belt, Rivergate is only 10 minutes from an international airport and midway between Sydney and the Great Barrier Reef for easy access to some of the world’s most spectacular cruising grounds.
JLL has been appointed to manage the marketing of Rivergate Marina.