Taree boat builder Steber International has finalised a multi-million dollar contract following the company’s participation in the Dubai International Boat Show earlier this year.
Steber International has won a $2 million-plus contract to build, fit-out and deliver a 52 foot medical support vessel for a high-profile Qatari businessman.
With support from the NSW Department of State and Regional Development, Steber and 12 other NSW companies from the marine industry exhibited at the boat show in March.
General Manager Alan Steber said it was the first time his company had participated in the boat show and it had turned out to be a very worthwhile exercise.
“Working with another exhibitor, Jeremy Spear, a naval architect from Sydney company Spear Green Design, we were able to produce customised design plans and present them to the businessman in a couple of days, which really impressed him,” Mr Steber said.
“As well as the medical support vessel, I’m optimistic that we’ll sign another big contract for a 28 ft leisure vessel as a result of the show.
“At the boat show, I talked to many prospective clients and their boat captains about customised designs for recreational and commercial vessels, which really boosted Steber’s profile in that market.”
Mr Steber said the company expected to complete work on the support vessel in about nine months.
“As with all our craft, we’ll maximise Australian content, including aluminium, timber, stainless steel fittings, paints and, in this case, the recompression chamber will be supplied by Cowan Manufacturing in Newcastle,” he said.
“With this and other work coming in, I anticipate that we will put on more staff over the next six months, building up to about 50 people. I also hope to increase our number of shipwright apprentices from seven to 10.”
Steber, an award-winning family-owned company, has exported boats to Mauritius, the Seychelles, Qatar, Dubai, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Solomon Islands, New Zealand, Singapore and Noumea.
Mr Steber said the support he’d received from the NSW Department of State and Regional Development had been invaluable.
“Export Adviser Gabrielle Oriel’s practical advice, the briefings and seminars we’ve attended, and support for participation in exhibitions have all helped,” he said.
“It’s useful to have someone outside the business who can act as a sounding board.”
The Department of State and Regional Development manages a program of trade missions, participation in international exhibitions and independent market visits to help NSW companies win business in overseas markets.
The Department also has a network of export advisers across NSW.
For information on exporting see www.export.nsw.gov.au