It takes more than fires, floods and Covid-19 to distract Team Steber from starting off 2020 in positive fashion and there are plenty of good indicators that the year will be one of growth, innovation and ongoing success. Early highlights include:
- Amid much fanfare our largest vessel to date, Investigator II, was officially launched at Port Louis, Republic of Mauritius. The 61ft (18.6m) vessel, weighs in excess of 35 tonnes and will be used as a fisheries research vessel. Commissioned by the Mauritius PM she is already hard at work.
- Earlier this month we launched a 34ft commercial-style fishing boat. Following final fitout and sea trials on the Manning River, the vessel is in the process of being delivered to her Sydney client.
- We have delivered three vessels as part of a five-vessel contract to primer contractor Thales Australia. The final two naval support boats will be delivered later this year.
- Staff are putting the finishing touches on an additional 10 marine storage lockers destined for the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia. The initial order of 100 lockers was delivered 2017-18.
- Steber International has thrown it weight behind the endangered Man-ning River Helmeted Turtle and it is now being bred in captivity at the Australian Reptile Park, Gosford. Eggs that were threatened initially by fires and drought and then floods and roaming cattle have been relocated from the Manning River to the park and the first batch of new hatchlings has arrived!
- A new Defence contract for a 43 ftr is underway and will secure work until December.
- The Apprenticeship Program via distant learning has been extremely successful, with the virus shutting down TAFE. They are studying online and keeping ahead of the game!
