Four Australian innovators from a short list of 10 have been presented with Maritime Industry Innovation Awards at Pacific 2015 with a fifth highly commended.
The winners include:
• A new welding system developed by DMTC and its partners for submarines and surface ships that will cut construction costs and improve construction quality.
• A new method of storing work and leisure craft above water level developed by AirBerth to reduce corrosion and weed growth while still leaving them in the water.
• An advanced hyperbaric chamber system designed by H.I Fraser for rescued submariners that will prevent them developing the feared ‘bends’.
• A low-cost simulation system from Pivot maritime International that has transformed the training of merchant marine deck officers and can even be used as a virtual design tool for new ships and harbours.
Highly Commended was a new lightweight stretcher system designed for all ADF aircraft and helicopters and for the RAN’s new Canberra-class LHDs.
Chairman of Maritime Australia Vice Admiral Chris Ritchie (Rtd) presented the awards on Tuesday in a ceremony at Pacific 2015. The winners:
• Defence Industry National Innovation Award – DMTC (Vic) ¬
• Civil Industry National Innovation Award – AirBerth Marketing (Qld)
• Defence Industry SME Innovation Grant – H.I. Fraser (NSW)
• Civil Industry SME Innovation Grant – Pivot Maritime International (Tas)
• Defence Industry National Innovation Award – High Commended – Aero medical Integration (Qld)
The National Innovation Award winners were presented with engraved glass trophies symbolising Australia’s enduring relationship with and dependence upon the sea for its prosperity and security. The boomerangs were designed and made by Wathaurong Glass Arts, an indigenously owned and managed cooperative in Geelong.
The Innovation Awards, including the two SME Innovation Grants worth $10,000 each, were presented by Maritime Australia, organiser of the Pacific 2015 International Maritime Exposition. The first MAL Innovation Awards were presented two years ago at Pacific 2013.
Pacific 2015 CEO Ian Honnery “Although the Australian government has encouraged greater industry innovation across all sectors, ours are the first national awards to recognise and reward the efforts and achievements of innovative Australian companies in the naval and maritime industry.”
“Our purpose as a foundation is to promote the development of Australia’s industry capacity in the fields of aerospace, defence, maritime and IT so we’re putting our money – literally – where our mouth is.
“The fact that the awards have been won by such high-quality candidates speaks for the quality of the individuals, companies and organisations making up Australia’s naval and maritime industry.”