SHIPBUILDING & REPAIR

PMD offers complete vessel solutions, including design, construction, maintenance, and repair. With decades of expertise in steel and aluminum shipbuilding, we are committed to delivering high-quality outcomes. Established in 1984, our Australian-owned company works closely with clients to ensure every project meets their exact needs.

Polaris Marine Group delivers high-quality shipbuilding and vessel repair services for commercial, industrial, and government clients. With extensive experience in marine construction, refit work, and structural upgrades, we are trusted by operators across Australia’s waterways to build, maintain, and extend the life of working vessels. Our team includes marine engineers, naval architects, fabricators, and project managers who understand the operational requirements of commercial vessels. We design and deliver practical, cost-effective solutions—from new builds to full overhauls and class renewals—carried out in our dedicated facilities or on-site as required. Every project is grounded in real-world application. Whether it’s a high-powered workboat, a customised barge, a port support vessel, or a ferry undergoing mid-life extension, we approach every job with a focus on durability, safety, and compliance.

Purpose-Built Facilities and Mobile Capability

Polaris operates purpose-built waterfront facilities equipped to handle steel, aluminium, and composite vessel construction and repair. Our hardstand space, travel lift access, and onsite fabrication workshop allow us to efficiently manage vessel movements, haul-outs, and refits. We also offer mobile marine repair services, dispatching crews to service or upgrade vessels in situ—at port, at berth, or on the hardstand of a remote yard. This flexibility is essential for clients operating across regional Australia, where access to traditional shipyards may be limited. Our teams are equipped to manage urgent repairs, scheduled maintenance, or structural modifications wherever they are needed.

New Builds for Commercial and Workboat Clients

Polaris Marine Group has built a wide range of vessels for government, industrial, and infrastructure clients. These include tugs, push boats, line-handlers, pontoons, barges, and utility vessels, often designed in close consultation with the client’s engineering team to suit site-specific tasks. Our design and construction process is tailored to meet operational realities. We build vessels with practical layouts, efficient propulsion systems, and robust hull designs to ensure longevity and ease of maintenance. We also collaborate with AMSA and classification societies to ensure all builds meet or exceed regulatory requirements. Each build is supported by detailed documentation, project reporting, and quality assurance protocols. Our team provides clear milestones and communications throughout, allowing clients to track progress and prepare for commissioning.

Marine Vessel Repairs and Upgrades

In addition to new builds, Polaris provides a full suite of repair and refit services. This includes hull and deck repairs, propulsion system upgrades, structural steelwork, machinery replacement, and repainting. We also conduct stability improvements, deck reconfigurations, and equipment installations to extend the operational capacity of existing vessels. Many vessels we work on are active commercial assets. We understand the cost of downtime, which is why our repair teams are focused on accurate planning, short lead times, and fast, safe execution. In some cases, we operate extended shifts to get vessels back into service as quickly as possible, without compromising workmanship. We also support class surveys, inspections, and recertification programs, including underwater and dry inspections. For clients managing fleets, we can create structured maintenance schedules that align with operational cycles and asset management plans.

Specialist Marine Fabrication

Our fabrication capability includes steel and aluminium works for hulls, decks, superstructures, ramps, tanks, and fittings. We fabricate to marine tolerances and can weld to various classifications depending on vessel type. Whether as part of a full vessel build or a smaller modular fabrication, our welders and fabricators are experienced in delivering to tight tolerances and marine-grade durability. We also undertake custom components, including lifting points, bollards, ladders, fuel lines, ducting, and access structures. Many of these are used for modifying or improving existing vessels, and are designed in consultation with the operators who rely on them.

Refit and Lifecycle Extension Projects

Polaris has completed major refit programs for vessels in both government and private fleets. These often involve extensive teardown, assessment, reconfiguration, and upgrade. Our experience with steel, systems, and marine coatings ensures that vessels are not only restored to safe operating condition, but also optimised for the next phase of service. Typical refits include hull renewal, main engine replacement, deck layout reconfiguration, navigation upgrades, and repainting. We also integrate improved safety features and modern standards into legacy vessels to keep them in regulatory compliance. These refits are always approached with an eye to long-term usability, budget control, and schedule certainty.

Support for Project and Custom Craft

Not all vessels fall into a standard category. Some are designed for one-off or unusual roles—floating infrastructure, test platforms, floating bridges, or specialist transport barges. Polaris works with clients to design and build such vessels or modify existing craft for temporary or site-specific use. We can work from client-drafted specifications or assist from the concept stage, developing a feasible design in collaboration with naval architects and operational stakeholders. Many of these builds are delivered under tight timeframes and logistical constraints, so our team applies a highly responsive, solutions-focused approach.

Compliance, Quality, and Safety

All our shipbuilding and repair work is completed under strict compliance with Australian maritime regulations. We work closely with AMSA, local port authorities, and classification bodies to ensure vessels meet safety, construction, and survey requirements. Our quality assurance systems include material traceability, weld testing, inspection protocols, and documented checks at each build or repair milestone. Polaris is also committed to safety—of our crew, our clients, and the marine environment. We operate under accredited safety systems and ensure that all worksites, whether mobile or on our premises, are managed in line with marine construction best practice.

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If you need to tow it, show it, build it, push it, deliver it, lift it or salvage it over water; please complete this form and one of our team will be in touch.

Gate 2, James Craig Rd, Rozelle NSW 2039

Phone: +61 2 9563 8333
Emergency Phone: +61 (0) 418 231 916

[email protected]

SHIPBUILDING & REPAIR

Purpose-Built Facilities and Mobile Capability

New Builds for Commercial and Workboat Clients

Marine Vessel Repairs and Upgrades

Specialist Marine Fabrication

Refit and Lifecycle Extension Projects

Support for Project and Custom Craft

Compliance, Quality, and Safety

PROJECTS

SEE US IN ACTION

Manton Dam

Nelligen Bridge Marine Support and Demolition Contract

Seabed Services Pipe Line Deployment

Fort Denison – Ferry Wharf

Circular Quay – Western Promenade – Soffit Concrete Repairs

Manly Boat Shed – Pontoon & Jetty Replacement

TESTIMONIALS

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Johnny L - Distinct Landscapes

Jake Duncombe, Project Manager

Owen Gardner, Project Manager

Keighley O, Sydney Harbour Trust

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