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Tenders to open for $400M Darwin Ship Lift

Tenders to open for $400M Darwin Ship Lift

Construction tenders for the $400 million Darwin Ship Lift will be released during August and promoted by the NT Industry and Capability Network.

Expressions of Interest will open this week to create a shortlist of applicants with requests for proposal, followed by the request of a detailed design.

The procurement will focus on buying local and supporting local business.

The Northern Territory Government announced it will build a Ship Lift and Marine Industries Facility in the NT, which will generate around $260 million into the economy each year once operational and create hundreds of local jobs.

This would be equivalent of one per cent of Gross Territory Product. Modelling undertaken by ACIL Allen indicates the project has a net economic benefit of up to $1.4 billion.

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Darwin’s Ship Lift and Marine Industries Facility will be Northern Australia’s largest and will be capable of servicing vessels from industries including offshore petroleum, commercial fishing, pearling, Defence and Border Force.

An agreement between the Northern Territory Government and Paspaley will result in the Ship Lift being constructed on Northern Territory Government-owned land and operated by Paspaley under a long-term agreement.

Paspaley also intends to relocate its current out-of-water marine servicing operations to the East Arm site, once it is operational, generating an additional direct benefit to the Territory economy.

This critical piece of enabling infrastructure will be a common user facility and a Northern Territory owned asset. Access to facilities and infrastructure will be available to anyone on a user-pays basis subject to access and pricing legislation and regulated by the Utilities Commission.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner said the ship lift will create more than 500 jobs during construction and 400 long term jobs in the marine industries that will grow because of it.

“Throughout the coronavirus crisis, the Territory Government’s top priorities have been saving lives and saving jobs. But we are also working on creating new jobs for Territorians,” Gunner said.

“We are the safest in Australia which means we can have the strongest comeback in Australia. The Ship Lift will help the Territory become Australia’s comeback capital.

“We will keep doing whatever takes to protect and create jobs, and we will always put the Territory first.”

Construction of the Ship Lift is set to begin next year.

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