It’s constructing a ferry service marina at Mandorah, the red-hot fishing paradise on the opposite side of the harbour to Darwin.

The $63 million Northern Territory Government-funded project is supporting numerous local jobs and includes:

• protected boat harbour to enable safe ferry berthing/passenger access, and boat ramp access free from the open harbour sea-state

• pontoon that follows the tide height, enabling consistent and safe passenger transfer to ferry

• Disability Discrimination Act-compliant gangway access to pontoon to expand access to people with disability

• ferry terminal shade structure, complete with ablutions

• calm harbour boat ramp with access to most tides

• designated boat trailer parking

• disability access platform to allow patrons easy access into trailered vessels prior to launch/after retrieval.

SMC Marine owner Peter Philipp says: “We have appreciated the opportunity to construct these challenging project works, which will ultimately provide substantial benefits to the communities of Wagait Beach, Belyuen and the broader Cox Peninsula.

“The projects that improve people’s lives are the most rewarding to deliver.

“Our ability to service the construction program and maintain such an elevated operational cadence is a testament to the collaboration and outcome investment of our local supply chain and delivery partners.”

NT Local and SMC Project manager Daniel Abbott-Wightman says the company policy is to “integrate” with the local community.

“We engage with local industry, employ local people and work collaboratively with stakeholders,” he says. “In collaboration with our Northern Territory Government partners, we have converted problems into solutions.

Northern Territory Government partners, we have converted problems into solutions.

“We relish working on jobs that improve people’s lives – Mandorah is a great example. We love working in the NT.”

SMC Marine teamed up with the Territory branch of national design agency WGA to develop the facility layout, which uses the geology and position of the intertidal rock shelf for rock armour breakwaters. The design optimises the quantity of construction materials needed, maximises weather protection to the ferry pontoon and achieves the best value for money for the Territory.

Since site construction works commenced in May 2024, the majority of the rock armour breakwaters have been constructed, the capital dredge campaign is nearing completion, and the ferry terminal building works have commenced.

The rock breakwaters are made primarily of granite rock supplied from Mount Bundey Quarries, with individual rocks as large as 16 tonne used in their construction. Dredge works to form the marina have been undertaken by the 1200-tonne Machiavelli backhoe dredge, which uses a GPS-controlled 300-tonne excavator mounted on a spud-controlled barge.

Territory businesses working on the project include Ostojic Group, Halkitis Brothers, Darwin Tug and Line Services, NT Excavation and Demolitions, NT Link, Gold Medal Services, Pattemore Constructions, FYFE, SeaLink and EcOz. Specialist marine contractors Heron Construction and Coastwide Civil have also contributed to the works.

All SMC Marine staff working on site are locally employed, long-term Territorians.

SMC has proved itself to be a good corporate citizen in other ways, including buying a containerised coffee stall for the Belyuen Local Government Council; supplying topsoil to the Wagait beach sports oval; and funding the installation of an electronic message board at the Wagait Shire Council offices.

The company has been in operation for more than 25 years and works in all mainland states and Territories in Australia, and is committed to a presence in the NT.

It delivers work for a broad range of clients, including state and territory governments, Australian Government, Defence, local government councils, port authorities, the oil and gas industry, public and private companies.

SMC Marine, which specialises in technical marine infrastructure construction, particularly design and construct projects, operates an armada of plant and equipment, including a LC20 barge with a 120-tonne offshore crane and a JP10 barge with a 300-tonne Leibherr crawler crane.

The company’s passion for marine sustainability led it to address the gap in the market by inaugurating two sister companies – SeaO2, which responds to specific market demand in marine bio-habitat expertise and management, and SeaO2 Nano, an innovator in the enabling, production and harvesting of food grade algaes in a purpose-built facility in northern New South Wales.

Other SMC Marine projects recently finished or underway include the $100 million Sydney Fish Market; the $95 million HMAS Cairns upgrade; the $25 million Cairns Marine Precinct; the $27 million Sydney Harbour Public Domain and Wulugul Walk; and the $11 million Spoilbank Marina in the Pilbara, WA.