Friday wrap: Doors open for Melbourne Virtual Boat and Fishing Show

The show includes a number of new release models, including the 8.1-metre Cruise Craft Launch 25 GT and the Absolue 62 Fly flybridge cruiser, to name a couple.

Visitors can enter a virtual exhibition hall, an online chat room that can connect them directly with the people selling the boats, an auditorium featuring guest speakers, as well as other marine product suppliers and service industries.

The Melbourne Virtual Boat and Fishing Show will allow punters to talk, text and video chat with exhibitors and arrange to either visit a dealer, arrange a demonstration or even lock in a purchase.

Boat exhibitors include 38 South; Aussie Boat Sales; Bar Crusher; Bennington/Pacific pontoon boats; Blue Nautilus Marine; Chaparral; Chelsea Yamaha; Clipper Motor Yachts; Cobalt and Pursuit; Crawford Marine; Dunbier/Mackay boat trailers; Geelong Boating Centre; Ginieco Marine; Honda Marine; Inverloch Marine; JR Nautical; JV Marine World; Melbourne Boat Sales; Mercury Marine; Polycraft; Port Phillip Boating Centre; Premier Yachting; R Marine Jackson; Regal Marine; Ride Australia (Wake Boats Victoria); Southern Formula; and St Kilda Boat Sales.

The event will include online presentations from the likes of Fishtopia’s Steve “Starlo” Starling; Aaron Habgood and Gawaine Blake from Salt Guide; and iFish TV’s Paul Worsteling.

The virtual show runs from today until Sunday.

The Tasmanian government has announced it will look to Australian businesses to supply two new vessels to replace the Spirit of Tasmania ferries by 2028.

The government’s hand was forced after the shipyard that provided the current TT-Line managed Bass Strait ferries, German marine engineering group Flensburger Shiffbau-Gesellschaft, announced it was struggling to keep the 110-year-old shipwright financially viable.

“As we rebuild a stronger Tasmania, we are backing Tasmanian and Australian businesses and jobs by exploring local procurement and manufacturing options for TT-Line’s replacement vessels,” the Tasmanian Government said in a statement released this week.

According to Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein, the loss of the preferred overseas bidder for the $850 million project would now “present the greatest opportunity for our local and Australian manufacturers”.

“Tasmania is renowned for its innovation and this decision is a potential gamechanger for our advanced manufacturing sector,” Gutwein said.

“We have a choice right now to invest around $850 million offshore in Europe, or to explore all our options in this new post-COVID-19 environment to maximise benefits for Australian and Tasmanian businesses and the people they employ.”

The project is expected to generate more than 1500 direct and indirect jobs. The move could prove a windfall for Hobart-based commercial shipbuilder Incat, as well as West Australian-based high-speed vessel specialist Incat.

Italian shipyard Benetti has announced it has delivered the first of its 44-metre flagships, the Diamond 145.

Life onboard the 469-tonne fibreglass tri-deck cruiser revolves around five cabins sleeping 10 guests, with another five cabins for up to nine crew including the captain.

At a speed of 11 knots, the Benetti Diamond 145's twin 1400hp MAN V12 engines can range as far as 5000 nautical miles before needing a refuel, with a cruising speed of 14 knots.

The boat includes a 102-square-metre sun deck, a pool in the bow of the upper deck, amidships living room, and a 60-square-metre owner's apartment forward of the main deck.