MARINE Structures, based in Australia, aims to grow its presence in the Pacific by leveraging joint ventures and local partnerships to expand floating marine infrastructure.
The company formed a joint venture last year by merging Superior Jetties and Jetty Specialist, combining 70 years of family marine experience to create a stronger business platform targeting Pacific Island markets.
“There is a need to actively develop business rather than wait for orders, focusing on island nations with planned infrastructure,” said John Hogan, Marine Structures Director.
“The strategy includes introducing floating designs alongside traditional fixed structures to meet unique local needs.
“Relationships with local companies in Fiji are crucial to improve delivery and installation capabilities.
“The company plans to shift some manufacturing tasks to Fiji over time to enhance local involvement and cost efficiency,” he said.
Fiji serves as a strategic base due to geographic proximity, cultural similarities, and existing supplier relationships, with multiple successful marina projects completed there, including expansions at Denarau and super yacht facilities.
Hogan said ease of travel (three-hour flight from Brisbane) and familiarity made Fiji an ideal gateway for Pacific expansion.
“Current operations involve shipping kits to trusted local installers, but future plans include hiring local employees for on-site roles as project complexity grows,” he said.
Hogan highlighted non-exclusive arrangements with local stakeholders with marine equipment to build broader collaboration networks in Fiji.
The floating marine structures are designed for long life, low maintenance, and environmental responsibility, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals.
The product’s design life has increased from 25 to 50 years through innovations such as fibreglass reinforcement and elastomeric hinges, minimising maintenance requirements.
Hogan’s expertise in sustainable marina development underpins this, with a focus on durable concrete, aluminium, and polyurethane components.
“These material choices reduce corrosion and extend usable life, decreasing lifecycle costs and environmental impact.”
The company’s sustainability framework expands traditional goals by adding “destination protection,” ensuring marine ecosystems remain unharmed.
“This includes avoiding damage to coral reefs and mangroves and applying environmental offsets when disturbance is unavoidable,” he said.
The product complies with Australian Standard AS 3962 for marina design, ensuring resilience against cyclones and flooding and addressing Pacific climate risks.
Hogan confirmed that decades of cyclone exposure on Queensland coasts have proven the product’s durability under severe weather.
“The floating design also offers seismic resilience via subsea anchoring, potentially reducing costs and risks compared to fixed structures, which is critical given Pacific seismic activity,” he said.
“This seismic advantage could lower project budgets and increase infrastructure longevity in earthquake-prone regions.”
Marine Structures, experts in pontoons, marinas, gangways, jetties, and more, are shaping Australia’s waterways with leading solutions in residential and commercial marine structures, pontoon manufacturing, and marina systems.