Boat Refit Project Manager. Owner Representative, Shipyard, Hardstand OOW Slipping & Maintenance Airlie Beach-Mackay-Bowen-Whitsundays. Independent marine refit management—clear scope, controlled costs, and accountable outcomes from assessment through to final surveyor acceptance.
Boat Refit l Hardstand l Project Manager Ph: 0407645893
REFIT MANAGER - OWNER REPRESENTATIVE
Marine Project Management and Owner Representation for vessel works, shipyard periods, slipping, and complex marine maintenance projects in Airlie Beach, Whitsundays, Mackay and throughout Queensland. Acting on behalf of the boat owner, we provide structured oversight, technical guidance, and project coordination to ensure refit, repair works and survey assessments are completed to the pre-determined scope, on time, and within budget.
Why Choose Big Sea Marine? Guy is a Trade Certified Marine Engineer (Diesel Fitter & MED 1), highly experienced and qualified, and an Accredited Marine Surveyor! Guidance and support throughout the entire process, including sign off and reporting at completion of works. (AMSA Commercial, MSQ, or to satisfy your Insurance Underwriters)
What we manage:
- Major upgrades and restoration; mechanical & electrical; structural restoration; condition-based improvements; compliance upgrades.
- Planned and unplanned maintenance scopes; safety and regulatory upgrade; change of service category upgrades (commercial)
- Insurance rectification; post-incident repair scope; survey-driven rectification; post-purchase vessel life extension.
- Commissioning; sea trails, final sign off and written reports for owners, buyers, regulators or underwriters.
- Clear scope, controlled costs, and accountable outcomes from assessment through to final acceptance.
We protect the owner’s interests while facilitating clear communication between shipyards, Shipwrights, crew, captains, designers, and regulatory bodies. These services are applicable to commercial vessels, workboats, luxury cruisers, superyachts, and class-built vessels, whether undergoing a pre-purchase inspection, planned out-of-water period, AMSA compliance upgrades, hull damage repairs, or simple yard maintenance periods. PREVIEW PAST PROJECTS
Shipyard Period and Out-of-Water
During the active shipyard or refit period, Big Sea Marine Consultants & Surveyors provides hands-on project management and technical oversight, scaled to suit the complexity of the scope of works.
Typical responsibilities include:
- Coordination between shipyard, contractors, and the owner
- Monitoring progress against agreed scope and timelines
- Verification that works align with approved specifications
- Identification and management of variations
- Technical input on emerging issues or discoveries
Our experience across a wide range of vessel types enables practical, real-world guidance rather than purely theoretical oversight.
Owners Representative
As an owner’s representative, Big Sea Marine Consultants & Surveyors acts as the central technical coordination point for the yard period.
Our role is independent of shipyards and Shipwrights and is focused on:
- Representing the owner’s technical and commercial interests
- Ensuring scope clarity and cost control
- Reducing project risk and scope creep
- Supporting informed decision-making
- Maintaining transparency across all stakeholders.
This independent oversight is particularly valuable where owners are not locally based or where projects involve multiple contractors and regulatory requirements.
Planning & Scope of Works
Effective refit outcomes are achieved through clear planning and well-defined scope before a vessel enters the yard.
We assist owners with:
- Pre-refit condition assessments and planning inspections
- Development of a structured scope of works
- Identification of mandatory compliance or class items
- Differentiation between essential, recommended, and optional works
- Technical input into repair methodologies and sequencing
Where required, we review yard proposals, contractor quotations, and repair specifications to ensure works are appropriately defined, technically sound, and commercially reasonable.
Timeline & Budget Tracking
One of the most common risks during refit projects is schedule slippage and unplanned cost escalation.
We assist owners by:
- Establishing realistic project timelines
- Tracking progress against milestones
- Identifying potential delays early
- Reviewing variation requests for technical and commercial validity
- Supporting cost control and prioritisation decisions
This structured approach allows owners to maintain visibility and control throughout the entire project.
Clear Stakeholder Communication
Marine refits often involve multiple stakeholders, including:
- Shipyard management
- Trade contractors and specialists
- Vessel crew and captain
- Designers or naval architects
- Surveyors, class societies, and regulators
We provide clear, consistent liaison between parties, ensuring information is accurately conveyed and decisions are documented.
This reduces misunderstandings, duplication of effort, and project friction, while allowing owners to remain informed without being burdened by day-to-day coordination.
Key North Queensland Marina and Yard Locations
Contact details for locations across North Queensland, including the Whitsundays, Bowen, Mackay, Townsville, and Yeppoon. The information is intended to assist vessel owners, purchasers, insurers, and marine professionals with practical access to key facilities commonly used for inspections, maintenance, and haul out in our region.
Hawkes Boatyard - Airlie Beach
A key haul-out and hardstand facility servicing the Whitsundays marine industry. The yard provides practical access for out-of-water inspections, hull and structural assessments, antifouling evaluations, anode inspections and machinery condition surveys across a wide range of vessel types.
Hawkes is commonly used for pre-purchase inspections, insurance assessments, refit planning surveys and rectification verification works, particularly for vessels operating in the Whitsundays charter and cruising regions. Our local knowledge of the facility and its operating procedures allows surveys to be coordinated efficiently alongside haul-out schedules and contractor availability.
Phone: (07) 4946 6700
Email: hby@whitsunday.net.au
Website: www.hawkesboatyard.com
Lift times are generally 8am, 10.15am and 1.15pm. Time is allocated based on availability and the vessel draft. (Lifts may be tide dependant.)
Mackay Marina Village - Mackay
One of North Queensland’s most comprehensive marine service facilities. The marina and adjacent shipyard provide excellent access for in-water inspections, haul-outs, hardstand examinations, machinery assessments and refit-related surveys for both recreational and commercial vessels.
With its full-service shipyard, travel lift facilities and proximity to specialist marine trades, Mackay Marina is well suited to pre-purchase inspections, insurance condition assessments, damage investigations and AMSA Domestic Commercial Vessel (DCV) surveys. Our inspections at this location benefit from close coordination with local contractors, marina management and vessel operators, allowing surveys to be conducted efficiently and with minimal disruption.
Phone: (07) 4955 6855
Email: reception@mackaymarina.com
Website: www.mackaymarina.com
Coral Sea Marina
Business: Coral Sea Marina
Phone: (07) 4946 2400
Email: marina@csmr.com.au
Website: www.coralseamarina.com
Edges Boatyard - Airlie Beach
A well-established maintenance facility servicing recreational and commercial vessels throughout the Whitsundays. The yard provides practical access for out-of-water inspections, hull and structural examinations, antifouling and coating assessments, anode inspections and machinery condition surveys.
Edges is frequently utilised for pre-purchase inspections, insurance condition assessments, damage investigations and refit planning surveys, particularly for vessels operating in coastal cruising and charter service. Our familiarity with the yard’s layout, lift capabilities and operational procedures allows inspections to be coordinated efficiently alongside haul-outs and contractor works.
Phone: (07) 4948 2607
Email: enquiries@edgesboatyard.com
Website: www.edgesboatyard.com
Port of Airlie Marina
Phone: 1800 32 52 672
Email: enquiry@dalbora.com.au
Website: www.dalbora.com.au
Bowen Harbour
Phone: (07) 4786 4627
Email: bowenmarina@aldercon.com.au
Website: www.bowenmarina.com.au
Keppel Bay - Yeppoon
Phone: (07) 4933 6244
Email: marina@keppelbaymarina.com.au
Website: www.keppelbaymarina.com.au