 |
Shipbuilding is one of WA's most buoyant industries. This growth industry has people working as steel and aluminium welders, fabricators, fitters (engineering assemblers), electricians, and in furniture fit-outs. These trades combine their talents to bring us anything from pleasure craft to high speed aluminium passenger and vehicle carrying vessels.
A World Leader
'The industry in WA started about 20 years ago, servicing and building small pleasure craft and fishing fleets. Today, we are major international shipbuilders in lightweight, high-speed ferries and luxury yachts,' says a WA Shipbuilders' Association Inc spokesperson.
The innovative design and the international success of the industry means shipbuilding is making Western Australia a recognised world-wide leader in this area.
A Team Effort
Each ship made requires a team of skilled shipwright tradespersons who build the components, assemble the parts and put on the finishing touches.
Fabricators build the hull and the superstructure of the vessels. The welders are then responsible for joining the components together. The fitters' role is to look after all the mechanical and propulsion equipment as well as the engineroom equipment. The last stage is the fit-out of all interiors including seats, tables, walls and all those added touches that make the luxury vessels look similar to some people's living and dining rooms. Throughout all the stages, electrical tradespersons look after the wiring within the vessel.
Working within a team, this is a busy environment.
Most shipwrights work in metropolitan Perth in the Cockburn Sound area just south of Fremantle and work a 40-hour week (often plus overtime), either working or in training.
Great Opportunities
The shipbuilding industry in Western Australia offers great apprenticeship opportunities and a sound career path.
Most work is in the trades areas of fabrication, welding, fitout and fitting, electrical, sheetmetal, shipwrighting, refrigeration and composites. Technical roles include draftsperson, maintenance inspector and welding supervisor. The marine construction, mining and industrial/commercial construction industries all offer excellent avenues of employment for shipwrights.
A spokesperson for Austal Ships, the biggest shipbuilding company in WA, says,
'We expect to see growth double within the next five years when our workforce will increase to well over 2,000 employees.'
Small numbers are university trained, but new career pathways from the trades to the professions (eg engineers ) are being developed. Those who go on to a diploma or bachelor degree in engineering will find opportunities as estimators, in manufacturing and mechanical engineering, metallurgy (the study of metals) and as marine engineers or naval architects.
Those choosing to work in semi-skilled areas can take a pre-vocational or traineeship program which starts in secondary school and articulates into an apprenticeship. For further information, ask your school's career adviser or VET coordinator.
Salaries for qualified tradespeople start at around $30-35,000, rising to nearly $50,000 per year for those with more experience.
|
