AWARDS 2025 | Best SAR Boat – Marine Rescue 30 – The Whiskey Project Group

The selection of TWPG for the development of MR30 is in line with growing demand for sovereign shipbuilding capability, which Schuback indicated as a major trend, especially among government operators.

"Governments want more control over their supply chains, especially with the pressures we’re seeing internationally, and they’re tightening safety and environmental regulations at the same time," he told Baird Maritime. "In Australia, for example, the NSCV standards, and rightly so, set a high bar for crew protection and structural integrity.

"At TWPG, we’ve leaned into this shift by building a resilient supply-chain and manufacturing footprint across Australia, New Zealand, and the USA so we can meet local requirements and keep delivering even when global supply chains are under stress."

The second major trend Schuback mentioned is the expectation for proven organisational maturity. It is not enough to have the technical capability, with tenders increasingly demanding verified quality and safety systems.

"That’s why we’ve invested in ISO 9001 and ISO 45001 certification. They’re part of our ‘by operators, for operators’ approach, giving our staff and customers confidence that every vessel is built with consistent quality, safety, and performance in mind."