The Ship Lift project takes a huge step forward this week as the first stage of the procurement process for construction tenders begins.
Following the geotechnical and survey work currently underway on the site, construction tenders for the $400 million Ship Lift and Marine Industries Facility will be released during August and promoted by the NT Industry and Capability Network.
The procurement will focus on buying local and supporting local business.
The first stage, which begins this week, calls for Expressions of Interest. A short list of applicants will then be created with requests for proposals, followed by the request of a detail design.
Construction of the Ship Lift facility is set to begin next year.
The NT Government announced last year that it will build a Ship Lift and Marine Industries Facility in the Northern Territory, which will generate around $260 million into the economy each year once operational, and create hundreds of local jobs.
That's the equivalent of 1 per cent of current Gross Territory Product. Modelling undertaken by ACIL Allen indicates the project has a net economic benefit of up to $1.4 billion.
Darwin's Ship Lift and Marine Industries Facility will be Northern Australia's largest and will be capable of servicing vessels from industries including offshore petroleum, commercial fishing, pearling, Defence and Border Force.
The Ship Lift and Marine Industries Facility will position Darwin as a competitive international and national participant in the maritime maintenance and service industry, saving up to 10 days sailing time to a comparable facility for maintenance.
An agreement between the Northern Territory Government and Paspaley will result in the Ship Lift being constructed on Northern Territory Government-owned land and operated by Paspaley under a long-term agreement.
Paspaley also intends to relocate its current out-of-water marine servicing operations to the East Arm site, once it is operational, generating an additional direct benefit to the Territory economy.
This critical piece of enabling infrastructure will be a common user facility and a Northern Territory owned asset. Access to facilities and infrastructure will be available to anyone on a user-pays basis subject to access and pricing legislation and regulated by the Utilities Commission.
