Frequently Asked Questions
Planning a project on the water? Here are answers to the questions we’re asked most about hiring commercial vessels and barges from Boab Commercial Marine. Can’t find what you need? Fill out our contact form for a quick commercial boat quote.
About Boab Commercial Marine
What does Boab Commercial Marine do?
We hire out commercial vessels, punts, workboats and modular barges for short-term and long-term projects right across Australia. We can supply the vessel on its own or with an experienced skipper and crew, plus the equipment the job needs.
Where is Boab based?
Our head office is in Oak Flats, New South Wales. We also have branches in Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Perth, Adelaide, Shepparton, Hobart and Canberra.
Who uses Boab's vessels?
Our clients include government agencies, engineering consultancies, construction companies, utilities, universities and event organisers. Past clients include Transport for NSW, WaterNSW, the Royal Australian Navy, SMEC, BMD, the University of Queensland, the ABC and Ironman.
What experience do your skippers and crew have?
Our team comes from marine, construction and government backgrounds. All skippers hold commercial certification, and they’re practical on site, so they focus on getting the job done safely and efficiently rather than just driving the boat.
What kinds of projects has Boab worked on?
Recent work includes Snowy Hydro, the Nowra Bridge, Cotter Dam, the Tantangara Tunnel and a three-river hydrographic survey. See Our Projects for case studies.
Our Fleet
What types of vessels can I hire?
Our fleet includes aluminium and HDPE punts, monohull workboats, catamarans, RIBs, larger inboard vessels and non-propelled modular barges. Vessels range from a 4.2 m RIB up to a 15.95 m aluminium monohull. Browse the full list on Our Fleet.
How many people can your vessels carry?
Passenger capacity depends on the vessel. Our smaller punts and RIBs carry 4 to 5 people, mid-size workboats carry 8 to 12, the Thunderbolt catamaran carries 17 and the Wai Nawana carries 24. Tell us your crew numbers and we’ll match a vessel to them.
Are your vessels road-transportable?
Yes. Most of our fleet is trailerable, so we can deliver vessels by road to dams, lakes, rivers and coastal sites almost anywhere in Australia. Our modular barges are also transported by road and assembled on site.
Do you have vessels for long or remote jobs?
Yes. Our larger vessels offer liveaboard capability for extended trips and remote operations where returning to shore each day isn’t practical.
What are modular barges used for?
Modular barges are non-propelled floating platforms that we assemble into the size and shape a job needs. They’re commonly used as work platforms for marine construction, bridge and wharf repairs, drilling and equipment staging.
Can vessels be fitted with extra equipment?
Yes. We can supply cranes, winches, anchoring systems, electric positioning systems, launch and recovery frames, generators, compressors and other equipment. We can also customise a vessel’s setup for a specific job.
What do survey classes like 2C, 2D and 2E mean?
They’re the national (AMSA) operational categories that set where a commercial vessel can work. The number is the vessel’s use, for example 2 for non-passenger vessels. The letter is the area: C is offshore up to 30 nautical miles, D is partially smooth waters such as larger bays and rivers, and E is smooth waters such as dams, lakes and sheltered rivers. Each vessel on our fleet page lists its classes, and we’ll recommend one that’s approved for your location.
Hiring a Vessel
What's the difference between dry hire and wet hire?
Dry hire means you hire the vessel without a skipper and operate it with your own qualified crew. Wet hire means the vessel comes with one of our commercially certified skippers, and crew if needed.
What do I need to dry hire a vessel?
Your operator will need the right commercial qualifications for the vessel and the waters you’ll work in. Boab’s dry hire requirements, such as certificates, inductions, insurance and a signed hire agreement.
Can I hire a vessel short term or long term?
Both. We hire vessels for single-day jobs through multi-month projects.
How much does it cost to hire a commercial boat or barge?
Every job is priced on its own requirements. The main factors are the vessel, hire length, dry or wet hire, equipment, transport to site and location. Contact us with your project details for a tailored quote.
How do I get a quote?
Send your project details through our contact page. It helps to include the location, dates, type of work, crew numbers and any equipment you need.
How far in advance should I book?
As early as you can, especially for larger vessels, barges or projects in remote areas.
Services & Industries
What services does Boab offer besides vessel hire?
We offer environmental, survey, personnel movement, marine construction, film, television and events, and ports and maritime services. See Our Services for details on each.
Can you install and manage silt curtains?
Yes. We supply, install and manage silt curtains, log booms and other environmental controls that protect waterways from sediment during construction. Environmental services
Do you provide hydrographic survey support?
Yes. Our teams support hydrographic surveys, bathymetry, drop cameras and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), including river, dam and seafloor mapping. Survey services
Can you transport workers to and from a site on the water?
Yes. Our skippers and safety management systems support crew transfers on everything from alpine construction sites to fireworks barges on Sydney Harbour. Personnel movement
Do you help with marine construction?
Yes. Our tradespeople handle bridge repairs, wharf maintenance and modular floating structures. Construction services
Can you support film shoots and events?
Yes. We provide vessels, skippers and on-water risk assessments for film and TV crews, sporting competitions and public events. Film, television and events
Do you work on navigation aids and moorings?
Yes. We install and maintain navigation aids, and carry out mooring inspections and reporting. Ports and maritime
Which industries do you work with?
Construction, energy, defence, scientific research, dive support, survey, film and television, events, marine navigation and salvage.
Safety, Compliance & Coverage
Are your vessels AMSA compliant?
Yes. All Boab vessels comply with Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) requirements, and every skipper holds commercial certification.
How do you manage safety on the water?
We run comprehensive safety management systems and complete risk assessments for jobs such as film shoots, events and personnel transfers. Our crews also understand construction-site compliance, so they slot into your site’s safety requirements.
Are your vessels insured?
Boab’s insurance cover (for example, public liability and hull cover) and what clients need to hold for dry hire.
Which areas of Australia do you service?
We work Australia-wide. With branches in every state and territory and a road-transportable fleet, we take on jobs in metro harbours, regional rivers, alpine dams and remote locations. See our Service Areas.
Can you take on remote or difficult jobs?
Yes. We specialise in unique and difficult projects, and no job is too big, too small or too remote. Where we don’t have the right vessel ourselves, we can draw on our network of trusted partners.