15/07/2026
A proud day for Echo Marine Group and Western Australian manufacturing.
On June 24th, we were honoured to welcome Premier Roger Cook, Minister for Transport Rita Saffioti MLA , Minister for Energy and Decarbonisation Manufacturing Amber-Jade Sanderson, David Scaife MLA , representatives from the Public Transport Authority, and members of the Echo Marine Group team to celebrate the official keel laying of the first of five battery-electric ferries.
This milestone marks the commencement of construction of what will become Australia's first fully electric public transport ferry fleet, which will operate on Perth's iconic Swan River.
A special highlight of the ceremony was seeing our first-year apprentice fabricator, Sabastian Dunlop, affix the ceremonial keel laying plaque — a fitting reminder that this project is not only about delivering innovative, sustainable transport, but also about investing in the next generation of Western Australian shipbuilders.
We are proud to be designing and building these vessels locally at our Henderson shipyard, creating skilled jobs, supporting local suppliers, and contributing to Western Australia's growing advanced manufacturing capability.
Thank you to the Western Australian Government, the Public Transport Authority, suppliers, and our dedicated workforce for helping reach this important milestone. We look forward to bringing Australia's first fully electric public transport ferry fleet to life.