Blasters & Painters / Fitters / Fitter Machinists (Multiple Positions)

Harwood Slipways Pty Ltd (Polaris Marine Dockyards) – Polaris Marine Group

Harwood (Yamba), NSW

About Us

Polaris Marine Group is a leader in Australian marine construction and asset services, with more than 35 years of operational excellence across marine infrastructure, bridge and wharf construction, piling and crane barge hire.

Our Polaris Marine Dockyards (PMD) facility at Harwood Slipway, on the Clarence River, is one of the largest commercial slipway and shipyard facilities on Australia’s east coast. We deliver dockings, refits, repairs, fabrication and vessel recycling for commercial operators and government clients. With significant investment in new plant and equipment and a strong forward pipeline of work, we are expanding our in-house trades capability and building a skilled, permanent workforce.

The Roles

We are seeking experienced Blasters & Painters, Fitters and Fitter Machinists to join our team. Working on the slipway and afloat, you will carry out docking, refit, repair and maintenance work on a diverse fleet of commercial vessels, barges and government craft, as well as on our dockyard plant.

Blasters & Painters

- Prepare hulls, decks, superstructures and tanks by abrasive blasting, UHP water jetting and power tooling to the specified surface standard and profile.

- Apply marine coating systems – primers, epoxy and barrier coats, antifouling and topside finishes – by airless spray, brush and roller, in line with coating specifications and manufacturers’ data sheets.

- Complete underwater hull work during dockings, including hull washing, antifouling, boot topping, and draft, load line and vessel name markings.

- Blast and coat ballast, fuel and void tanks and other confined spaces under permit.

- Mask and protect anodes, transducers, sea chests, shafts, propellers and rudders before blasting and painting.

- Monitor and record dew point, humidity, steel temperature, surface profile, soluble salts and dry film thickness, and complete QA and inspection and test plan (ITP) records.

- Set up, operate and maintain blast pots, compressors, dehumidifiers, spray equipment, containment and abrasive recovery, keeping blast media and overspray out of the river.





Fitters

- Remove, overhaul and refit propellers, tailshafts, stern tubes, shaft seals, rudders and steering gear during dockings, including measuring bearing clearances and wear-down.

- Maintain and repair main and auxiliary diesel engines, gearboxes, generators, pumps, compressors and pipework.

- Overhaul sea valves, sea chests and through-hull fittings.

- Service and repair deck machinery, including anchor windlasses, capstans, winches, cranes and hydraulic systems.

- Carry out shaft and machinery alignment, and install bearings and couplings.

- Fault-find diesel, hydraulic, pneumatic and 12/24V DC electrical systems.

- Open up machinery and hull items for class and AMSA survey, and complete surveyor-required repairs.

- Maintain slipway and dockyard plant, including slipway winches, cradles and yard cranes.

Fitter Machinists

- Machine marine components on lathes, mills and borers – including shafts, liners, sleeves, bushes, couplings, flanges and pump parts – to drawing and tolerance.

- Recondition propeller shafts, rudder stocks and pintles, and machine and fit stern tube and rudder bearings.

- Reverse-engineer worn or obsolete parts and manufacture replacements.

- Read engineering drawings and use precision measuring tools (micrometers, bore gauges and dial indicators).

- Support in-situ machining and line boring where required.

- Work alongside the fitting team on mechanical overhauls in the workshop and on board.

All Roles

- Support vessel slippings, dockings and undockings, and work safely on the slipway, on board and on floating pontoons.

- Work under the site permit-to-work system, including confined space entry, hot work, working at heights and isolations (lockout/tagout).

- Complete risk assessments (Take 5s, JSAs and SWMS) and maintain a clean, safe work area.

- Look after trade tools, equipment and PPE.





- Mentor and support apprentices and trades assistants.

- Communicate clearly with supervisors, project managers, client representatives and surveyors, and keep accurate job records and timesheets.

- Complete work safely, to specification and on schedule.

About You

- A trade qualification relevant to the role: Certificate III in Engineering – Mechanical Trade (Fitters and Fitter Machinists), or a qualification in surface preparation and coating application, or equivalent experience (Blasters & Painters).

- At least 2 years’ experience in a similar role. Marine, shipbuilding, heavy industry, mining and defence backgrounds are all welcome.

- Fitters: experience with diesel, hydraulic and 12/24V DC systems. A diesel mechanic background, Marine Engine Driver (MED) or other marine engineering qualification is an advantage but not required.

- Blasters & Painters: experience with marine or protective coating systems. A coating inspection qualification is well regarded.

- Comfortable working on vertical ladders, gangways and floating pontoons, in confined spaces and at heights, and in full PPE including respiratory protection.

- A secure, reliable self-starter who works well in a team or alone, follows written and verbal instructions, and identifies maintenance needs.

- Basic computer skills (Word, Excel) and familiarity with, or willingness to learn, maintenance management (EAM) systems.

- Able to pass a pre-employment medical and drug and alcohol screening.

Required Tickets

- Confined Space Entry – or willingness to obtain

Desirable Tickets

- White Card (General Construction Induction)

- High Risk Work Licences (forklift, dogging, crane)

- Working at Heights

- Elevated Work Platform (EWP)

- MR or HR driver’s licence

How to Apply

Apply with your CV and a short cover letter outlining your relevant experience and which role you are applying for. This is a site-based role at Harwood, NSW. Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Polaris Marine Group is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applications from local candidates and those looking to relocate to the Northern Rivers.

📌 Blasters & Painters / Fitters / Fitter Machinists (Multiple Positions) (Harwood)
🏢 Polaris Marine
📍 Harwood