Forgacs Marine and Defence
Corporate brand
UnclaimedForgacs Marine and Defence, formerly Forgacs Group, was an Australian engineering, shipbuilding, marine repair and defence-support business.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Forgacs Marine and Defence was an Australian engineering and shipbuilding business operating across marine construction, ship repair, dockyard services and defence manufacturing. The company was previously known as Forgacs Group and developed a multi-site operating footprint in Newcastle, Sydney, Brisbane and Gladstone. Its activities combined heavy engineering capabilities with commercial and naval marine work, including ship maintenance, vessel refit, dockyard operations and the fabrication of large structural components for Australian naval programs. The business expanded through a series of acquisitions. It acquired Ullman Engineering in 1962, adding to its engineering base, and purchased the Newcastle Floating Dock in 1987. In 1997, Forgacs acquired shipbuilder Carrington Slipways, strengthening its ship-construction capability. Two years later it acquired the Cairncross Dockyard facilities in Brisbane. Cairncross supported commercial ship repairs and included a major graving dock capable of handling vessels up to Panamax size. Forgacs also became involved in Australian defence work. It performed refit and maintenance services for the Royal Australian Navy, including repair and substantial conversion work on Kanimbla-class landing platform amphibious ships acquired from the United States Navy. The company fabricated hull blocks for the Anzac-class frigate program and was contracted in 2009 to produce 30 hull blocks for the Hobart-class air warfare destroyers being assembled in Adelaide for the Royal Australian Navy. The business underwent significant restructuring in the mid-2010s. Its Cairncross Dockyard facilities closed in August 2014, while aircraft-component manufacturer Broens was acquired during the same month. On 17 November 2015, Civmec agreed to acquire Forgacs. The transaction completed on 2 February 2016, after which the business was renamed Forgacs Marine and Defence. The available reference material does not establish the brand's subsequent standalone operating status, ownership structure beyond the acquisition, or whether all of its former facilities and activities continued under the same name.
History
Forgacs Marine and Defence, previously known as Forgacs Group, developed as an Australian engineering and shipbuilding enterprise with operations in marine construction, ship repair, dockyard management and defence manufacturing. Its history is marked by expansion through acquisitions and by participation in major Royal Australian Navy programs. The company's acquisition of Ullman Engineering in 1962 was an early step in building its engineering capabilities. In 1987, it acquired the Newcastle Floating Dock, adding an important marine-maintenance asset. Forgacs continued to expand its shipbuilding and repair network in the 1990s. It acquired Carrington Slipways in 1997 and the Cairncross Dockyard facilities in Brisbane in 1999. Cairncross carried out commercial ship repairs and operated one of the region's larger graving docks, with capacity for vessels up to the Panamax class. The company maintained facilities in Newcastle, Sydney, Brisbane and Gladstone. Forgacs' defence work included refit and maintenance services for the Royal Australian Navy. It repaired and carried out extensive conversion work on Kanimbla-class landing platform amphibious ships after their acquisition from the United States Navy. The company also fabricated hull blocks for Anzac-class frigates. In 2009, it received a contract to manufacture 30 hull blocks for the Hobart-class destroyer program, with the vessels being constructed in Adelaide for the Royal Australian Navy. The organization changed direction in the mid-2010s. Its Cairncross Dockyard facilities closed in August 2014, and Forgacs acquired Broens, an aircraft-component manufacturer, during the same month. On 17 November 2015, Civmec announced agreed terms for the acquisition of Forgacs. Completion took place on 2 February 2016, when the business was renamed Forgacs Marine and Defence. The available reference material does not provide enough information to determine the brand's later standalone status, the complete integration of its assets into Civmec, or its current operating footprint.
- 2016
Civmec transaction completed
[1]Civmec completed its acquisition of Forgacs on 2 February, and the business was renamed Forgacs Marine and Defence.
- 2014
Cairncross closure and Broens acquisition
[1]The Cairncross Dockyard facilities closed, while Forgacs acquired aircraft-component manufacturer Broens.
- 2009
Hobart-class hull-block contract
[1]Forgacs was contracted to build 30 hull blocks for the Hobart-class destroyer program for the Royal Australian Navy.
- 1999
Cairncross Dockyard acquired
[1]Forgacs acquired the Cairncross Dockyard facilities in Brisbane, which supported commercial ship repairs and included a large graving dock.
- 1997
Carrington Slipways acquired
[1]Forgacs acquired Carrington Slipways, a shipbuilding business.
- 1987
Newcastle Floating Dock acquired
[1]The company acquired the Newcastle Floating Dock, strengthening its marine repair and dockyard capabilities.
- 1962
Acquisition of Ullman Engineering
[1]Forgacs Group acquired Ullman Engineering, expanding its engineering operations.
Products and positioning
An Australian heavy-engineering and marine-services provider combining shipbuilding, dockyard operations, commercial vessel repair and naval defence manufacturing.
Defence shipbuilding · 2009
Naval vessel hull blocks
Forgacs fabricated major hull sections for Australian naval shipbuilding programs. Its documented work included hull blocks for Anzac-class frigates and 30 hull blocks for the Hobart-class destroyer program, supporting vessels assembled elsewhere rather than necessarily delivering complete ships under the Forgacs name.
Defence maintenance
Naval refit and conversion services
The company provided refit, repair and conversion work for Royal Australian Navy vessels. A documented example is its extensive work on Kanimbla-class landing platform amphibious ships acquired from the United States Navy.
Marine services · 1999
Commercial ship repair
Through its dockyard operations, including Cairncross in Brisbane, Forgacs supported commercial vessel repairs. Cairncross included a substantial graving dock capable of accommodating ships up to Panamax size.
Industrial manufacturing · 2014
Aircraft components
The acquisition of Broens in 2014 brought aircraft-component manufacturing into Forgacs' portfolio, extending the business beyond shipbuilding and marine services.
Brand decisions
2015
Agree to Civmec acquisitionM&ABackground
Forgacs was operating as an Australian engineering, shipbuilding and defence-support business with multiple facilities and industrial capabilities.
Action taken
Civmec agreed terms to acquire Forgacs on 17 November 2015.
Aftermath
The transaction completed on 2 February 2016 and the business was renamed Forgacs Marine and Defence.
2014
Close Cairncross Dockyard facilitiesStrategyBackground
Cairncross had operated as a commercial ship-repair and dockyard facility in Brisbane.
Action taken
Forgacs closed the Cairncross Dockyard facilities in August 2014.
Aftermath
The closure ended Forgacs' documented operation of that dockyard site; the available material does not state the financial or employment consequences.
2014
Acquire BroensM&ABackground
Forgacs sought to broaden its industrial activities beyond marine operations.
Action taken
The company purchased aircraft-component manufacturer Broens in August 2014.
Aftermath
Broens became part of Forgacs' documented industrial portfolio, although the available source does not describe the longer-term integration outcome.
Sources1 sources
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