About Us

Australian Marine Enterprises (AME) is one of Australia’s leading marine engineering and refit companies. Owners and Directors of the company are:

JOE AKACICH

Joe joined the Royal Australian Navy in 1975 completing accreditation of Fitter and Turner and Underwater Engineering. On leaving the navy Joe returned to north Queensland to join a team in the construction of Hamilton Island Marina. This is where Joe was introduced to the luxury boat industry as engineer on Keith William’s      ”Achilles I” . In 1987 Joe took on a position with The Bond Corp as engineer and later Captain of Southern Cross II. He returned to the Whitsundays in 1991 to commence construction of “Reef World” for Fantasea Cruises. In 1996 Joe began the rebuild of the luxury vessel “Myway” which is where the team that became Blackline Shipping was formed. Blackline Shipping moved to Gold Coast City Marina in 1995 and continued to prosper until Joe sold to Viking Industries in  2006, Joe then went on to head Viking’s Marine division until 2008.

GRAHAM (SCOOTER) EATON

Born in New Zealand, Graham’s family moved to Melbourne in 1968 where he started sailing at The Royal Brighton Yacht Club. This is where he commenced his apprenticeship as a Boat Builder/Shipwright. Graham has sailed competitively since he was 10 years old and has raced and cruised extensively both here in Australia and overseas. Graham has built a number of racing and cruising yachts over the last 25-30 years, also working on major refits on vessels such as: Cambria – 130 ft K class, Achilles III, Siska IV, Arrow (Dynamic 82), Perseus (Perini Navi 49m). Scooter has been firmly entrenched in the South East Qld marine industry for the past 25 years, basing himself both on the Sunshine Coast and now on the Gold Coast.

DAVID (CROCKET) WATSON

David is a third generation Master Shipwright who commenced his apprenticeship at Lloyds Ships where he refined his craft, building many Super Yachts. He later went to work for his father Alan Watson in the renowned Apollo Slipway – Bulimba, building and refitting many traditional timber boats. This experience gave him exposure to work with some of the generations most famous and respected boat builders, who generously passed their skills and knowledge on to him. Over a 32 year career as a professional boat builder his list of achievements are are many and varied. David had built everything from 15ft Dory’s to custom Sport Fishing Vessels and Super Yachts.

NEIL O’BRIEN

Neil O’Brien completed his training and apprenticeship as a Master Shipwright at Millcraft Thompson Boatyard on the Brisbane River, Bulimba where he learnt his craft of traditional boat building. Neil then moved next door to Lloyds Ships where he worked as leading hand for a decade. At the decline of Lloyds e then went to work at Runmere to build the 190 ft Motor Sail Boat “The Other Woman”. Neil then became a founding memeber of the Blackline Shipping team where he worked for 8 years before coming on board the AME team. Neil is know throughout the industry for his attantion to detail and his high standard of finishing work

GLANCE PHIPPS

Glance finished his training as a traditional Boat Builder/Shipwright in 1978 at the Millcraft Thompson Boat Yard on the Brisbane River at Bulimba. He then went on to work at Lloyds on the 150ft Super yacht “Mystere” Glance has built many well know yachts such as the 90ft “South Passage”, 80ft “Andorea Dias”. Glance was a member of the Blackline Team for around 8 years before joining AME. Glance has been a professional Shipwright for over 3 decades; he is a well known and respected identity in the Marine Industry. He has project managed and completed many successful builds and refits.