The Australian towage industry has, for many years, had the opportunity to improve on water workforce engagement and productivity. Traditional crewing models, often built around competing interests, have sometimes led to service delivery being sub-optimal for the client and at times frustrating for the employees that perform the work at the frontline. Engage Marine have developed a contemporary workforce engagement model that both respects the rights of employees and provides a better way forward for all involved.
The Evolution of the Cooperative Model
The Engage Marine Cooperative Model wasn’t developed overnight. It emerged over time as a response to industry-wide challenges such as:
- Complex industrial relations leading to confrontational bargaining.
- High operational costs and limited workforce flexibility.
- A lack of local decision-making, slowing down operational efficiencies.
- An ageing workforce with few young entrants and limited pathways for progression.
The model was designed to empower crews, promote local engagement, and create a more productive and motivated workforce.
How It Works: A Hybrid Approach to Crewing
The Engage Marine Cooperative Model blends the protections of the Fair Work Act with the advantages of employee ownership, creating a system that is both structured and adaptable to local needs.
Key Features of the Model:
- Employee Membership: Crew members become cooperative members based on permanent employment, training participation, and active work engagement.
- Democratic Decision-Making: Members have a leading role in policy, strategy, and operational decisions, ensuring that those working on the ground influence the direction of the business.
- Economic Participation: Members share in the financial success of the cooperative, promoting accountability and motivation.
- Local Control & Autonomy: Unlike traditional national agreements, the cooperative structure allows for decisions to be made at the local port level, increasing responsiveness and our service delivery.
- Training & Development: A focus on upskilling ensures long-term sustainability by developing future leaders within the industry.
Real-World Impact: Sydney, Whyalla & Geelong
The cooperative model is already in place at three key Engage Marine locations:
- Sydney: Sydney’s operations have seen increased empowerment and stronger local engagement from crew members.
- Whyalla: The cooperative has allowed for more predictability and enhanced frontline involvement in a crucial resources region.
- Geelong: A model for regional maritime operations, Geelong’s cooperative ensures local crews are actively engaged in the port’s long-term success.
By shifting the focus from traditional employer-employee relationships to a cooperative, locally managed approach, these locations have benefited from greater productivity, more motivated teams, and a stronger connection to the communities they serve.
Crew Perspectives: Voices from the Frontline
To truly understand the impact of the Cooperative Crewing Model, it’s essential to hear from those directly involved.
The shift from a traditional employer-employee relationship to a locally managed, cooperative model has transformed how crews operate, communicate, and collaborate.
One of the biggest changes has been a stronger sense of shared ownership and accountability. Crew members now take a more active interest in how the business operates and succeeds, recognising how their decisions on the water impact the company as a whole.
"The crew now is more interested in how the business operates and succeeds and can see how their actions on the water affect this. More information is shared, and the culture has moved from a single focus as tug crew to a greater understanding and appreciation of the whole business." – Dom McCarron, Tug Master Sydney
In Geelong, the transition to the cooperative model has given crew members greater autonomy over recruitment, budgeting, and operations—a significant shift from traditional employment structures. This increased decision-making power has strengthened team dynamics and engagement.
"With the co-op, we now have the freedom to bring in like-minded individuals who align with our values and work ethic. This has led to the addition of great colleagues who have enriched our work environment and strengthened our team dynamic." – Amen Ahmed, Tug Engineer Geelong
Across all locations, the cooperative model has enhanced decision-making, teamwork, and accountability, allowing crews to have a direct influence on the success of operations while fostering a stronger sense of collaboration and ownership.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Cooperative Crewing
Engage Marine’s Cooperative Model is more than just an operational shift—it’s a vision for the future of maritime workforce engagement. With strong early results and growing interest from other regions, the potential for further expansion is clear.
By balancing service delivery with employee empowerment, Engage Marine is setting a new standard for how maritime operations can be run—one that benefits the client, employees and local communities they serve.
