HISTORY

Since 1886, Varleys company’s journey epitomises a legacy of innovation, growth, and unwavering commitment. The realisation that sail power was giving way to steam, and that demand for industrial services would increase, set its founder, George H. Varley on course for greatness. This engineering company’s journey epitomises a legacy of innovation, growth, and unwavering commitment.

In 1948, NQEA Pty Ltd was founded in Cairns as an engineering supply company which expanded in 1966 into shipbuilding. It build over 270 vessels including many Naval platforms. Its founder established Norship in 1984 as a Shipyard for the fishing industry, it rapidly evolved to cater for a broad range of customers including the RAN. It became a Naval certified facility and continued to expand its services. It established a team in Darwin and started delivering In Service Support Services as a prime contractor for Defence across the Pacific, it also became a trusted In Service Support provider for the Australian Border Force Small Vessel fleet across Australia. Importantly to this day it continues to provide maintenance services to the Fishing fleet with its first customers still returning to Norship every year.

Today Norship is proudly part of the Varley Group and it carries on a tradition of innovation, service excellence and technical mastery.

With a wealth of highly skilled professionals and tradespeople from diverse backgrounds in shipbuilding, commercial maritime, and engineering fields, Norship’s robust team excels in delivering sea worthiness, quality, and reliability.