Quicksilver to expand north Queensland fleet

Far North Queensland tour operator Quicksilver is to invest $7.5 million in upgrading its fleet and facilities for visitors to the Great Barrier Reef.

The Quicksilver Group will spend the money this year in refurbishing its vessels and improving existing services at its Cairns and Port Douglas-based operations.

The upgrades include:

• A $1 million overhaul of the tour company’s flagship 45-metre wavepiercer, Quicksilver VIII
• $750,000 of improvements to the 50-metre long Agincourt Reef pontoon
• Purchase of the Reef Adventure, a 33-metre catamaran, capable of seating 400 passengers.
• A new Glass Bottom Boat for Green Island.

Quicksilver Group Managing Director Tony Baker says by reinvesting in their own products the pioneering tour operator can continue to attract new visitors to the region.

Bakers explains “we’re committed to offering a range of reef experiences for travellers that come each day to enjoy and explore the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef.

“We will continue to invest in our products to enable our guests to enjoy a premium reef experience.”

The brand new Reef Adventure will initially run tours to Green Island before undergoing internal modifications. It will then service trips to outer reef platforms.

Baker added “this will offer more flexibility across our entire Cairns operation.

“It also enables us to also have a vessel available for charter depending on the group size.”

With the purchase of the Reef Adventure, the Quicksilver Group’s Great Barrier Reef fleet grows to 14 major vessels.

Quicksilver Cruises’ 120-tonne pontoon is currently undergoing extensive remodelling over the next 10 weeks following a 30-hour tow from Agincourt Reef to Cairns for reconditioning.

Baker says more than two million visitors have used the pontoon during its 21 years on the reef.

Quicksilver Group is one of north Queensland’s largest private employers with more than 600 staff based in the region.

Images: Quicksilver Group’s Great Barrier Reef pontoon (top) and QuicksilverVIII (below).

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