US Navy Interested in Darwin Ship Lift Project

The article is written by Jack Hislop.

The topic is Infrastructure.

The article was published on Monday, 1 June 2026, at 6:33 am.

The US Navy is watching the progress of the Darwin ship lift to see if it will meet their needs.

In short, the US Navy is interested in the ship lift.

The Northern Territory Infrastructure Minister, Bill Yan, says the US Navy has shown interest in using the Darwin ship lift.

The NT government is also working on the Northern Marine Complex along Darwin Harbour.

What's next for the project?

The construction of the ship lift is set to be completed by March 2027.

The US Navy has expressed interest in the $850 million Darwin ship lift, according to the NT Infrastructure Minister.

The ship lift's construction is scheduled to finish in March 2027, with night shifts starting to meet the deadline.

NT Infrastructure Minister Bill Yan said the NT government has discussed the project with US officials.

The US Naval attaché visited the NT to discuss the ship lift and its capabilities.

Minister Yan believes the US is closely watching the project to see how it can benefit them.

Bill Yan said the NT government has been in talks with the US Navy about the ship lift.

The ship lift will be over 100 meters long and 26 meters wide, and can lift vessels up to 5,500 tonnes.

The project was first announced in 2015 with a $100 million grant for private industry.

The ship lift project has become fully publicly funded, with its cost blowing out to $850 million.

The ship lift is being built on Darwin Harbour.

The latest cost increase of $30 million was noted in the NT budget, taking the total cost to $850 million.

Despite the high cost, the government will not receive direct revenue due to contracts signed by former Labor chief ministers.

Paspaley, Australia's largest pearling company, will operate the facility for profit.

Workers are starting night shifts to finish the ship lift by March 2027.

The marine complex will complement the ship lift.

A parliamentary committee recommended proceeding with the ship lift, which would cost almost $600 million to cancel.

The NT government will not receive direct revenue from the project, despite spending $820 million.

The ship lift will be part of a wider 246-hectare Northern Marine Complex.

The complex will complement the ship lift and provide vessel maintenance services.

The ship lift is one piece of a larger picture, according to Minister Yan.

Many industries will be needed to work on and repair vessels at the ship lift.

The project was first announced in 2015.

Minister Yan said the government is paying for ground and infrastructure works for the marine complex.

The government will do some heavy lifting to prepare the marine precinct for investment.

The government wants to see private sector investment come in and partner with the project.

There is interest from the private sector, defence, and Indo-Pacific neighbours in the project.

The ship lift will be part of the Northern Marine Complex.

The ADF is a close partner on the project.

The NT government has spoken about the ship lift's importance to the Australian Defence Force.

The ADF did not directly answer if it had made a commitment to use the ship lift.

Bill Yan said the ADF has been a close partner on the project.

The Northern Marine Complex will deliver significant sovereign maritime sustainment capability.

The government will continue engaging with Defence to support Australia's long-term maritime sustainment and national security needs.

The Darwin ship lift project has taken 10 years and blown out by hundreds of millions of dollars.

Defence has been waiting for the ship lift to come out of the ground.

The previous NT Labor government delayed the project, affecting defence.

Although the NT government will not receive direct revenue, Minister Yan said Territory taxpayers will eventually get a return on their investment.

The returns will come from business and growth around the Northern Marine Complex.

As businesses start and employ people, the Territory will see growth.

The government will receive payroll tax and see more people moving to the Territory.

This will lead to more housing, families, and growth in Darwin.

The US Navy has been contacted for comment.

The NT government says the wider complex will see returns for the NT, despite the ship lift not generating direct revenue.

The article was published on Monday, 1 June 2026, at 6:33 am.

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