Versatile Marine
Australian marine consulting, shipbuilding, and equipment supply company that designs and manufactures HDPE work boats and 3D-printed vessels for commercial, defence, and government clients.
- CEO / Founder
- Michael Bakker
- Team Size
- 1-10
- Stage
- Active
- Latest Round
- Bootstrapped
Technology & Products
Key Products
HDPE 3D-printed work boats and patrol boats; HDPE plate-welded vessels; Syncrolift ship lift & dry docking systems (distributor for Australia/NZ); Hydromaster azimuth thrusters (distributor); MicFil ultra-fine diesel/oil filtration systems; F2Eco eco-friendly anti-fouling coatings; Hefring AI-driven vessel guidance; Marine consulting and shipyard development; Ship brokerage
Technological Advantage
Large-Format Additive Manufacturing (LFAM) of HDPE marine vessels; 30+ years of naval architecture and shipbuilding expertise; exclusive distribution agreements with Syncrolift (ship lifts) and Hydromaster (azimuth thrusters) for Australia/NZ; partnership with Hyperion Systems for 3D printing of USV hulls
Differentiation
Value Proposition
Decades of naval architecture expertise combined with large-format additive manufacturing (LFAM) to produce durable, corrosion-resistant HDPE vessels with 40+ year lifespan, produced faster than traditional methods.
How They Differentiate
Versatile Marine differentiates through its dual capability in traditional HDPE plate boat building and large-format additive manufacturing (LFAM) of HDPE vessels. The company leverages founder Michael Bakker's 30+ years of naval architecture and shipyard development experience across Africa, Europe, and Australia. Their 3D-printed HDPE boats offer corrosion resistance, 40+ year lifespan, no marine growth, and rapid production (40 hours for a 4.6m hull vs 4-6 weeks traditional).
Market & Competition
Target Customers
Commercial marine operators, defence forces, government agencies (border protection, maritime surveillance), shipyards, and leisure marine clients in Australia, New Zealand, and the Indo-Pacific region.
Industry Verticals
Defence & Security; Commercial Marine; Government/Maritime Surveillance; Shipyard Infrastructure; Leisure Marine
Competitors
AML3D (Australia, large-format metal AM for marine); Austal (Australia, large shipbuilding with AM partnerships); Caracol (Italy, large-format polymer AM for marine)
Growth & Milestones
Major Milestones
2018: Company founded by Michael Bakker; Dec 2020: Appointed Syncrolift AS representative for Australia and New Zealand; 2025: Launched Versatile Defence brand; May 2026: Unveiled ASTRA 460 3D-printed USV at IODS 2026 in partnership with Hyperion Systems and Greenroom Robotics; 2026: Supplying 8m USV prototype to European navy for evaluation
Notable Customers
Undisclosed European navy (evaluating 8m USV prototype); West African ship operators (35m crew security vessels); South African government (47m patrol vessels); Commercial fishing and patrol operators in Africa and Australia