Being successful in a tender against global defence giants, however, was not without its difficulties. 

Two weeks from deadline, the minds behind Birdon’s bid were ready to present the government with the likes of the best bridge-erecting boats the country had ever seen.

But that was before they discovered a significant setback – the type of water jet needed to propel their vessel was no longer accessible.

“Most people, at that point, would have lost hope that something better could be found in time,” said Birdon Port Macquarie’s Steve Elliot. 

But fortunately, Mr Elliot said, the company’s managing-director Jamie Bruce never had a view of giving up. 

For some four and a half years, the Port Macquarie man had a vision to secure a defence contract some ten times bigger in scale than anything Birdon had ever handled.  A few days later, in a town famous for being the home of former American president Bill Clinton, Mr Bruce would make a monumental discovery.

In Little Rock, Arkansas he’d tracked down an engineer and his son who were building a handful of jets being used by the Alaskan fishing fleet.

“He realised the potential and bought the company.”

Capable of travelling much faster than most water jets, Birdon’s purchase of NAMJet in 2011, would play a large part in their win of the fiercely fought, multi-million dollar tender. 

In a battle likened to David and Goliath, the group beat out international defence giants, to be successful in the tender to build 374 Bridge Erection Boats (BEBs) for the US Army.  A competing tenderer even lodged a protest after the company was first awarded the contract last November. But the US Government has now declared it dismissed, and has cleared the way for Birdon to proceed with its delivery.

General manager Ian Ramsay said manufacture and supply of the boats will occur in the US, as required by law. But Birdon’s Australian-based staff will support delivery of the contract, Mr Ramsay said, and in future the company is looking to expand its Port Macquarie operations as a result.

From it’s humble beginnings as a dredging company started by Mr Bruce’s father in the late 70s, to an internationally endorsed defence supplier, the group has come a long way.

And, in the view of Mr Bruce, the historic announcement has showcased the strength of Australia’s research and development capabilities and resilience of small to medium-sized business.

“This contract is a win for Australian innovation,” Mr Bruce said. “I am immensely proud that the expertise and technological know-how of a family-owned company based in Port Macquarie has been recognised on the world stage. His views are echoed by local staff, and the some 80 employees working under the Birdon banner.

“We’re a small company, but we’re more than capable. We’re confident it should springboard into other opportunities here in Australia, and potentially gives us that critical mass to expand our offerings at the Port Macquarie base.”

Birdon’s product was by no means the cheapest up for tender, he said. But the US government’s decision to award them the win proved its superiority: “Our team worked around the clock to deliver this product,” he said. “We’re very proud of every single one of them.”