Leading Australian marine transport group, Riverside Marine, has acquired Whitsundays-based Fantasea Cruises, the country’s third largest passenger ferry operation.

Hume Campbell, Managing Director of Riverside Marine, a Brisbane-based, family-owned group of companies founded in 1926, announced that “We have been looking to expand our business for some time now and strongly believe the acquisition of the highly-regarded and profitable Fantasea Cruises will complement our business and will develop an even stronger position in the marine transport industry and extend our operations in tourism.”

Mr Campbell also emphasised that it will be “business as usual” as far as staff is concerned with Fantasea Cruises’ founder, David Hutchen, remaining at the helm as Managing Director.

Fantasea Cruises crowned a 23-year presence in the Whitsundays by taking the coveted Major Tour and Transport Operator award at the Australian Tourism Awards two years in a row, as well as a record three awards at the recent Queensland Tourism Awards.

Established in the early 1980s with a sailing yacht ferrying passengers around the Whitsunday islands, Fantasea Cruises’ nine vessels now carry approximately one million passengers annually. There are numerous daily ferry services between the Whitsunday Coast mainland and the resort islands including Hamilton Island, Daydream Island, Lindeman Island and Long Island. Additionally there are daily cruises to its floating platform, Reefworld, on the Great Barrier Reef , and daily trips to world famous Whitehaven Beach.

Mr Hutchen has been a passionate protector of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park in which Fantasea operates. “We owe it to future generations to preserve and enhance this incredible natural environment.”

Related News Stories :   Jetstar launches new Bali service     AirAsia relocating to Changi Airport’s new T4     US tourism campaign is hailed a success     Thomson and First Choice add Vietnam for winter 2017     Oman after the cyclone: An update     TUI warns of drop in profits after 737 MAX grounding