Our Roots in East Gippsland & Meet the Founder
Jordan Banks
B.Eng (Hons) | Naval Architect | AMSA Accredited Surveyor
The shores of East Gippsland have long inspired dreams of the water. For CVA Founder and Managing Director Jordan Banks, those childhood days spent watching boats cruise past Flagstaff in Lakes Entrance sparked a lifelong fascination with how commercial vessels are designed and built.
That early curiosity propelled Jordan to study naval architecture at the Australian Maritime College and forge a career spanning elite corners of engineering: from designing composite body panels for Australian Army Hawki vehicles and prototype marinised covers for automatic gun turrets, to refitting superyachts and running a five-day lightship experiment aboard HMAS Adelaide, a major naval asset.
As a qualified Naval Architect, an AMSA Accredited Surveyor, and a specialist in commercial maritime fabrication, Jordan brings a unique "triple-threat" perspective to every project. He founded CVA to solve a recurring industry problem—the disconnect between complex vessel design and the practical realities of the shipyard. By unifying elite engineering with hands-on manufacturing in Bairnsdale, he ensures that every vessel is not just mathematically sound on a screen, but "build-ready" and "survey-ready" from the very first weld.
Bridging the Gap: The CVA Advantage
Through years of contracts, builds, and sea trials, Jordan identified a persistent disconnect plaguing the commercial marine sector: the operational gap between the naval architect, the marine surveyor, and the boat builder. When these disciplines operate in separate silos, operators pay the price through needless delays, compounding variations, and regulatory headaches.
Commercial Vessels Australia was founded to bridge that exact gap.
Operating out of our purpose-built facility in Bairnsdale as part of the Spearhead Marine Group, CVA brings the complete lifecycle under one roof. We don't just fabricate; we design in-house, engineer every structural detail, and manage survey compliance to NSCV standards from the first cut file to the final sea trial.
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Our leadership combines the precision of a Naval Architect with the regulatory eye of an AMSA Accredited Surveyor.
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We don't just provide blueprints; we build high-performance business assets engineered for maximum uptime and operational longevity.
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Based in regional Victoria, we are committed to strengthening Australia's maritime manufacturing ecosystem and local supply chain.
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While we offer a seamless path to compliance, we maintain strict professional separation between our build projects and independent surveying services to ensure total industry transparency.
OUR MISSION
“To bridge the gap between naval architecture and shipyard fabrication, delivering high-performance business assets that keep our clients operating at their peak.”
OUR VISION
“To be the leader in the Australian commercial vessel industry by establishing new benchmarks for design, construction, and lifelong support, setting the standard for excellence and customer satisfaction.”
Our Path to AccreditatioN
At Commercial Vessels Australia (CVA), our operations are governed by a steadfast commitment to safety, quality, and environmental stewardship. While we are currently working toward formal ISO accreditation, our management systems are built to align strictly with international best practices to ensure the highest standards for our staff, our clients, and the maritime environments in which we operate.
CVA is currently in the process of refining our Integrated Management System (IMS) with the explicit goal of achieving formal ISO 9001, 45001, and 14001 accreditations. By following these standards today, we provide our partners with the confidence that their project is being handled by a firm committed to global benchmarks of excellence.
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Quality is the core of our "Concept to Construction" philosophy. By integrating naval architecture with precision fabrication, we ensure that every vessel is a high-performance business asset.
Precision Engineering: We utilise advanced CAD and CNC technology to ensure sub-millimetre accuracy in every aluminium component.
Survey-Informed Standards: Our builds are informed by AMSA Accredited Surveying expertise to ensure seamless regulatory compliance.
Continuous Improvement: We actively review our manufacturing processes in our Bairnsdale facility to optimise build efficiency and vessel longevity.
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The safety of our team in Bairnsdale is our first priority. We maintain a rigorous WHS framework designed for the specific risks of heavy marine fabrication.
Proactive Risk Management: We conduct regular safety audits and risk assessments across our welding, assembly, and launch operations.
Specialised Training: Our staff are trained in high-risk activities, including aluminum welding and composite handling, ensuring a culture of safety excellence.
Healthy Work Environment: We are committed to maintaining a workplace that supports the physical and mental well-being of all employees.
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Operating in the beautiful Gippsland region, CVA is dedicated to minimising our ecological footprint and leading the way in sustainable maritime solutions.
Sustainable Design: We specialise in Hybrid Propulsion systems and high-efficiency hull forms that reduce fuel consumption and emissions.
Waste Minimisation: Our Bairnsdale facility utilises precision nesting in CNC cutting to maximise material yield and reduce aluminium scrap.
Responsible Manufacturing: We implement strict controls on chemical storage, composite dust extraction, and workshop runoff to protect our local waterways.