Bob Clifford
Encyclopedia
Dr. Robert "Bob" Frederick Clifford AO
, (born in Tasmania
, Australia
), and now living in Surrey, England, is an Australia
n shipbuilder, entrepreneur
, and businessman, best known for his success in building his Incat
catamaran
building company into an international brand that sells wave piercing catamaran ferries
all over the world including to the US military
and many European ferry operators.
In 1994, Clifford skippered his maxi yacht Tasmania to line honours victory in the 50th anniversary Sydney to Hobart yacht race
. In 1994, Clifford experienced one of his blackest moments when he accidentally ran aground his 40 million dollar catamaran Condor II upon Blackjack Rock in the mouth of the Derwent River. He has won numerous design and manufacturing awards for his shipbuilding exploits.
By September, 1977, Incat
launched their first high-speed catamaran at Prince of Wales Bay in Tasmania. Since then they have expanded their operation into 98- and 112-metre wavepiercer production.
The catamarans have proved to be one of Australia's best industrial success stories of recent years, and during the dark days of the 1990s when Tasmania's economy was suffering badly, the product provided a ray of hope to the ailing state. Over twenty of the catamarans have been sold to European operators, and a higher number has been sold to the US military. At the height of their success, Incat held more than 40%of the world's high speed ferry manufacturing market. Although the market has slowed, Incat has moved into production of catamaran freight vessels, and they are developing the design for even longer, 150 metre ferries.
Clifford's catamarans have also broken the record for the Atlantic Ocean crossing and won many design awards. Clifford famously does not pursue intellectual rights to his designs or products, preferring instead to try staying ahead of his competitors through savvy technological advances.
. He was also named Tasmanian of the Year
in 1988.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
, (born in Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
), and now living in Surrey, England, is an Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n shipbuilder, entrepreneur
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
, and businessman, best known for his success in building his Incat
INCAT
INCAT is a part of Tata Technologies Limited, a company in the Tata Group and operates in the field of Automotive Industry providing Engineering and Design solutions. The company took over a much larger player in the field namely INCAT, a Europe based company, in 2005...
catamaran
Catamaran
A catamaran is a type of multihulled boat or ship consisting of two hulls, or vakas, joined by some structure, the most basic being a frame, formed of akas...
building company into an international brand that sells wave piercing catamaran ferries
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
all over the world including to the US military
United States armed forces
The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. They consist of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.The United States has a strong tradition of civilian control of the military...
and many European ferry operators.
Biography
In 1963, Bob Clifford was awarded the apprentice of the year award for printing. He began his boat building business in his backyard before expanding it to a commercial operation. Eventually he went into partnership with Phillip Hercus, who helped him expand Incat into a serious shipbuilding operation.In 1994, Clifford skippered his maxi yacht Tasmania to line honours victory in the 50th anniversary Sydney to Hobart yacht race
Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race
The Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race is hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, starting in Sydney, Australia on Boxing Day and finishing in Hobart. The race distance is approximately...
. In 1994, Clifford experienced one of his blackest moments when he accidentally ran aground his 40 million dollar catamaran Condor II upon Blackjack Rock in the mouth of the Derwent River. He has won numerous design and manufacturing awards for his shipbuilding exploits.
Business exploits
He spent much of his early years as a fisherman and turned his passion for the sea into a backyard boat building operation. He was immediately successful, and, never looking back, often without encouragement, he singlehandedly promoted the idea of fast commuter ferries and turned his company into one of the world's leading manufacturers of high-speed catamaran ferries. Developing much of the technology locally, Incat researched and designed high-tech, high-speed wave piercing catamarans.By September, 1977, Incat
INCAT
INCAT is a part of Tata Technologies Limited, a company in the Tata Group and operates in the field of Automotive Industry providing Engineering and Design solutions. The company took over a much larger player in the field namely INCAT, a Europe based company, in 2005...
launched their first high-speed catamaran at Prince of Wales Bay in Tasmania. Since then they have expanded their operation into 98- and 112-metre wavepiercer production.
The catamarans have proved to be one of Australia's best industrial success stories of recent years, and during the dark days of the 1990s when Tasmania's economy was suffering badly, the product provided a ray of hope to the ailing state. Over twenty of the catamarans have been sold to European operators, and a higher number has been sold to the US military. At the height of their success, Incat held more than 40%of the world's high speed ferry manufacturing market. Although the market has slowed, Incat has moved into production of catamaran freight vessels, and they are developing the design for even longer, 150 metre ferries.
Clifford's catamarans have also broken the record for the Atlantic Ocean crossing and won many design awards. Clifford famously does not pursue intellectual rights to his designs or products, preferring instead to try staying ahead of his competitors through savvy technological advances.
Politics
Robert Clifford has never had any political associations. His Incat business operated for many years on marginal profits. Shipbuilding is a cyclic business with at times rapid increases in workforce numbers, and at times reductions in the workforce. The company was in receivership for 11 months in 2002-2003, but successfully traded out with the sale of vessels.Honours
Bob Clifford has been awarded the Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 1995, and an honorary Engineering degree (DEng.) from the University of TasmaniaUniversity of Tasmania
The University of Tasmania is a medium-sized public Australian university based in Tasmania, Australia. Officially founded on 1 January 1890, it was the fourth university to be established in nineteenth-century Australia...
. He was also named Tasmanian of the Year
Tasmanian of the Year
Tasmanian of the Year Awards is an award given to the most outstanding Tasmanian in any given year. The Awards are made by the Tasmania Committee Incorporated and is organised and funded with government support....
in 1988.