Australia is an island nationa without a coastal shipping fleet. Our freight is carried by road and rail which is heavily subsidised by the Australian taxpayer (direct and indirect subsidies). Shipping requires no subsidy. It is greener (12 gCo2e per tonne/km as opposed to 180gCo2e per tonne/km by road), it is quicker, it is safer and it is cheaper. Hermes Maritime has been established to provide Australia with its own coastal highway; to use the sea to transport our domestic freight, in conjunction with roads and rail.