Marina World

WHAT LIES BELOW

WHEN MOTHER NATURE HITS YOU WITH A WINTER STORM, WHAT LIES BELOW THE SURFACE CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE

SF Marina is a world-renowned expert in the development of new or existing premium marinas. We provide state-of-the-art ﬂoating breakwaters and concrete pontoons to anyone, anywhere, who is planning to build a marina. And who wants it to still be there after the storm.

50-year concession has been awarded to develop

F3 Marina Fort Lauderdale now in operation; drystack to the next level: industry discussion; first Wiggins eBull marina contract; Legendary Marina expands; Suntex to redevelop Garrison Bight Marina

for Windermere Marina Village on Lake

Marinas

FlexiSail moves to Hamble Point Marina; Boat Fix package for clubs and charter operators; Premier Agapi Club expands to Chichester; Freedom opens second UK site

machinery

at Delta Marina in Argentina is just one example of the increasing options available to drystack operators. Find out more about systems and projects in the Drystack Storage feature on p. 21.

Photo: Capria

BUILDING BLOCKS

As our product range has evolved, it now has many applications. Together with our clients, we have the luxury of choosing the right pontoon, in the right materials, for the right job. By developing the heavy-duty end of our portfolio to always be a step stronger, we’ve also become experts in ﬂoating breakwaters, able to incorporate the strongest of building blocks when designing and engineering a marina that will withstand the test of time. Marinetek.net

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Dark times

Yet again, we are in dark times – swinging from one humanitarian and economic crisis to another, with the first crisis still far from resolved. While a global pandemic was a threat we all hoped would never become a reality, war in Europe was beyond imagining.

Russia attacked Ukraine on 24th February and, as I write this – two weeks on – the global news channels are filled with reports of death, destruction and the growing exodus of people fleeing their homes for sanctuary. My heart goes out to all people, in all countries, whose lives are directly and undeservedly damaged by this ongoing tragedy.

At this point in time, there is no sign that hostilities will end; no peace negotiations in the offing. Much of the world has joined forces to impose sanctions, trade bans and asset freezes aimed at crippling Russia’s economy. Further moves will depend on how the aggression progresses but we will all feel the effects of the fall out.

From a humanitarian perspective, Europe is in the midst of the biggest refugee crisis since the Second World War. According to the United Nations, well over 2 million people have fled Ukraine in the last fortnight, by foot, by car and in packed trains. Almost 1.5 million have crossed into Poland, and nearly 500,000 into Hungary, Slovakia, Romania and Moldova. Moldova has received the highest concentration of refugees per capita to date.

And, provided humanitarian corridors can be established and respected, the exodus could be in its infancy – Ukraine is the second largest country in Europe (as large as France and Germany combined) and has a population of around 43 million.

Shelter, food, clothing and medical aid are all paramount, and there is real fear that COVID could rear again and further impact on the region. War is a breeding ground for disease, and only 35% of the Ukrainian population is double vaccinated. Large swathes of the populations of all countries bordering Ukraine that are hosting the refugees, are also unvaccinated.

From an economic perspective, the West cannot hurt Russia without backlash. While Ukraine suffers and fights, the rising costs that many of us are facing are petty, but very real. Oil and gas price hikes are hitting us hard – in industry, in our homes, in our food shopping baskets, and at our petrol/gas stations. It will likely take a while before prices drop to more affordable and stable levels and, during this time, tourism and recreational activities will likely take a hit.

Let us hope for peace.

Carol Fulford Editor

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WORLD NEWS

Suntex and Westrec merge

USA: Centerbridge Partners, owner of Suntex Marinas, has purchased Westrec Marinas for around $400 million. Westrec, one of the world’s largest owneroperators of marinas and marine-related businesses, will be absorbed into Suntex to create the second largest marina group in the USA after Safe Harbor Marinas.

“Years ago, we realised the many synergies between Westrec Marinas and Suntex,” said Bryan Redmond, CEO Suntex Marinas. “Westrec Marinas’ vision of offering the best in customer service and amenities, along with a memorable experience out on the water, align perfectly with our vision. The most rewarding part of this merger is knowing we now have added another whole network of marinas who share our core values, and together we are poised for a fantastic future.”

“Since partnering with Suntex in March 2021, we have worked to help accelerate the company’s continued growth,” commented William Rahm, Suntex director and senior managing

director and head of real estate at Centerbridge. “This transaction brings together two leading teams and businesses in the marina sector, where we continue to see significant growth opportunities to serve the increasing demand for boating and leisure activities.”

Although the acquisition of Westrec is by far Suntex’s major investment this year, in January/February the company also acquired 332-slip Sunset Harbour on Long Island, New York; Lynn Creek Marina on Joe Pool Lake in Grande Prairie, Texas; and Garrison Bight Marina, the only drystack operation on Key West in the Florida Keys (see Drystack p. 29).

Tender out for Corfu megayacht marina

GREECE: The Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund (HRADF) has launched the tender process for a megayacht marina in Corfu. The process will be conducted in two phases.

The marina will be located within the port of Corfu to the west of the cruise pier and near the passenger terminal. The concession, which will have a minimum duration of 35 years, covers the right to build, operate, manage and maintain a marina serving around 98 yachts of up to 140m (460ft) in length

and a land zone of nearly 4ha (9.7 acres). Through a possible extension, the marina could cover a land area of around 10ha (25 acres).

Interested parties should submit expression of interest on the HRADF website at www.hradf.com by 18th April 2022.

New tourism project of state significance

AUSTRALIA: An AU$27 million proposal is set to transform the historic Nedlands Bath site on the Swan River into an iconic tourist attraction for Western Australia.

The proposal by Sevens Group Australia includes a two-storey boutique hotel, function centre, restaurant, café, bar, public amenities and a protected marina. It has been named a tourism project of state significance.

The development will be built over the water on an existing lease, which is currently home to a marina and the recently closed JoJo’s Café.

A community consultation process is underway.

• SHELL COVE MARINA

• PERTH FLYING SQUADRON YACHT CLUB

• FERGUSONS MARINA

• BELLERIVE YACHT CLUB AND MARINA

• MARLIN MARINA

• COFFS HARBOR

• PORT COOGEE MARINA

• WIRRINA MARINA

• SPINNAKER SOUNDS MARINA A SAMPLE OF THE PROJECTS

CLEAN WASTEWATER DISPOSAL

PierPump – Trouble-free disposal of waste and bilge water from boats and yachts.

When installing a wastewater management system harbor operators have to make several decisions depending on the location, number of berths and size to find the optimal system.

The Vogelsang PierPump is a customer-oriented high-performance solution, which is easy to operate and allows bilge water or black water to be pumped directly into the sewage system. The integrated rotary lobe pump means that the PierPump is resistant to foreign matter, so that the vacuum extraction process does not come to stop if the wastewater contains foreign matter. Wastewater tanks are vacuum extracted in a very short time, and the voyage can continue.

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Allied buys Lake marinas

USA: Allied Strategic Partners LLC has acquired two marinas on West Point Lake on the border of Georgia and Alabama.

Highland Pines is a full-service marina and resort with covered and uncovered wet slips, dry storage, extensive boat rental fleet and a wealth of accommodation and recreational amenities. Southern Harbor Resort & Marina offers similar facilities on a 480acre (194ha) site.

Quinn Heidenreich, managing

partner at Allied, said: “This acquisition allows Allied an opportunity to invest in both properties and further enhance the amenities, services and experience. We plan to replace and upgrade docks, cabins, RV sites and boat rental fleets, among other projects.”

Allied is partnering with F3 Marina for daily operations at both marinas.

Gosport upgrade approved

UK: Planning for a multi-million regeneration of Premier Marinas’ Gosport Marina on the English south coast has been approved by Gosport Borough Council.

The masterplan, which incorporates the whole site, includes a landmark facilities building that will house a marina reception and office, luxury shower rooms and berth holders’ lounge. It will also provide a perfect site for a new restaurant overlooking Portsmouth Harbour.

The approved planning additionally covers refurbishment and extension of an on-site commercial building, relocation of the drystack, and landscaping improvements to the car parking and boat storage areas. Outline permission has also been granted for a residential development of 70 homes.

Aquavista adds 11 marinas

UK: Aquavista has expanded its coastal and inland marina portfolio with the strategic acquisition of Castle Marinas. As such, it adds 11 marinas, including Crick Marina in Crick, Northampton and Birdham Pool Marina in Chichester Harbour.

Following the buy-out announcement, Aquavista CEO Steve de Polo said: “We are delighted to announce the acquisition of Castle Marinas and look forward to the exciting opportunities that this will bring to our customers across all 29 of our UK-based marinas.”

“Aquavista believes that life is better by the water and our purpose is to help our customers live that life. Since 2019, we have invested more than £3 million into our marina estate, improving marina facilities and helping to deliver a great waterside experience, whether you live,

visit or work at an Aquavista marina.”

Castle Marinas operations director, Mike Braidley, commented: “Castle Marinas is very pleased to have reached an agreement with Aquavista. It is clear how closely our mission statements align, and we believe Aquavista is ideally placed to continue to deliver and indeed improve on our commitment to be ‘big enough to cope, small enough to care.’ This transaction will support our waterside teams to continue providing a friendly, helpful and professional service at all our locations.”

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Ortega Landing changes hands

USA: Port 32 Marinas has purchased The Marina at Ortega Landing in Jacksonville, Florida. Comprising 192 wet slips for boats of 30 to 130 feet (9 to 40m) in a protected cove, the marina will be renamed Port 32 Jacksonville.

Consistent with the company’s strategy of acquiring the highest quality marinas in core coastal markets, the marina has a desirable location and a best-in-class Bellingham concrete floating dock system. It boasts numerous amenities for tenants including a professionally designed captain’s clubhouse, pool and hot tub, outdoor grilling patio and secure docks. It hosts a variety of weekend events.

Following this acquisition and the completion of redevelopments in Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach Gardens, Port 32 will own and operate approximately 4,300 dry and wet slips and over 3.2 acres (1.3ha) of commercial tenant space.

Port 32 CEO, Joe H Miller IV, stated: “The Marina at Ortega Landing is an extremely well built and fully occupied wet slip marina in a core Florida market. Ortega fits well into our portfolio of Class A marina assets. We believe we are buying the best wet slip marina in the Jacksonville market, both from a physical plant and amenity standpoint. The marina has a very loyal and discerning customer base which creates a unique and welcoming community environment. We embrace this lifestyle culture and intend to preserve that legacy.”

Fast Track process for first Maori marina

NEW ZEALAND: Te Rahui, a proposed boat harbour at Whakatane in the North Island, has been awarded the opportunity to use the Fast Track resource consenting process offered under the New Zealand Government’s COVID-19 Recovery Act 2020.

Project director, Phil Wardale, explains that the process enables a more streamlined consent process, designed to support the country’s recovery from the economic and social impacts of the pandemic.

“We have been fortunate and privileged to secure approval to utilise the Fast Track consenting pathway for such a transformational project,” he said. “We are only the twentieth project in New Zealand to receive this, and the first in the Eastern Bay of Plenty.”

“It gives the boat harbour, which has been carefully designed with the needs of the environment and the community in mind, certainty of timing through the

consenting process and enables it to get underway within a given timeline,” he explained. “Subject to receipt of consents, we could be underway with construction soon after the middle of the year (2022), with construction expected to take approximately two years.”

Te Rahui Herenga Waka will be the first Maori-owned marina and is planned in two phases. Stage one will include 60 berths for commercial vessels, such as fishing, aquaculture and commercial charter. Stage two will add berths for recreational users, a public boat ramp and further commercial premises.

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• ANACORTES MARINA

• CHATFIELD MARINA

• NEWPORT MARINA

• OCEAN REEF CLUB

• OCEANSIDE MARINA

• PORTLAND YACHT CLUB

• SAFE HARBOR VENTURA ISLE

• STOCK ISLAND MARINA VILLAGE

• THE WHARF MARINA

• TOWN OF PALM BEACH MARINA

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AMI Expo –reuniting the industry

USA: The AMI Conference & Expo (formerly IMBC), held for 2022 on 1st-3rd February in Daytona Beach, Florida, entered its twentieth year with an eager return to face-to-face networking.

The event organiser – Association of Marina Industries (AMI) – last brought the industry together two years ago as COVID-19 interrupted its normal annual pattern. During this timeframe, the industry has realised significant and unexpected growth, giving all delegates plenty to share and discuss.

Nearly 1,000 industry professionals gathered for the ‘reunion’. Attendees continued their education and networking at the leadership keynote presentations and over 25 industry break-out sessions and round table events. The exhibition hall featured over 125 booths presenting a wealth of marina- and yard-specific products and services, and also served as the venue for many of the social events.

Every AMI Expo includes valuable bolt-on opportunities, and for 2022 these included three pre-conference workshops and a ‘sold out’ marina and boatyard tour of local facilities. The event closed with a dinner for Certified Marina Managers (CMMs) and Certified

Marina Operators (CMOs) and a tailgating event.

An awards ceremony for new CMMs and CMOs is always a highlight of the Expo. This year the AMI Training Institute welcomed 16 new CMMs and

Partnership promotes watersports

UAE: Dubai International Marine Club, the government body responsible for marine sports in Dubai, and P&O Marinas - DP World’s portfolio of luxury marinas - have signed a cooperation agreement to coordinate efforts to develop watersports activities and events.

The partnership will enhance the effective role of each entity in supporting sailing in the emirate and developing it to be an international sport. It also aims to increase Dubai’s representation in the Olympics and establish maritime schools and academies to develop talents and prepare trainers and technical committees.

The two sides will also exchange information and expertise in various fields and implement logistical operations for local and international sporting events.

three new CMOs to the fold. There are currently 480 CMMs and 59 CMOs worldwide.

AMI Conference & Expo 2023 will be held 30th January-1st February in Daytona Beach.

PROVIDING BOAT LIFTS AND DOCK SOLUTIONS

Green light for Bembridge development

UK: Obstacles to the redevelopment of Bembridge Harbour on the Isle of Wight have finally been removed. A decision made by the High Court of Justice in London has given local lobby group BHT no further course of action left to prevent harbour improvements being financed by the build of 13 new houses.

“In the simplest of terms, this was a very straight forward planning application with an associated decision that should have had the planning approval issued within three years at the most,” said Malcolm Thorpe, owner of Bembridge Harbour Authority and Bembridge Investments. “Instead, BHT has been allowed to become involved by IOWC [Isle of Wight Council] since 2016, and managed to delay the approval that has taken nearly eight years to obtain with some large associated legal fees and costs incurred.”

The approval now means that Thorpe can build a new administration/ facilities complex for both resident and visiting boats at Duver Marina. “It should be noted that marinas and harbours within the Solent have all significantly upgraded their facilities in recent years whereas Bembridge Harbour has struggled to compete due to the lack of local authority planning approvals,” he said.

residential element, will follow shortly afterwards.

Construction work on phase one, the new facilities complex, should commence in September and complete in March 2023. Phase two, the

Thorpe believes the resulting improvements will be beneficial for the local community in East Wight, bring further employment and allied financial investment to the area.

Regeneration contract for Cannes Old Port

FRANCE: Island Global Yachting (IGY) and French construction group Fayat have signed a 30-year concession agreement with the City of Cannes to operate, enhance and modernise the Old Port (Vieux Port) of Cannes.

An emblematic destination in the heart of the French Riviera, the Old Port features 727 berths and will be the twenty-third marina in IGY’s network.

The investment programme – timed to complete by January 2024 – will include building a fishermen’s village and a semi-covered 519-space car park with bus and coach spaces; extending the Albert Edouard Pier;

relocating and improving the careening area; modernising a technical area that includes the refuelling station; and constructing a new harbour master’s office and service centre.

To reinforce the heritage and attractiveness of the Vieux Port de Cannes, the marina’s waterside will be enhanced to emphasise and host old riggings, classic sailboats and

traditional ships including local ‘pointus’ boats.

The development programme will modernise, enhance and increase the reception capacities of the land and port infrastructure, notably for large vessels, and will improve the quality of services on offer for the benefit of port users. More than ever, local boaters will have their place.

“We are honoured that the City of Cannes has entrusted IGY and Fayat with the management and development of this world-renowned site,” said IGY CEO Tom Mukamal. “We look forward to transforming the Vieux Port de Cannes into a best-in-class maritime destination that also includes top-tier events.”

The action plan provides for new port services, such as concierge, an electric shuttle linking the Old Port and Port Canto, as well as the two areas within the Old Port, and berths adapted for people with reduced mobility.

Environmental initiatives include: a carbon offsetting programme; a new power supply for large ships; the acquisition of underwater drones for pollution inspection operations; the use of sustainable energy sources and zero-emission fuels; and active monitoring of water quality.

Top attendance expected for Marinas22

AUSTRALIA: Exhibition space is sold out and registrations are piling in for the biennial Marinas International Conference & Trade Exhibition hosted by the Marina Industries Association (MIA). The organisers say it is shaping up to be a sell-out event.

Marinas22 will be held 23rd-24th May 2022 at the JW Marriott Gold Coast in Queensland and will showcase innovations in new marina and boatyard products and services, and address some of the big issues and opportunities through presentations and interactive sessions.

The conference and trade exhibition will be followed by the Marina and Boatyard Technical Tour on Wednesday 25th May which will take in three of the best marine facilities in the country –Sanctuary Cove Marina & Resort, The Boatworks, and Gold Coast City Marina & Shipyard.

The event kicks off on the evening of Sunday 22nd May with a tour of Southport Yacht Club’s new superyacht berth. At 160m (520ft), this is the largest floating superyacht berth in the country. Guests will then board the spectacular superyacht venue ‘YOT Club’ (right)

for a ‘not to be missed’ welcome reception where delegates will enjoy reuniting over a light dinner and cruise on the Broadwater. The ‘book-end event’ will be the gala dinner on Tuesday evening, which will be a great celebration of the industry’s achievements and enable delegates to continue networking.

The event routinely attracts over 300 marina industry professionals, comprising marina owners, operators, suppliers to industry and representatives from key government agencies and MIA CEO, Suzanne Davies, has high hopes for 2022.

“Australians have missed out on a lot of international industry events in the last two years, with our international borders closed for most of that time,” she says. “We are expecting Marinas22 to be our most well attended marinas conference

yet as the industry is very keen to meet, learn and celebrate. The event usually attracts around 50 to 60 international delegates, and with unrestricted travel, we will enjoy the company and perspectives that our international colleagues bring.”

Registrations can be made at www.Marinas22.com.

MMS, OCP and IGY to develop new Spanish marina

A team comprising Marina Málaga SAN (MMS), Ocean Capital Partners (OCP) and Island Global Yachting (IGY Marinas), has been awarded a 50-year concession to develop and operate Málaga San Andres Marina on the southern Mediterranean coast of Spain. The award followed a competitive tender process.

Upon completion in 2024, Málaga San Andres Marina will comprise around 600 berths for vessels of all sizes up to luxury length of 60m (196ft). MMS – an entity of the Qatari investment group Al Alfia and the main investor in the €60 million project – was incorporated in 2020 specifically to bid in the tender process and aims to make the new marina a reference point in the Mediterranean.

Ocean Capital Partners will act as project engineer and asset manager, and IGY will manage the marina and be exclusively responsible for marketing the facility.

The project represents a strong commitment to Málaga’s ongoing economic development as one of Europe’s most popular leisure destinations, and will boost its nautical tourism offering. “This investment elevates Málaga’s status as a nautical destination while providing much needed vessel berthing and leisure facilities to this vibrant region,” says MMS director Ramón Calderón. “We look forward to working with the city, port authority and our partners at IGY and OCP on this exciting project.”

The marina will include an 8,000m²

(86,100ft²) commercial property area designed by renowned Spanish architect José Seguí. Entertainment, restaurants and luxury retail amenities will be included, along with event spaces, classrooms and a sailing school. In alignment with IGY brand standards, marina amenities and services will include on-site parking with 400 parking spaces, crew facilities, fuelling, concierge services, waste recycling and security.

NEWS FOCUS

Consistent with the new concessionaire’s commitment to Environmental and Social Governance (ESG), the project will emphasise sustainability and minimise energy consumption with bioclimatic building design, photovoltaic power generation, aerothermal air conditioning and other systems.

Echoing MMS, IGY and OCP welcome the opportunities that the marina project will deliver. Tom Mukamal, CEO of IGY Marinas, emphasises the chance for the company “to continue its investments in the overall development of the nautical sector of the city of Málaga.”

Ocean Capital CEO, Jose Luis Almazán, considers an even bigger picture. “This is an opportunity to continue expanding the projects of Ocean Capital Partners as a reference company in the management of megayacht marinas and sports marinas in Spain, increasing the company’s portfolio of assets under management which, we trust, will continue to increase during the remainder of the year, forming the most extensive portfolio of marinas at a national level,” he says.

Malága is one of Spain’s fastest growing cities and benefits from a good climate, historic beauty and a variety of cultural entertainments. The marina, which will bring short- and long-term berthing options where they are greatly needed, is ideally located in a central position – just steps from the heart of the historic city, 20 minutes from an international airport and ten minutes from a train station that offers high-speed connections to Madrid and beyond.

FIRST PORT OF CALL FOR MARINA PROFESSIONALS

The Marina & Yard Pavilion is a specialised pavilion at the METSTRADE Show; the world’s largest marine equipment trade show. The pavilion is the ﬁrst port of call for marina professionals from around the world. With a dedicated area, it’s the world’s largest trade exhibition for the marina & yard industry.

DRYSTACK SYSTEMS

An elevated experience for Fort Lauderdale

F3 Marina opened its Fort Lauderdale drystack facility in Florida, USA at the end of October last year. By early November, occupancy levels were already at 70%.

Located at Southeast 16th Street on the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW), F3 Marina Fort Lauderdale originally broke ground in November 2019, bringing new drystack technology to the city. It is described by F3 Marina CEO, David Behnke, as “the ‘Ritz Carlton’ of drystacks”, delivering white glove service and unrivalled luxury amenities.

F3 president, John Matheson, believes it to be the most advanced drystack marina in the world. “It’s an elevated experience featuring cutting edge technology that embodies the maritime spirit of Fort Lauderdale,” he says. “Importantly, we are located in the heart of the boating community with quick access to the ICW, Port Everglades inlet and all the action.”

Incorporating the use of an overhead crane with smart technology to automatically hoist vessels, the facility accommodates boats up to 46ft (14m) long, 13ft (4m) beam and 20ft (6m) high with a weight limit of 40,000lbs (18,140kg). Secure indoor storage is provided for 240 vessels on racks that are six tiers high and boats of appropriate height can be racked as high as 120ft (36.6m) within the 130ft (39.6m) tall structure. The building was constructed to withstand winds of up to 170mph and the completed project covers a 1.3-acre (0.53-ha) footprint

with 390ft (119m) of waterfront.

The technical hub of F3 Marina Fort Lauderdale is a computerised marine crane system which maximises storage capability and minimises boat retrieval time. Housed in a wet well, the boat lift retrieves boats from the water and places them in their reserved rack location. A boat can be lifted and stored, or retrieved and launched, in under five minutes.

There are 21 wet slips for the staging process, which increases efficiency and reduces cycle time.

The new drystack was a passion project which required a particularly skilled design and development team, as well as the support of the City, in order to come to fruition.

The structure itself was an incredibly complex build, requiring extremely meticulous timing and order. The building was constructed using every inch of the property boundaries, leaving no area to stage materials or equipment other than the site itself, which added to the challenges.

“Huge kudos goes to Ron Jezerinac of Jezerinac Group for his unconventional, out-of-the-box thinking while redesigning the structural engineering of the facility,” Behnke notes. “With the support of the City of Fort Lauderdale, Rinka + designed an amazing building; Miller Construction executed a remarkable strategy for the incredibly difficult sequencing of events this project required; and Doug Watt, Inc, and Edgewater Resources also played a crucial role in the success of the development.”

Not only did the project improve an existing technology but it introduced innovation with the design of a ‘mega frame’ and ‘super caps’ to support 3,400,000lbs (1,540,000kg) of steel. “This design allows us to place the largest vessels on the top rack of

“The City of Fort Lauderdale has always been at the forefront of innovation in the marine industry and this project not only complements those sentiments but elevates the marketplace offerings,” Matheson continues. “Boats are getting bigger and the inventory to house them is becoming limited or non-existent in some cases. F3 Marina provides a unique solution to the city of Fort Lauderdale, solving this issue by making it possible to store larger vessels – up to 46ft [14m] long and 20ft [6m] tall, inside our facility.”

a building over 100ft [30m] high. And that’s never been done before,” Matheson says.

In addition to the impressive overall design and professional personal touch that F3 Marina offers, its boaters will enjoy superior customer service and key amenities, including: an upscale private lounge; indoor covered parking; on-site high speed fuel; storage locker rentals; and a retail ship store. And, as an added bonus, boaters storing their vessels in the facility reduce their insurance costs by up to 50%.

Semi-automation boosts drystack profits

Weekends and beautiful weather mean one thing for drystack marina staff: the non-stop movement of boats. With Capria semi-automated machinery, vessels can go from rack to water in less than three minutes, a fraction of the time you would expect, and with a reduced potential for accidents.

Ideal for new construction or retrofitting into an existing drystack building, the Capria solution comprises top- and bottom-running cranes which work in tandem with either a front, lateral or rotary launcher. The optimal ratio is one crane and two launchers per 250-300 boats, moving up to 30 boats per hour. Highly efficient and configurable, a launcher model will accommodate virtually any waterfront scenario, including extremely narrow channels.

Why Capria?

Capria offers reliability, experience and friendly customer service. A familyowned company that has worked in the steel industry for over 50 years, Capria is not only rooted in the design, development and installation of highly specialist drystack machinery but

is rooted in a location that is big on drystack. Its modern factory facility in

Capria stacker cranes can rack bigger boats at higher levels than most forklifts.

Garin in the north of the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, is on the doorstep of a boating hub that relies heavily on rack-and-stack operations.

All-round savings

Clean, green and money-saving, Capria machinery enables the operator to rack bigger boats at higher levels than most forklifts, meaning more boats can be stored in a building without increasing its footprint. This better use of space is of serious financial benefit to marina owners and is compounded by the fact that, unlike forklifts that rely on a level, paved surface, the Capria system doesn’t require a costly constructed floor.

The lower initial capital expenditure is only part of the financial lens. With reduced insurance premiums, less system and facility maintenance and fewer personnel needed, overall marina operating expenses decrease. Once the greater number of boats that can be stored is factored in, profitability soars – and continues annually as every Capria system will last for over 30 years. There are also undeniable benefits for the environment. Ahead of its time in terms of sustainability, eco-friendly Capria machinery is electric, odour-free and virtually silent.

DRYSTACK SYSTEMS

Drystack to the next level

One of the highlights at Metstrade 2021 last November was the launch of Metstrade TV, a venture that delivered nine hours of high-quality presentations live from a purpose-built studio on the show floor.

Dutch TV presenter, Pernille La Lau, expertly co-coordinated a Marina World sponsored discussion on the future of drystack with marina designer and consultant Oscar Siches. They were joined by Augusto Carosi, director and partner of DrySta Europe and Robert Brown, president of US-based ASAR/ GCM Contracting Solutions. Charlotte Niemiec outlines the conversation:

Oscar (giving an introduction): A drystack building is not usually particularly “fancy” but there are many advantages. The first is that it provides a way to increase space at a marina by building upwards. That’s how drystack

started in the 1960s and it hasn’t changed that much up to now. There are sustainability advantages, too –when you keep a boat in drystack, you don’t have to put any antifouling on it or any paint with poisonous elements that would pollute the water, so this helps to keep the water clean.

Robert built the biggest and best concrete marina in the United States – Hamilton Harbour in Florida, which was received with, shall we say, “careful views”. But people realised that having the boats completely sheltered, safe from hurricane or fire was a huge advantage. It takes a long time to

Automating drystack –the ASAR concept in a concrete drystack.

accept change in our industry; we are a little too conservative. But lately Robert has created the automated ASAR concept, which is a very different way to handle drystack.

My fellow Argentinian, Augusto, has a lot of experience with drystack because Argentina had about 160,000 small boats in the north of Buenos Aires that had to be stored where water space was unavailable. When drystack started to come in, permissions were generous and easy to obtain, which helped it become immediately popular. Augusto concentrates on the machinery to move the boats from the drystack to the water and back.

Augusto, how do you see the future for drystack?

Augusto: It’s a shame that drystack is not as widespread as it could be, as installing it allows you to free up wet slips so you can put bigger boats there, which means higher revenue. You mentioned the ecological benefits – no oil leaks, no wear and tear, no antifouling, no internal combustion systems like cranes, no fumes, no noise – so the future of increasing capacity at marinas is absolutely going with drystack. The Portuguese, for example, are thinking of transforming their wet slips into drystack space. If a marina has 50 wet slips, it could convert this to 150 drystack spaces.

L to r: Pernille La Lau heading the drystack discussion; Oscar Siches; Augusto Carosi and Robert Brown.

Another future trend is automating repetitive processes. This is very important with electric cranes –whether it’s semi-automated or fully automated depends on the complexity of the process. Our partners, GH Cranes, are specialists in materials handling and the most popular solution they offer is a semi-automatic process. This is because, while some movements are automatic, like positioning the crane from one place to another, most sensitive movements must be done manually, especially when the cost of automating that specific movement is higher and requires more investment to get it right.

Pernille: And will that always be necessary? In the car industry, for example, you see robots driving cars and putting them where you want, with no real manual operator in there. Is this possible in the marine industry?

Robert: With cars, if you’re storing the same sized car in the same place every time, it’s much easier to automate. But when you start getting different sized boats with people coming and going at random, it adds to the automation complexity in the software engineering that needs to be implemented. And, as my colleague mentioned, this drives up the cost considerably.

Pernille: And, Robert, what’s the advantage of concrete buildings and automation?

Robert: In addition to the advantages Oscar mentioned, you can make them aesthetically pleasing. One of the big

DRYSTACK SYSTEMS

things we need to overcome about drystack is the aesthetics – we try to focus on blending the building into the architecture or the scenery of a particular town or particular harbour.

Augusto: Another step for the future is crane status monitoring. Today, we can monitor every movement and predict a maintenance schedule to reduce the machine’s downtime, such as when to change the spare parts so the machinery doesn’t fail in the future.

Oscar: Yes, the automation ASAR offers has one particular feature that’s not been used before. Normally, when you book drystack space, you’re assigned a slot and that’s where your boat will stay. But this crane doesn’t assign places to the boats. Instead, it knows that the boat goes into a ‘free’ place and it remembers where it is, which makes the operation much more flexible.

The crane also allows you to put three boats behind each other. We always keep two or three places free so the crane knows to pick up the first two boats and slot them in the spaces, to free the third and take it to the water. It then doesn’t have to take the first two boats back to their original place because the crane knows that the boat’s position has moved. That is a big difference for the performance of the whole system.

For software engineers of the future, with a little bit of artificial intelligence, the crane can learn about boats that go out three times a year and put them at the back of the drystack, but boats that go out every weekend can be placed at the front. Your operation is smoother, even if you’re ultimately going to make the same amount of money, but you’re giving the client more time with his boat. For me, that’s as important as the safety of the whole drystack, because the nautical business is people business – it’s not robot business or app business, it’s people business. You’re dealing with people who are leaving home to go and have a good time with their boat.

Robert: Yes, in our country and elsewhere, it’s become a concierge service – where I keep my boat they valet park the car, they put the ice, the drinks, the sandwiches on the boat, so we’re trying to make that boating experience a lot more enjoyable and valuable to the boater, to keep them in the industry for the long term. We want people to have a good experience with their family and their friends and kids, so if we can make that an even more pleasant experience, it’s great for our industry.

Right and below: Hamilton Harbour, the biggest drystack in the USA, proves that concrete buildings can be designed to look attractive.

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DRYSTACK SYSTEMS

Above and clockwise: The drystack at Port Corsier on Lake Léman in Geneva, Switzerland was the first drystack project in Europe for DrySta and GH Cranes. It opened in summer 2021 and stores up to 100 boats on a three-tier racking system.

Augusto: But electric crane systems are not yet well known in the world. It wasn’t until we started to present them here at METS some years ago and people visited our booth saying “What a novelty!” [that some awareness was created], but the technology has only been in use for four years. In the USA, the predominant technology is forklift.

[But the upsides are obvious] – building more slips in a marina requires lots of investment, environmental studies, permits, it’s a complex situation. Installing drystack in a current, existing port will give you the opportunity to increase the capacity of the port.

Robert: We were involved in one particular project that took 18 years to permit, so it can be a very complex and laborious task to try and get a new development to the table, but we believe that there’s an enormous market out there waiting to be developed and it has to be done in the right way.

One of the resistance factors comes from the old, ugly looking industrial building that no one wants to see on the coast or in their backyard and, frankly, I don’t blame them! The municipalities don’t want to see it, no one does. And the noise has also been a big issue. But in the project we’ve just

completed, people live just 15ft [4.5m] away from an attractive building and they can’t even hear the electric crane because it’s so quiet. These quieter systems have been a long time coming and I think you’ll see them take off, helping us to develop more European drystacks, which are severely lacking. The problem I see when I travel to Europe is it looks to me like it’s hard for the average person to even boat –there are megayachts everywhere filling the ports. Where does the average person go to enjoy a day of boating? The drystack can bring that to the population and if the municipalities and the politicians realise what a huge win that would be for their constituents, I think we can get there, but it’s not easy.

Pernille: Oscar, you’re the convenor of the ISO workgroup on drystacks now, right?

Oscar: Yes. We’re developing the ISO norm for drystacks, with a focus on the boat user. I want the user to have a great time – we want enough parking for them, proper bathrooms, an office with good information, we want the areas where they can and can’t walk clearly marked with anti-slip, we’re developing quite a nice rule that’s easy for everyone to get along with.

Pernille: When will it come?

Oscar: We passed the first voting two weeks ago and it was completely approved. Now we’re receiving comments and I think it will see the light in June this year and it will help a lot, particularly in Europe where drystack was a ‘bad word’, because they’re perceived as ugly, noisy things. The ISO norm will help a lot to change that because we’re talking about minimising the visual impact by integrating drystack with shops, restaurants and bars around it.

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DRYSTACK SYSTEMS

First eBull to be in operation this summer

A Wiggins Marina eBull, claimed to be the world’s first fully electric, zero emission marina forklift, is to be delivered to Safe Harbor City Boatyard in Charleston, SC, USA in time for peak season of summer 2022. The delivery is the result of a partnership between Wiggins Lift Co and Safe Harbor Marinas, who spent months planning and discussing the move.

Designed to lift centre console fishing boats such as the Boston Whaler 350 Outrage and White Canyon 376, the Wiggins W3.2 will be equipped with enough onboard battery storage to transport and rack boats at Charleston drystack and boatyard for ten hours. At day’s end, it will be plugged in for overnight charge of its lithium-ion batteries and be ready to start operations again the next morning.

“Wiggins Lift Co could not ask for a better partner to develop and deliver the first zero emission, fully electric marina forklift in the world than Safe Harbor,” says Wiggins director of sales, Micah McDowell. “Safe

Harbor Marinas are smart, well-run facilities that are the perfect match for a cutting-edge piece of equipment like the zero emission Marina eBull. Wiggins and Safe Harbor look forward to continuing to provide our customers with the highest level of service while also making a positive environmental impact.”

The purchase of the machine is part of Safe Harbor’s commitment to making green initiatives a major part of its marina operations. Wiggins and Safe Harbor are proud to be at the forefront of both innovation and sustainability and are excited to continue the partnership into the future.

Suntex buys prime Keys drystack

Amidst a flurry of other acquisitions (see World News) Suntex Marina Investors has added Garrison Bight Marina on Key West in the Florida Keys to its portfolio.

Legendary expands to Gulf Shores

US-based Legendary Marina & Yacht Club, a resort owner/ operator renowned in the marina sector for its drystack facility in Destin, Florida has progressed plans for a new dry storage centre in Gulf Shores, Alabama.

According to news released to the media via the Orange Beach Area (OBA) community website, phase one is set to break ground this month (March) and is expected to complete in ten months. It will comprise two fully-enclosed drystacks, wet slips in a marina basin, car parking, ships store and a yacht club.

The stacks will accommodate vessels up to 50ft (15m) long, and wet slips cater for boats up to 60ft (18m). Phase two will include a restaurant.

The development is located on the Intracoastal Waterway about a mile west of Hwy 59.

The only full-service marina on the island of Key West with drystack, Garrison Bight offers direct access to the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. The property is on the north side of the island in close proximity to hotels, shops and restaurants.

It currently offers both indoor and outdoor storage, a fuel dock, ship’s store and a popular Thai restaurant with a large deck that overlooks the marina. It has around 20 wet slips and 213 dry slips.

“The purchase provides Suntex with an excellent opportunity to expand upon our holdings in the Florida Keys and our footprint in the South Florida market,” said David Filler, investments partner Suntex Marinas. “We are committed to offering our guests a bestin-class experience and Garrison Bight has incredible potential. With significant investment in upgrades, we will raise it to match the high standards we have for our entire industry-leading portfolio of premier properties.”

Sam Chavers, senior vice president operations, confirmed that Suntex plans to completely remodel the property.

PLANNING & DESIGN

Redeveloping a prime lakeside marina

Windermere Marina has appointed Marina Projects to provide specialist support for the design, procurement and redevelopment of its existing marina on Lake Windermere, the largest lake in England.

The redevelopment of Windermere Marina Village, which will cost around £4 million, is a comprehensive multiyear project that includes improvements to luxury waterfront apartments, as well as the complete replacement of the existing marina.

Located to the south of Bownesson-Windermere, Windermere Marina Village is the largest full-service marina on the lake, providing over 300 berths within the Lake District National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The marina has moorings for annual berth holders and visitors, along with an adjacent fuel berth, slipway and boatyard facilities for servicing vessels. The marina is complemented by highquality facilities and amenities for customers and property owners.

Marina Projects has been commissioned for the design, specification, procurement and contact administration of the new marina installation, which includes a total of 335 berths for vessels up to 15m (49ft) long. Specialist support

High-quality facilities and amenities are in place for residents and visitors to the marina, which offers over 300 berths.

has been provided to address the requirements of planning permission and related environmental approvals. The marina layout has been conceived in accordance with the operational requirements of the existing berth holders, whilst ensuring modern design standards are introduced to achieve the optimum berthing arrangement.

The primary strategy for the new marina involves replacement of all

Windermere Marina Village is the largest full-service marina on Lake Windermere, the largest lake in England.

existing traditional fixed timber jetty structures with modern floating pontoon equipment. This will help mitigate the potential of any future flood events following periods of sustained high rainfall. The design process required a detailed review of historic lake levels to determine appropriate finish heights for new restraining piles and access arrangements to accommodate both peak and low lake water levels.

In addition to the main pontoon works, the development will introduce new dedicated customer access arrangements, high-quality utilities equipment, fibre connections, and an upgraded Wi-Fi installation across the marina basin.

As part of the ongoing scope, Marina Projects has supported the client team through a negotiated tender which involved the preparation of a detailed package of technical documents that confirm the design requirements and design parameters for the marina equipment.

Walcon Marine has been appointed to demolish the old jetties and install new floating pontoons, and Maricer will supply all utilities equipment in readiness for installation by a local contractor.

The project is being delivered across

The existing fixed timber pontoons will be replaced with a modern floating pontoon system.

two autumn and winter phases and is scheduled for completion in spring 2023.

Jason Dearden, managing director of Windermere Marina Ltd, commented: “Marina Projects have understood our objectives and priorities right from the onset and have successfully worked with us to create a marina design that will take Windermere Marina Village to the next level, cementing us as the premier berthing facility on the Lake. We are pleased to have Marina Projects working with us on this exciting project, bringing their knowledge and experience to help deliver a new marina for the benefit of our customers for many years to come.”

The extensive demolition of the fixed timber structures is a key challenge for the project and careful consideration has been given to existing berthing operations so as to develop a works sequence that mitigates impact to resident berth holders. The transition

from the current layout to the new configuration, which also includes a campaign of dredging to introduce more water depth for marina users, has been established by Marina Projects, working closely with the client team and Walcon Marine.

Commenting on the commission, Marina Projects managing director, Mike Ward, noted: “We are delighted to

be working on Lake Windermere again.

Our appointment to design and project manage the redevelopment of Windermere Marina is a welcomed opportunity to create significant improvements to this stunning lakeside location. We are looking forward to working closely with the client team and respective contractors over the next couple of years.”

REGIONAL UPDATE: THE BALKANS

Promising developments in southern Europe

by Vladislav Vorotnikov

For years, political instability and the low incomes of the local population have hindered marina industry development in the eastern parts of former Yugoslavia, but there is growing evidence that in the coming years the entire Balkan region could acquire new status on the European yachting map.

Almost all countries in the region have rolled out marina development projects on the Black and Adriatic seas during the past year. So far, the eastern countries – Bulgaria and Romania – are primarily focused on small boats.

For example, the Bulgarian stateowned Port Infrastructure Company plans to spend BGN 11 million (US$6.3 million) on two new marinas and a service area in Varna and Burgas – the main Bulgarian tourist destinations on the Black Sea. Under the tender details published in April 2021, the new marinas will match the most modern international service standards, having the necessary coastal and floating engineering infrastructure with electricity, plumbing and fire protection systems.

“The new ports should be able to accommodate up to 150 different yachts. Most mooring places are reserved for boats with a length of 3 to 9m [10 to 30ft], while 12 mooring places are allocated for yachts from 20 to 25m

Lustica Bay Marina in Montenegro is a new marina village with excellent access to Adriatic sailing waters.

[66 to 82ft],” the Port Infrastructure Company said in a statement, adding that both marinas are slated to begin operation in early 2022.

The company also explained that the rationale behind building new marinas was associated with “excellent prerequisites for the development of yachting, sea sports and attractions, as well as passenger terminals for large passenger and cruise ships.”

Marina Dinevi in Sveti Vlas is the only marina to have been built from scratch for decades in Bulgaria. Small boats dominate.

“There is also a growing interest in individual sea tourism with small vessels moving on individual routes and programmes [in Bulgaria],” the company said in an explanatory note, adding that the yachting industry in the country should benefit from these infrastructure projects.

Bulgaria clearly lacks new marinas. Until recently, Marina Dinevi in Sveti Vlas was the only marina built from scratch in the country during the past few decades. Most of the marinas currently in operation on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast, specifically in Balchik, Nessebar and Sozopol, are the former piers of privatised fishing companies, with pontoons and communications established above them.

Things are similar in neighbouring Romania, where the marina industry development leaves a lot to be desired. Mangalia Marina, built between 2006 and 2008 with the help of a €4 million grant from the European Union, is considered the main choice for foreign boat owners visiting the country. Its total capacity is 146 mooring places, and it is known for running the BMW Black Sea International Regatta, together with Varna Marina of Bulgaria and the Odessa International Yacht Club of the Ukraine.

Few yachts, strict regulations

The reason for the lack of infrastructure development in both Bulgaria and Romania is quite obvious – the lack

REGIONAL UPDATE: THE BALKANS

of yachts in the region. Locals lack money to buy private boats and other Europeans have so far been reluctant to travel to this part of the continent.

“There must be a critical mass of yachts in the port in order for the investment to pay off,” Lachezar Bratoev, chairman of the Bulgarian Yacht Ports Association, which operates one of Varna’s marinas, told local press.

The lack of yachts not only prevents the development of new marinas but also hinders the expansion of existing marinas. For example, in the early 2000s Balchik Marina announced plans to expand its berths from just under 100 to 500 but, so far, these plans have not been implemented.

The laws regulating yachting in Bulgaria and Romania are another issue to be addressed. Local boat owners describe them as extremely bureaucratic, cumbersome, and primarily senseless.

For instance, every time boat owners go out on a yacht, they have to tell the Border Police, mentioning their final destination among other things. Providing inaccurate information could entail fines, and in some cases even more severe liability. These requirements are justified by the fact that both countries have external European borders, but they make the lives of boat owners far more complicated than in neighbouring European countries.

Aside from this, incoming and outgoing border controls in Bulgaria can be passed in just four places –Varna, Burgas, Balchik and Tsarevo,

which makes the marina industry development in other parts of the country almost impossible.

To some extent, however, the industry is growing, thanks to the development of yachting vacation tourism where locals rent yachts. As explained by Christian Simon, manager of Sailing Holidays Romania, one of the companies engaged in this business in Romania, the popularity of this type of tourism has been steadily growing for several years, thanks to the proximity of large markets, such as Greece, Turkey and Italy.

The Balkan countries are also playing an increasingly important role in the regional yachting industry, with Croatia and Montenegro already having fairly extensive marina industries, and thus indirectly supporting other countries in the region, according to Simon.

Supermarinas for Adriatic coast

On the Adriatic side, the marina industry is doing much better, especially in Croatia, where the country has a thriving marina industry and also continues to actively look for ways to lure further megaboats or superyachts. This pushes local investors to pump money into large-scale marinas able to accommodate luxury yachts.

In May 2021, ACI-Gitone Ltd was granted the 30-year-concession to build and use a special-purpose-port – the nautical tourism port of Porto Baros in Rijeka. ACI-Gitone’s plan is to invest 363.7 million kunas (US$50.7 million) in this project to build a marina for superyachts with around 500 mooring places.

“This investment makes me happy

Built between 2006 and 2008 with the help of an EU grant, Mangalia Marina is the main choice for visitors to Romania.

as we know that with such a marina capable of hosting megayachts comes a series of additional services. Rijeka and its surroundings must take advantage of such opportunity,” Oleg Butković, Minister of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure, said in a statement.

The new marina project, however, is opposed by local environmentalists, who claim that billionaires from all over Europe mooring their superyachts in Rijeka would not be beneficial for the local citizens. As explained by local politician Nebojsa Zelic, the project envisages “that in the end local residents would be denied access to the sea.”

The Rijeka marina is not the only new project in the Croatian yachting infrastructure industry. Last year D-Marin welcomed Marina Tribunj as the fourth destination in its Croatia cluster. As mentioned in an official statement released by the company, this marina has 220 wet and 50 dry berths, as well as a full-service boatyard. This latest addition will add to D-Marin’s existing 1,760 berths in Croatia. The marina also features a fuel station, technical boat services, a marina restaurant and accommodation facilities. Marina Tribunj has a total of six berths for superyachts up to a maximum length of 35m (115ft).

Over the past few years, new luxury marinas have also opened in Montenegro to complement the international renown of Porto Montenegro. The country is gradually becoming a popular destination for European superyachts. The newcomers are Lustica Bay on the Lustica peninsula, which opened in 2018, and Porto Novi in Kumbor at Boka Kotorska Bay, which launched in 2019.

Lustica Bay is described as a marina town offering waterfront residences, hotels, berths, golf and other lifestyle facilities.

“Marina Lustica Bay is a modern port and an ideal gateway to the Adriatic

Internationally renowned Porto Montenegro, the flagship luxury marina in Montenegro, has been instrumental in attracting wealthy tourists and superyacht owners to the country.

coast. Located between the blue sea and mountainous landscapes at the UNESCO-protected Boka Kotorska area entrance, it provides fascinating access to the world’s most popular sailing destinations. The offer of our marina includes: 176 berths for yachts 6 to 35m [20 to 115ft] long, yacht club and crew facilities,” says Daren Gibson, general manager of Lustica Development AD.

“As for other projects in the region, environmental concerns were a challenge for the project, but they were eventually overcome,” he adds.

Porto Novi is a similar type of complex involving 140 rooms and villas, residences and a marina with berths for megayachts in the mix. The €500 million project is One&Only’s first resort in Europe.

According to Bloomberg, Croatia has become the world’s sixth most popular

REGIONAL UPDATE: THE BALKANS

destination for megayachts in 2021, after Italy, the USA, Greece, France and Spain, but ahead of such popular destinations like Turkey and Monaco. Montenegro is not too far behind – as tenth on the list. “The Adriatic nation hopes to build its yacht presence as the wealthy look for alternatives in the area

to favourites like Croatia,” Bloomberg stated.

Both Croatia and Montenegro have made incredible progress in attracting foreign yachts and developing yachting infrastructure, raising hopes that other countries in the Balkan region could follow the lead in coming years.

“Ocean Reef Marina”, Panama

Minus Minus top ledGeo AquariusDomyna Link

PROJECT FOCUS

New fuel dock for superyacht marina

Adriatic Marinas, owner of the Porto Montenegro superyacht marina in Tivat, Montenegro has appointed specialist consultancy firm Marina Projects Ltd (MPL) to manage the redevelopment of the marina’s fuel dock.

The project is part of an ongoing wider masterplan redevelopment of the Tivat Arsenal. The existing fuel berth, which supplies in the order of 20 million litres/4.4 million gallons of fuel each year, will be upgraded. The old fuel tanks will be decommissioned and a new floating fuel storage facility installed. In addition, a new harbourmaster building will be constructed.

Marina Projects has been appointed as overall project manager for the scheme, with responsibility for coordination of the project team through

design, construction and the testing and commissioning of the finished facility. The scope of work includes: design and build of a new floating fuel storage facility of around 2.6 million litres/571,900 gallons (barge); maritime civil engineering of the berthing arrangements and mechanical and electrical upgrades to the existing fuel jetty; design and construction of the new harbourmaster building and decommissioning of the existing landbased fuel storage facility.

With design work commencing

The existing fuel berth will be upgraded by early 2023.

immediately, the current programme will see building works completed by the end of 2022 and the new fuel facility ready for early 2023.

Svetozar Radovic of Adriatic Marinas commented: “The appointment of Marina Projects was our preferred solution to help us deliver this critical piece of new infrastructure to support the superyacht marina facility at Porto Montenegro. We have worked successfully with Marina Projects for over ten years and welcome their professional skill and industry knowledge to support Adriatic Marinas.”

Marina Projects has been involved with Porto Montenegro – formerly a disused military site – from concept design stage in 2006. In the intervening years, the company assisted Adriatic Marinas in the delivery of the marina with associated shoreside facilities.

Mike Ward, managing director of Marina Projects, described the contract as “an exciting opportunity for us to continue our successful working relationship with Adriatic Marinas, extending our long association with Porto Montenegro and further developing this world class superyacht facility.”

“It is a testament to MPL’s skills and professionalism that Adriatic Marinas saw us as the ideal partner to assist them in successfully delivering this critical infrastructure project,” he added.

The project has a capital value of approximately €4.5 million and the new facility is planned to open for the new season in March 2023.

BOATSHARE & CHARTER

FlexiSail fleet moves into Hamble Point

UK owner/operator MDL Marinas has welcomed FlexiSail and its 15 strong fleet of cruising yachts, catamarans, cabin cruisers and RIBs to Hamble Point Marina on the English south coast.

The boat share membership company relocated to the marina at the entrance to the River Hamble just in time for the start of the 2022 boating season. In addition to berthing its comprehensive fleet at the marina, FlexiSail is also

utilising one of MDL’s business units for its new headquarters and sales office.

“We’re delighted FlexiSail has chosen Hamble Point Marina, not just for berthing its impressive line-up of boats, but also for its main base of operations,”

Tracking, supporting and protecting the fleet

Boat Fix, a recreational boating telematics company that provides a combination of remote monitoring, GPS tracking, sophisticated geofencing and 24/7 live customer support has launched Fleet Manager Pro - a one-of-a kind fleet management programme for boat rental companies, boat clubs and charter companies.

The programme offers:

• Highly accurate GPS tracking with historical playback functionality for use in the case of an incident or dispute

• Sophisticated, multiple and time-driven geofencing to prevent unauthorised use, theft and entry into prohibited areas

• 24/7/365 live and immediate business support

• Customised fleet management reports available monthly, weekly or daily

• An onboard strobe light triggered

by entry into a prohibited zone or delayed return to alert the user and generate an immediate corrective action

The Boat Fix telematics device that drives the system has its own built-in GPS and SIM card that communicates via the 4G network. It will transmit worldwide from any cell tower, usually up to 20mi/32km offshore. If out of range, the device will store up 10,000 GPS locations every 60 seconds –roughly a week’s worth of data. Saved

says MDL sales and marketing director Tim Mayer.

FlexiSail offers three levels of membership, giving members an agreed number of guaranteed days onboard each year. Providing a supportive environment for those new to boating, as well as seasoned sailors, FlexiSail also operates a members-only RYA Training Centre, tailoring training to an individual member’s needs.

“We’re excited to bring our Hamblebased fleet to Hamble Point Marina,” comments Nikki Walker, FlexiSail director. “We couldn’t wish for a better location on the River Hamble. Its proximity to the Solent provides our members with more time sailing, and our new office allows us to offer a better customer experience to our members.”

“The move also enables us to offer our members even more choice. We’ve created a new feature called Paddle, allowing our members free access to water sports equipment to take sailing with them, and we’ve also taken delivery of another boat, a Cornish Shrimper 19 sailing boat, swelling our Hamble fleet even further.”

Hamble Point Marina has 230 wet berths, a drystack for 137 boats and an extensive range of shoreside facilities. In addition to the Ketch Rigger bar and restaurant, it boasts the best selection of new and used boats for sale on the South Coast.

data is automatically uploaded when the system is back in cell range. All the tracking and monitoring data is stored for seven years.

“Our devices collect a huge amount of data and with our sophisticated monitoring software, there is nothing that the rental or charter operator does not know about every boat in the fleet,” said Kevin Walsh, head of operations at Boat Fix. “How often the boat is used, where it went, how fast it went, how many days it sat idle, engine hours and more. Our service and data provide our fleet owner partners with unrivalled ability to support and service their fleet, ensure customer safety, and save money and time on insurance-related issues.”

“In one season alone, we had multiple damaged lower units and replaced many boat props from boats grounding in places the member was advised to avoid because of underwater hazards,” said Jared Irwin, owner, Freedom Boat Club, Lake St.

Premier Agapi Club expands

Having experienced substantial growth at its flagship club at Swanwick Marina, the Premier Agapi Boat Club is expanding to Chichester Marina. Both marinas are on the south coast of England.

Established in 2020, the Club offers an affordable subscription membership model suited to both experienced and novice boaters. With a variety of membership and training options on offer starting from less than £300 per month, members can tailor a fee plan to reflect their experience, boat choice, level of usage and service requirements.

From the two UK club bases at Chichester and Swanwick on the Hamble River, members are free to explore Premier’s selection of marinas right across the Solent, including

Clair. “Boat Fix would have saved me thousands of dollars in claims and protected my insurance premium. For me having Boat Fix on every boat is now a no brainer – especially with the geofence strobe alarm that averts the problem automatically in real time.”

Fleet Manager Pro requires the purchase of the Boat Fix telematics device for $139 and a strobe for $39. The device comes with a lifetime warranty and is transferable at no charge to new inventory. Installation is simple and usually takes between 15 to 30 minutes, depending on the vessel. In addition to the oneoff device purchase, there is an annual charge of $139 for the SIM card data, business support and reports.

“Fleet Manager Pro is an unbeatable combination of reliable hardware, industryleading tracking software, 24/7 support, all at an affordable

options for overnight stays, and can also use the growing number of Agapi Boat Centres across Europe, thanks to the Club’s new roaming programme. This allows UK members to use boats from 17 centres in mainland Spain, the Balearics, Crete and Scandinavia.

Andy Mills, Premier Marinas business development director, commented: “The Premier Agapi Boat Club really works for the large

price,” said Alastair Crawford, founder, Boat Fix. “There is a reason we have a 93% renewal rate. We look forward to showing rental and charter organisations the incredible value and peace of mind Boat Fix delivers.”

number of people that would really enjoy time on the water but are put off boating by the costs of ownership and maintenance and acquiring the competency to go boating safely. We are delighted to be able to bring our boat club to Chichester Marine and open up a new location for both existing and new members.”

Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Connecticut, Boat Fix claims to have the industry’s only 24/7 service centres in the USA and Europe.

www.boatfix.biz/boat-rental

Image: Boat Fix

The Agapi Club fleet is constantly expanding with new boats.

BOATSHARE & CHARTER

Share, socialise and save with Freedom Boat Club

The world’s largest and oldest boat club, Freedom Boat Club, has a presence in more than 330 prime locations across North America, the UK, France and Spain. In February, it opened a second location in the UK, with ambitious plans for more.

Established in 1989 in Florida and founded on the idea of making boating accessible to everyone, today Freedom is a highly experienced operator in the boat club segment, offering 28 locations in Europe, with plans to add more ahead of the 2022 boating season in the UK and France. Through its boat share concept, the company attracts both first-time boaters and experienced boaters looking to enjoy their time on the water while Freedom handles the purchase of the boats, maintenance, storage and cleaning. It aims to make the boating experience as simple as possible, with members “arriving and driving” for a day out on the water.

In May 2019, Brunswick Corporation – the world’s largest marine manufacturer – acquired Freedom Boat Club, which has since almost doubled the number of locations it offers, from

170 to 331, with more than 50,000 memberships and 70,000 members. In April last year, it opened its first UK-

Hythe Marina Village, with its excellent access to Solent waters, is an ideal location for the UK’s second Freedom Boat Club.

based location at Trafalgar Wharf in Portsmouth, one of the most desirable boating locations in the UK (see Marina World, July/August, p.46). It had an overwhelmingly positive reaction from the market, enabling it to grow further.

This month, Freedom opened a second UK location in Southampton, at Hythe Marina Village, part of the MDL Marinas group. The new location will provide additional access to the Solent for existing members and allow Freedom to reach new customers from a broader demographic throughout the region. The new location is planned to open for the 2022 boating season, with new boats being added to the fleet to support the expansion.

The sharing economy

The global boat club industry and boat share model is expanding rapidly internationally, helped in part by the pandemic “boating boom”, which pushed many consumers to opt for outdoor activities that allowed them to safely socially distance with friends and family. Boating became the perfect option for many, with the industry overall experiencing unprecedented growth. The same proved true for Freedom Boat Club. After its initial opening in the UK in April last year, it experienced tremendous growth from new members looking to get out on the water, who may not have had access to a boat before. “These boaters have since become our biggest advocates of Freedom Boat Club,” says Jason Worthy, vice president of Boating Services, EMEA.

Club members have access to a broad range of boats.

BOATSHARE & CHARTER

Furthermore, the high demand for boats has resulted in longer lead times for delivery, which makes joining a boat club a great opportunity to get on the water quickly. “While there are many players in the space, we continue to be the largest and most experienced operator,” Worthy asserts. In total, the Freedom fleet contains more than 4,500 boats, including bowriders, pontoons, centre consoles, deck boats and wake boats.

Freedom’s model provides a good entry point for first-time boaters who may not yet be comfortable on the water or ready to make the financial investment of a boat purchase. As a result, uptake of Freedom’s on-water training programme has been high, and it has been well-received.

Many of its members are seasoned boaters who previously owned a boat but are attracted to the convenience Freedom offers as the company handles many of the less attractive aspects of boat ownership, such as cleaning, maintenance and storage. “Our members enjoy being able to reserve the boat they would like to use for the day, arriving at the docks and knowing that we’re handling the rest to ensure they have a great day on the water,” Worthy explains.

Unique offerings

Key to its success is having a presence in some of the most desirable boating locations in the world. In the UK, it provides direct access to the Solent,

a 20 mile (32km) strait between the Isle of Wight and Great Britain, and an area of outstanding national beauty. In France, it has a presence along the northern and southern coasts and, most recently, it acquired Fanautic Club in Spain, adding 23 locations across the coastline to its portfolio. In North America, it has locations across 34 states and within each Canadian province, giving its members access to some of the top boating destinations in the world.

“We look forward to continuing our international expansion within our existing footprint, as well as new territories across Europe,” says Worthy.

One offering claimed to be unique to Freedom is the unlimited access

it provides to its on-water training programme. Members can go out on the water with the company’s trained captains as often as they wish to gain confidence in their boating skills. This training access is available at all its locations, so if a member is visiting a location for the first time, the captains will take them out to ensure they feel confident navigating the local waterways.

Another selling point is its ‘reciprocal access’, allowing members to book reservations at any location. “That’s one of the things our members enjoy most –booking their travel based on where we have Freedom locations, so they can explore the local waterways through their membership,” says Worthy.

The company’s online reservation system is available on any device and via an app, enabling members to easily book the day, time and type of boat they would like to take out for the day. Once they complete the reservation, they simply arrive at the dock at their scheduled time and Freedom has the boat fuelled, cleaned and ready to go for a fun day on the water.

“Each new member of Freedom Boat Club is required to complete a new member training course (subject to country requirements) upon joining and they have unlimited access to training throughout their membership,” Worthy adds. “This training programme has received numerous accolades and members enjoy the one-on-one training to practice their skills with a certified captain and gain confidence on the water.”

Freedom is now well established in Chicago (above) and Portsmouth (below).

Looking to offer supercharging at your marina? at no cost to you, providing 24/7 customer care and all compatibility testing.

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PONTOONS & BREAKWATERS

Upbeat mood leads to flurry of projects

Despite complex logistics, Italian company Ingemar has filed 2021/22 financial reports that match its previous year. This success is largely down to a flurry of modernisation initiatives at Italian marinas that reflect an upbeat mood in the boating community.

Over the past six months, Ingemar has completed numerous installations in Italy and also enjoyed new export prospects. The greatest demand in 2021 was for large floating breakwaters. This spurred the company to complete tank tests at the University of Padua for breakwater modules up to 10m (33ft) wide and accelerated its development of a new elastomer damping system for anchor lines.

Details of project highlights are as follows:

Sardinia: in the Gulf of Arzachena, Ingemar delivered two new T-shaped mooring piers for Smeralda Immobili. One is located in the beautiful and exclusive Cala di Volpe (SS) and the second, intended for maxi-yacht mooring, is in the lively marina of Canniggione (SS). Mooring capacity at Pontile Destriero was also increased. Work completed at Cala Balbiano in La Maddalena (above) and, in the Gulf of Cugnana, Ingemar installed new breakwaters for Sardegna Navigando to protect moorings in Marina Cala dei Sardi (right). These imposing floating barriers measure 120m (390ft) and 200m (660ft) long and are 10m (33ft) wide. They feature semi-flexible

connections and unsinkable pontoon elements in reinforced concrete and expanded polystyrene. The units were manufactured at Ingemar’s mobile yard in Olbia and towed to the destination by sea.

Porto Venere (SP): Ingemar supplied a new fuel pontoon for CDG Service, and replaced a pontoon that was one of three old mooring piers under municipal management on behalf of the company CEMA. The new floating modules, with refined timber decking and modern access systems, give the area a face lift.

lake for the Italian Canoe and Kayak Federation (FICK). Each landing consists of a platform and floating walkway. The work was completed with a landside pathway to facilitate access for people with disabilities.

Trieste: Ingemar was involved in two initiatives to boost sailing. Floating aluminium piers were installed to enlarge the quayside in the Sacchetta area, and a slipway for small sailing boats constructed in the waters of the old commercial port on behalf of Lega Navale Italiana di Trieste.

Villa San Giovanni (RC): Ingemar supplied a first floating pier for Marina dello Stretto, complete with accessories for extra-large boats.

Venice: The development of Certosa Island for nautical and recreational purposes never stops. Around 200m (660ft) of floating docks were added under the quay along the Vignole channel, complete with mooring minifingers to create more than 50 berths for short stays.

Cetara (SA): Ingemar worked with Cetara Scarl to lengthen the existing pier and provide another 60m of new floating structures.

Overseas: Work has been completed on the last of the four marinas at Kuwait Sea City, Kuwait, for a total of 800 berths on approximately 10km (6.2mi) of floating pontoons and fingers. Additional projects were installed in Crete and in

Stresa (VCO): An original fixed pontoon with variable inclination and access gangway was completed on the shores of Lake Maggiore to allow tourist boats to dock at the Hotel La Palma. The pontoon automatically adapts to different water levels.

Castel Gandolfo (RM): Two floating docks are now in operation on the

the port of Duqm in Oman, and a new commercial collaboration initiated with West Coast Marine of Mumbai, India. Lorenzo Isalberti, founder and president of Ingemar Group, summed up: “It has been a year of difficult and, in many ways, onerous choices. But today we seem to be being rewarded for the efforts we’ve made so far to overcome one of the least happy periods for our global economic system.”

Bluetooth control for lifts and covers

US manufacturer Sunstream is now offering a Bluetooth transmitter and smartphone app for its hydraulic boat lifts and SwiftShield automatic boat cover systems.

Available for Apple and Android smartphones, the system is claimed to be an industry first and provides convenient remote control operation, longer range two-way communication, and diagnostic capabilities for the products. The app allows users to always have a Sunstream remote in their pocket for a faster, more convenient way to get out on the water.

The two-way communication transfers data between the smartphone and

the lift, enabling the app to display the current voltage, charging status, battery health, performance data and diagnostic data, as well as provide basic up and down functionality.

With the new Bluetooth 5 standard, many mobile handsets will give an unprecedented range of up to 300ft (91m).

PRODUCTS, SERVICES & PEOPLE

Marine grade floodlighting

Ansell Lighting has added a marine grade product line, Aztec Coastal, to its popular Aztec range of floodlights.

Designed to ensure resistance to corrosion, rust and colour fade from salty air and harsh weather conditions, the product is ideal for locations within 50 miles of the coast.

Aztec Coastal has undergone a concentrated saline 3,000 hour salt spray test, and with an IP66 rating it can withstand severe weather conditions and is protected against ingress and damage from sea salt.

Created in Ansell’s design and innovation centre in Warrington, UK, Aztec Coastal Symmetric floodlight

The nature of Bluetooth enables instant and more precise control of the lift or cover hydraulics. Existing remote controls use Radio Frequency (RF) technology. There are several limitations to this technology; the first being that the popularity of RF signals are crowding bandwidth and causing a reduction in range for those devices.

Another downfall to RF is that these signals require a split-second of continued operation after the button is released to prevent start and stop during operation. Finally, RF is one-directional and not capable of transmitting data. WiFi technology

provides an evenly distributed beam pattern, typically around 120° x 120°, making it ideal for large indoor and outdoor storage facilities. The Asymmetric version has a beam distribution pattern of 120° x 60° better suited to car parks, docks and harbours, promenades and piers.

Boasting low energy levels, it comes with 1.5m (5ft) of pre-wired cable and a movable, angled bracket to make installation quick and simple. It carries Ansell’s five year guarantee. www.anselluk.com

solves the problem of data transmission and range, but network complexities contribute to instability.

Bluetooth doesn’t require the aforementioned delay, ensuring precision operation, i.e. the lift and covers controlled by the app will start and stop exactly when buttons are pressed and released. Because of its bi-directional characteristic, this technology is also a natural technical solution to receiving and transmitting diagnostic information and thus allowing for troubleshooting.

www.sunstreamboatlifts.com

PRODUCTS, SERVICES & PEOPLE

FRP gangway offers longevity and economy

The port of Palermo in western Sicily has invested in a specially designed gangway to connect the quayside with a mooring post. The structure had to be highly resistant to the corrosive effects of brackish water and the stress of pedestrian traffic.

The contract was awarded to P-Trex – a department within Fibre Net Spa. P-Trex specialises in the design and manufacture of profiles, structures and fences in FRP composite, and has relevant recent experience having delivered one of the longest walkways in Europe on the River Alenta in Benevento.

Selecting pultruded FRP profiles for this kind of gangway is an ideal choice as it combines excellent mechanical performance with a high resistance to corrosion, and hence offers long life with minimal maintenance.

It is also a cheaper alternative to stainless steel but is claimed to have comparable longevity.

Anchor Management joins Marinetek

Ruurd van Putten and his Vietnam-based company, Anchor Management, has become the new Marinetek Group representative for Southeast Asia.

In recent years, Marinetek has successfully delivered turnkey marina projects and superyacht facilities in several countries in the region, including Hong Kong, Thailand and Vietnam. “With the local knowledge, expertise and regional network of Ruurd van Putten we can continue

our strong track record achieved in SouthEast Asia during the past ten years,” said Marinetek CEO Mika Parviainen.

Anchor Management has been a pioneer in the yachting and marina industry in Vietnam and beyond. Since 2007, van Putten has been involved

In addition to building the 22m (72ft) long FRP jetty, P-Trex developed a multi-axial floating point capable of withstanding considerable stress without compromising the necessary mobility. With a total weight of around four tons, the jetty was constructed in two parts, pre-assembled in the Fibre Net factory and then installed on site. Thanks to the inherent lightness of the structure, it was commissioned in just two hours with the help of a mobile crane and a team of six operators. The ultramarine blue gangplank requires no painting or surface treatment and its appearance will remain unaltered over time, with excellent resistance to chemical and other aggressive agents, as well as weather and UV rays. www.p-trex.it

in several new and ground-breaking activities, such as starting Vietnam’s first sailing charter company, establishing Princess Yachts Vietnam and Cambodia, and realising Ana Marina Nha Trang, the first marina in Vietnam.

Van Putten commented: “Anchor Management is excited to join forces with Marinetek and to develop more and better marinas and floating infrastructure projects in Southeast Asia. With Vietnam as a base, we feel we are in the middle of the emerging yachting and marina industry in this part of the world.” www.marinetek.net

PRODUCTS, SERVICES & PEOPLE

Fuel dock fender

Coral Sea Marina in the Whitsundays, Australia has fitted ProFender’s super fender to its busy fuel facility. The move was well received by the region’s commercial fleet, as well as hundreds of private vessels during the holiday period.

Trent Ridout-Allen, Coral Sea Marina’s operations manager explains:

“We are continuously looking for ways to improve the marina experience for our guests, operators and visitors, so the addition of ProFender’s super fendering to the marina’s fuel wharf was a no brainer.”

“The volume of traffic on our fuel wharf is consistently high, particularly during the peak cruising season, and the super fendering offers an additional level of protection for vessels as well as protection for our marina infrastructure.”

“The fuel wharf is open 24/7 and accommodates any size vessel. Having the added protection of super fendering provides our customers with peace of mind and reduces the potential for risk of damage to their vessel if they come across challenges when docking.”

Ross Cooney, managing director of ProFender adds: “Our products are designed to provide vessel protection from trailer boats to superyachts, they eliminate the need for tie on fenders when berthing making both the skipper and crews experience so much easier.”

Wesley Cole, operations manager of the award-winning Whitsunday Escape - a bareboat charter company based at

Coral Sea Marina with a fleet of over 40 vessels - explains how the new system benefits the charter operation: “Being a company that is always looking at operational efficiencies, the new super fendering at the fuel wharf at Coral Sea Marina not only means our boats can get on and off the dock faster at the end of charter, but also eliminates the risk of damage to the vessels themselves.”

As an industry leader and the first 5 Gold Anchor Platinum marina accredited in Queensland, continuous improvement across facilities and services is at the core of Coral Sea Marina’s business operations.

Joscelyn O’Keefe, marketing, sales and service manager sums up: “We regularly survey our guests for feedback on our services and facilities. Fendering on the fuel wharf is something that has been suggested by private boat owners and our commercial fleet. The feedback we have received so far has been overwhelmingly positive and our guests can be assured that we listen to what they need to make their boating experience more enjoyable.”

With 520 wet berths, superyacht facilities for vessels to 80m (262ft) and a location at the heart of the Whitsundays and Great Barrier Reef, Coral Sea Marina is a popular boating playground for boat owners across the country.

With domestic travel peaking in 2021, and an upwards trend for boat ownership within Australia, upgrades such as this play an important part in ensuring the Whitsunday region remains a key boating destination.

Alex Kavanaugh

Alex Kavanaugh has been promoted to president of USbased Brownell Boat Stands (BBS). He has been with the company since 2016 and has been hands-on in all departments, from manufacturing through to product development and sales.

“Alex has a firm grasp of the business, he’s very customer-centric in his approach, and his leadership style is very collaborative. I am confident in promoting him to the position of president,” said Peter Kavanaugh, who will move to the position of CEO/chairman.

Alex takes the helm at a very exciting time. “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to lead Brownell into the future. Our company has a long, proud history and I look forward to continuing the legacy. At the same time, we are forging a new path with our new factory, innovative new products and, as always, superior quality and value for our customers. Here’s to another 60 years of Brownell Boat Stands,” he commented.

BBS manufactures boat stands for all types and sizes of boats, boat handling dollies, a wide variety of shop equipment, staging ladders and trailer components. www.boatstands.com

PRODUCTS, SERVICES & PEOPLE

In lifting the 292-tonne, 45.7m (150ft) long Benetti superyacht “Mistress”, The Boat Works set a record last November for the heaviest vessel ever to be hauled out of the water on Australia’s Gold Coast. Despite bad weather, the team took just two hours to lift the vessel out of the Coomera River using “Rhino”, the yard’s 300 tonne Marine Travelift.

Grant awarded to fund pontoon innovations

Marinetek Adriatic has been awarded a Norwegian Financial Mechanism grant to further business development and innovation in Croatia.

Receiving the award further boosted the company’s achievements in 2021, which was a successful although challenging year.

The money will finance 50% of the €1 million cost of a new project, Eco marina, “development of innovative blue technologies for maritime superstructure.”

Funds were allocated for the development of innovative floating solution prototypes based on detailed designs for the PEC series 3300 Premier composite pontoon; the BRKC series 4300 composite breakwater; and

the all-concrete composite ACC series 2400.

The production process of these solutions will be further adapted to incorporate innovative materials, such as composite reinforcements and expanded polystyrene cores, that will become elements of new types of pontoons.

The project is being undertaken in cooperation with Norwegian company Stadt Towing Tank (STT), which will be in charge of mathematical analysis and testing of prototype pontoons. www.marinetek.net

Boater app enjoys record year

2021 was a record year for UK-based savvy navvy – an app that helps boaters plot courses and find good anchorages or marinas.

Since launching four years ago, the app has been used to plot more than 430 million miles by hundreds of thousands of users globally.

In the final quarter of last year savvy navvy doubled its revenue and exceeded its crowd funding user growth campaign targets set for 2021. Dozens of new major app features were also launched during the year, including an industry-first departure scheduler. A function enabling users to see 3D terrain along coastlines is also soon to go live.

“We’re constantly evolving and making changes based on user feedback in order to get more people out on the water enjoying boating. Last year was our biggest yet and while some [activity] is certainly down to the big boom happening in boating at the moment, working directly with our endusers to hear their views has enabled us to make a better product that meets the market demand to simplify boating navigation,” says Jelte Liebrand, savvy navvy CEO and founder.

Liebrand also believes that partnerships are at the core of industry innovation. In 2021 alone savvy navvy’s partnerships increased tenfold and now cover all of its global regions, including everything from marinas, products and specialist boat insurers.

“Any company that ultimately brings ease of use to a boater’s sailing experience adds value to us and to them,” Liebrand notes.

www.savvy-navvy.com

ICOMIA policy paper on marina taxation

The ICOMIA Marinas Group (IMG), has published a new policy paper on marina taxation, putting the spotlight on the number of taxes marinas pay and the disparity of the tax value when compared to other tourism outlets. Input was received from ICOMIA’s partner, European Boating Industry (EBI), which is actively advocating on VAT and its application for the boating and nautical tourism sector at the EU level.

Unquestionably essential for nautical tourism and tourism in general, marinas should be treated in the same way as hotels and other hospitality accommodations. Based on a survey carried out by ICOMIA members, it is known that 40% of the countries have a reduced VAT tax for hotels and/ or campsites that is not applicable to marinas.

Of all the countries where there is a different VAT rate for hotels and marinas, the difference between those two vary significantly and they range between 10% and 18%. This notable difference makes nautical tourism less attractive and is known to be a big barrier to the growth of the industry.

IMG chair, Martinho Fortunato, commented: “Marinas have proven to be a great booster to local economies and tourism. Marinas are not just resorts, they are clusters of companies, an attraction by themselves, a centre of activities and a hospitality infrastructure. They increase nautical tourism and nautical sports. Knowing all this, why aren’t marinas considered like that in terms of tax? Why don’t we have a bigger harmonisation between activities and countries? These are the main reasons why the ICOMIA Marinas Group carried a survey among its members and developed the Policy Paper about marina taxation, a very important document for the future of our industry.”

Philip Easthill, EBI Secretary-General added: “EBI is advocating for a level playing field in the tourism sector at EU level which must include VAT rates to be adapted for the entire nautical tourism sector. This can further increase competitiveness and incentivise economic growth and jobs. We are delighted that our partner ICOMIA will also promote this globally in other regions through the policy paper on marina taxation.”

PRODUCTS, SERVICES &

New improved Muscle Air

American Muscle Docks & Fabrication (AMD) has redesigned its Muscle Air Inflatable Dock based on customer feedback from its introductory model.

The revised version adds an EVA deck pad to give a slipresistant cooler surface underfoot and an extra layer of puncture resistance. The topmounted grab handles have been placed further into the centre of the dock to make it easier to access the dock from the water, and the stainless steel D-rings have been moved to the side to help reduce wear from anchoring ropes and cables.

Along with the updated design changes, customers now receive an 800W electric pump, carry bag and repair kit. Overall, AMD believes the new design, with the addition of the electric air pump, better serves customers.

www.americanmuscledocks.com

Best service award for hull cleaner

Drive-in Boatwash, a machine developed by Swedish company Rentunder, and its French distributor G&G Boatwash, won the Innovation Competition Jury Prize for best service at the Paris Boat Show in December 2021.

The solution, which removes fouling from boat hulls, is environmentally friendly, efficient, practical and economic for marinas and boat owners. By keeping hulls clean, it eliminates the need for antifouling paints, many of which – although still considered toxic to the environment – have become less effective and more costly.

It takes just 15 minutes to wash a boat using the Boatwash. Fouling is removed and debris is collected in a large containment basin under the machine to avoid any pollution.

Marinas and yards investing in Boatwash modernise their operations, improve their environmental management and support customers who seek to be more eco-friendly.

www.driveinboatwash.com

PRODUCTS, SERVICES & PEOPLE

Index to Advertisers

ASAR/GCM Safe Harbour

Drystacks, USA 31

Aqua superPower, UK 44

Bellingham Marine, USA 7, 9 & 11

Bluewater

Marine & Dock, USA 48

Boat Lift, Italy 48

Capria Sponsored Feature, Argentina 22 & 23

Conolift by Kropf Industrial, Canada 34

DrySta, Spain 28

DualDocker, Austria 18

Flovac, Spain 26

GH Cranes & Components, Spain 44

Gigieffe, Italy 36

Golden Manufacturing, USA 14 & 15

Ingemar, Italy 2

Inland & Coastal Marina Systems, UK & Ireland 17

Inmare, Italy 37

Lindley, Portugal 28

Marina Master by IRM, Slovenia 52

Marina Projects, UK 56

MARINAGo by Scribble Software, USA 35

Marinas22, Australia 55

Marinetek, Finland 4

Marex, Croatia 40

METSTRADE 2022, Netherlands 20

Pacsoft, New Zealand 44

PierPump by Vogelsang, Germany 8

Plus Marine, Italy 34

Ronautica, Spain 36

Roodberg - a brand of Frisian Industries, Netherlands 46

SF Marina System, Sweden 2

Seaflex, Sweden 6

Seijsener, Netherlands 10

Sublift by Swede Ship, Sweden 40

Superior Group, Australia 52

ThruFlow, Canada 46

Twinwood by Soprefa, Portugal 10

Walcon Marine, UK 26

Wiggins Lift Co, USA 40

Fast-action pump-out

US-based Albin Group has introduced the Septic 200 Magnelis pump-out station.

In its 240V version, which has just been installed at a marina in Marblehead, Massachusetts, the station provides a suction rate of 40gpm. This is fast enough to empty an average holding tank in under 40 seconds using the attached 23ft (7m) hose. Plus, it switches off automatically when the tank is empty.

The impressive performance is due to a high-speed, long-lasting pump with a self-priming flexible impeller. Because of its simpler design, maintenance is easier when compared to vacuum or peristaltic systems.

Construction features include a corrosion-resistant stainless

Extra features for

steel shroud to protect the internal components and provide a clean appearance; and an integrated electrical box for easy wiring to the control panel, pump and vacuum switch.

Its single-phase 2.2kW, 60 Hz motor draws 12A. The entire system weighs 165lbs (75kg).

Albin Group offers a 120V version of the station as well as a wide selection of replacement parts. The stations are likewise available as modular kits without the cover for installations inside an existing marina building or appropriate dockside enclosure. www.albin.group

MARINAGO

Scribble Software’s MARINAGO Office cloud-based management system now has three new features:

1 Boaters can pay at the pump for fuel by scanning a QR code on their mobile phones and following easy step by step instructions. The system is safe and secure and can be configured to offer service during certain hours of the day.

2 Software users are now able to offer ACH (electronic bank-tobank) payment processing to customers. This allows them to accept ACH payments while batch

invoicing, auto payment processing or as regular invoice payments. Customers can also pay invoices in the customer portal.

3 Built-in communication has been expanded to include text messaging. Invoices may now be sent via text message and/or email without the need for costly thirdparty text messaging vendors.

www.marinago.com

QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA

2-DAY CONFERENCE

TRADE EXHIBITION

NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES

Showcasing innovations in new marina and boatyard products and services.

PROGRAM

Sunday 22 May - Welcome reception. Cruise the Broadwater on the superyacht YOT Club

Monday 23rd & Tuesday 24th May - 2-day Conference & Trade Exhibition

Monday 23rd May - Cocktail Reception with Exhibitors

Tuesday 24th May - Gala Dinner

Wednesday 25th May - Technical Tour visiting 3 of Australia's best marina facilities

CONFERENCE

Presentations, panels and workshops

TRADE EXHIBITION NETWORKING

Meet face-to-face with over 30 vendors

Numerous opportunities to network with industry peers

SETTING THE WORLD STANDARD IN MARINA DESIGN

Concept Design & Marina Masterplanning

Feasibility Studies & Market Research

Business Planning

Marina & Waterfront Design

Tender and Project Management

Marine Operations Management

Environmental and Legislative Advice

Property Consultancy Services

Marina Projects has the personnel with the breadth of skills and experience to make a unique and highly valuable contribution to any marina and waterfront project, anywhere in the world.

We provide independent, objective advice to our clients, including private developers, commercial organisations and government bodies. Our range of services covers every possible aspect of marina design and waterfront

development, from concept to operation, and our ability to think successfully through any challenge comes as part of the package.

Whatever the requirements, we will exceed expectations to deliver a world leading solution that considers the needs of our clients and stakeholders at every stage.

us about your next project today.

Marina World - Issue 130 - Mar/Apr 2022

WHAT LIES BELOW

BUILDING BLOCKS

Marina World

Dark times

Custom engineered mooring technology that lasts

WORLD NEWS

Suntex and Westrec merge

Tender out for Corfu megayacht marina

New tourism project of state significance

CLEAN WASTEWATER DISPOSAL

Allied buys Lake marinas

Gosport upgrade approved

Aquavista adds 11 marinas

18 MAJOR ACTIVE PROJECTS IN NEW ZEALAND IN 2021

Ortega Landing changes hands

Fast Track process for first Maori marina

AMI Expo –reuniting the industry

Partnership promotes watersports

PROVIDING BOAT LIFTS AND DOCK SOLUTIONS

Green light for Bembridge development

Regeneration contract for Cannes Old Port

Top attendance expected for Marinas22

MMS, OCP and IGY to develop new Spanish marina

NEWS FOCUS

FIRST PORT OF CALL FOR MARINA PROFESSIONALS

DRYSTACK SYSTEMS

An elevated experience for Fort Lauderdale

SPONSORED FEATURE: CAPRIA

Semi-automation boosts drystack profits

Why Capria?

All-round savings

SPONSORED FEATURE:

Safe and versatile

Quality that counts

DRYSTACK SYSTEMS

Drystack to the next level

DRYSTACK SYSTEMS

DRYSTACK SYSTEMS

FLOATING SOLUTIONS FOR MARINAS AND DOCKS

DRYSTACK SYSTEMS

First eBull to be in operation this summer

Suntex buys prime Keys drystack

Legendary expands to Gulf Shores

PLANNING & DESIGN

Redeveloping a prime lakeside marina

REGIONAL UPDATE: THE BALKANS

Promising developments in southern Europe

REGIONAL UPDATE: THE BALKANS

Supermarinas for Adriatic coast

REGIONAL UPDATE: THE BALKANS

PROJECT FOCUS

New fuel dock for superyacht marina

BOATSHARE & CHARTER

FlexiSail fleet moves into Hamble Point

Tracking, supporting and protecting the fleet

Premier Agapi Club expands

BOATSHARE & CHARTER

Share, socialise and save with Freedom Boat Club

The sharing economy

BOATSHARE & CHARTER

Unique offerings

Remote monitoring

PONTOONS & BREAKWATERS

Upbeat mood leads to flurry of projects

Bluetooth control for lifts and covers

PRODUCTS, SERVICES & PEOPLE

Marine grade floodlighting

PRODUCTS, SERVICES & PEOPLE

FRP gangway offers longevity and economy

Anchor Management joins Marinetek

PRODUCTS, SERVICES & PEOPLE

Fuel dock fender

Alex Kavanaugh

PRODUCTS, SERVICES & PEOPLE

Grant awarded to fund pontoon innovations

Boater app enjoys record year

ICOMIA policy paper on marina taxation

PRODUCTS, SERVICES &

New improved Muscle Air