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Looking back
We’ve had a particularly vibrant first half of 2024, with significant developments in established marina markets and some exciting announcements in emerging regions.
Suntex topped the news in the USA by announcing a plan to spend a billion dollars on marina acquisitions – just weeks after its merger with Almar Marinas. IGY announced its intention to build a new marina in Savannah, Georgia; Nine Marina in Eufala, Oklahoma completed a significant upgrade; and Gulf Harbour Yacht and Country Club in Fort Myers, Florida finished a rebuild after devastation caused by Hurricane Ian. In this issue, we report on a newbuild landmark marina on the Delaware River in northeast Philadelphia (p.7) and the hotel and marina plans for Jacksonville Shipyards in Jacksonville, Florida (p.9).
In Europe, ACI Marinas, the national marina chain in Croatia, celebrated 40 years, and in the UK, privately-owned MDL Marinas marked 50 years by committing to a £7 million spend on its network. Premier Marinas, UK, bought Trafalgar Wharf, Europe’s largest covered drystack, and D-Marin partnered with Vlora Marina with a view to creating the first world-class marina in Albania. Bids opened for the development of Cagliari in Sardinia, and construction began on Livorno Marina, Italy, and a new large boat basin at Vilamoura Marina, Portugal. Redevelopment of Windermere Marina Village in England completed, but plans to redevelop Larnaca Marina in Cyprus were put on hold. A1 Trade Consortium won the bid to develop Argostoli Marina in Kefalonia, Greece (p.11).
Neom dominated the news in Saudi Arabia – unveiling plans for Norlana, a 120-berth hub for superyachts; Aquellum; and Jaumur (p.9). The Saudi Red Sea Authority, meanwhile, issued its first three licences to operators of tourist marinas. Elsewhere in the Middle East/Africa region, Saadiyat Marina & Ferry Terminal and Rabdan Marina were inaugurated in Abu Dhabi and the ambitious build of Bahrain Marina in Bahrain moved forward – ahead of schedule. The Abu Dhabi Development Holding Company signed a direct investment deal to build Ras Al-Hekma, a massive new city on Egypt’s northern coast, complete with a large marina. And a waterfront master plan was announced in Oman for a development in central Muscat. A marina will be the cornerstone of the project.
Asia Pacific highlights include the Queensland Government’s call for bids for a marina on The Spit and further expansion at Mulpha Sanctuary Cove Marina (p.11). The North West Marina extension in Waikawa opened in New Zealand, and Hopper Developments put in an application last month for a potential marina at Hobbs Bay near Auckland. The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority announced a marine tourism master plan in April that includes plans to develop small boat launch facilities and promote marina development.
Carol Fulford Editor
News highlights source: Marina World and Mooring Post
STRONG · SAFE · SUSTAINABLE SEAFLEX
Landmark marina plans on Delaware River
USA: One River Development, a venture owned by Rodan Enterprises and its founders Dana and Ron Russikoff (former owners of the SureShade retractable sunshade product line for boats), are to develop a new marina on the Delaware River in northeast Philadelphia.
One River Marina will be the City’s first new marina development project in decades and will include an entertainment complex within its six-acre (2.4-ha) waterfront site. Upon completion, the marina will have over 200 wet slips, drystack storage, a swimming pool and various restaurant concepts, and will offer a home to the historic Quaker City Yacht Club.
Situated just north of the TaconyPalmyra Bridge, the marina has an enviably central location between existing waterfront destinations like Penn’s Landing to the south and Bristol Wharf to the north, making it a perfect stop-over point. It will also unlock a wave of local economic development.
“This is a project years in the making and a solid new chapter in the ongoing activation and transformation of our
beautiful Delaware River waterfront,” says Dana Russikoff. “Not only will One River Marina be an amenity the entire community can enjoy, but also a worldclass destination for boaters looking for new experiences outside the Jersey Shore and the Chesapeake.”
One River Development is currently in the process of raising public funds and private capital for the project, which is located in a qualified federal opportunity zone (QOZ) making it an attractive asset class for investment. Development will be carried out in several phases, with the first comprising construction of a new bulwark, docks, slips, fuel dock and boat storage. Completion of this phase is expected by spring 2026 – just in time for Philadelphia’s celebration of America’s 250th anniversary.
Investment boosts Ayla tourism offering
JORDAN: The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Capital Bank of Jordan (CBoJ) are supporting sustainable tourism in Jordan by providing an US$81 million financing package for the development of Ayla Marina Village, which is part of the Ayla Oasis regeneration plan.
The marina village attracts around one million visitors annually, with significant growth expected following the new investments. Currently, Ayla supports over 1,300 jobs, and the expansion is projected to create
an additional 300 employment opportunities largely via the build of a 76-room hotel.
Sahl Dudin, managing director of Ayla Oasis Development Company, commented: “We are pleased to expand our partnership with international banks, reflecting their confidence in Ayla and Aqaba’s commitment to sustainability and good governance. This significant investment supports our vision for sustainable tourism and development in Jordan.”
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Skippers and landlubbers alike are clear about one thing: water is precious. Whether due to legal requirements or on their own initiative, more and more port operators also feel obliged to offer a professional disposal station for waste water and bilge water. With its powerful and robust rotary lobe pump the PierPump from Vogelsang comes at just the right time for all of them. It is easy to install and can be used by boat operators at the touch of a button. Emptying the tank takes just a few minutes and the waste water is discharged directly into the port‘s waste water system.
More information at: vogelsang.info/int/pierpump-2024
Four Seasons invests in Jacksonville plans
USA: The Jacksonville Shipyards development on St Johns River in Jacksonville, Florida, an ambitious City project to turn disused industrial space into a thriving waterfront community, is to include a Four Seasons hotel. Four Seasons is partnering with Shahid Khan (via Iguana Investments Florida) to build the new hotel and private residences.
Phase one of the City’s plan includes building a six-storey office building, revamping its full-service marina, revitalising Metropolitan Park, and adding a multi-function marina services building and public park. Hotel guests, residents and locals will all have access to the redeveloped marina.
Anticipated to open in 2026, Four Seasons Jacksonville will offer 170 rooms, 26 private residences, pools and dining options including a signature rooftop restaurant and bar.
Phase two of the project will include a five-acre (two-ha) mixeduse development which may include a medical facility as well as retail, residential, car parking and green space.
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Highlights from June/July
• USA: Management change at Sunrise Harbor Marina
• CYPRUS: Larnaca Marina on hold
• SAUDI ARABIA: SRSA issues first marina licences
• UK: Windermere Marina project completes
• NEW ZEALAND: Hobbs Bay marina proposed
• MONACO: Landmark race for electric boats
• MADAGASCAR: Maritime MoU signed with Abu Dhabi group
• BAHRAIN: Marina project ahead of schedule
Marina stars in latest Neom release
SAUDI ARABIA: Jaumur, the largest luxury community envisaged for the ambitious Neom project in northwest Saudi Arabia, was announced in May.
Master planned around a marina and offering homes for over 6,000 residents, Jaumur will have 500 marina apartments and nearly 700 luxury villas, boasting waterfront access and private mooring. There will also be two distinctive destination hotels.
As the focal point of the development, the marina will be iconic. A monumental 1.5km (1mi) long aerofoil-shaped sculptural structure will rise above the largest yacht berths, providing year-
round protection for yacht owners and a haven for residents and guests. The aerofoil incorporates a gravity-defying cantilever to form a stunning entrance to the marina, welcoming the world’s largest superyachts.
The marina promenade will host entertainment, leisure and cultural experiences, with year-round arts events and performance programmes, complemented by signature retail stores and world-class dining options.
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J-Pier go-ahead for Sanctuary
AUSTRALIA: Sanctuary Cove Marina on the Gold Coast has started the next stage of its expansion to cater for local and international demand for berths, particularly for superyachts, in the lead up to the Brisbane Olympics in 2032.
Development of J Pier will see the addition of 25 new berths in the northern section of the marina basin (ten at 30m/98ft and 15 at 18m/59ft) and 18 jet ski docks. Superior Jetties won the build contract and expects to
complete later this year. The new pier will be showcased at the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show in May 2025.
Sanctuary Cove Marina forms part of Mulpha’s broader investment in
WORLD NEWS
the Sanctuary Cove resort, marina village, country club and residential estate. Mulpha CEO, Greg Shaw, says: “Providing our yachting clients with great marina facilities and direct access to world class retail, 5-star hotel, fitness, golf and leisure facilities has been a winning formula.”
“Occupancy rates across the Gold Coast remain high and we are seeing increasing demand for larger boats as evidenced at the recent Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show,” he adds. “Strong sales by our exhibitors at recent boat shows also mean that there will be ongoing arrival of newly manufactured larger vessels over the coming years. As we rapidly approach the 2032 Olympics, we anticipate that demand, particularly for larger yachts, will continue to build.”
Steve Sammes, general manager of Mulpha Sanctuary Cove Marina, adds: “Southeast Queensland’s Gold Coast is now globally recognised as Australia’s major marine industry hub and cruising destination for superyachts. Once J Pier is complete, we will have 63 berths for superyachts across the marina.”
Pier C was completed at the end of 2022, with 31 berths from 18 to 25m (59 to 82ft) and, according to Sammes, is currently fully occupied with permanent customers. The proposed 30m (98ft) berths will also cater for vessels transiting south from Asia and up and down the Australian coast, and heading for the Gold Coast Marine Precinct for refit and maintenance.
A1 plans for superyacht marina
GREECE: The board of directors of HRADF, a member company of Growthfund – the National Fund of Greece – has accepted an improved offer from A1 Yacht Trade Consortium for the development of Argostoli Marina in Kefalonia.
The consortium will hold the concession for at least 40 years and plans to spend over €30 million on upgrading and maintaining existing infrastructure. Ninety berths are planned, with a range of superyacht berths for vessels up to 100m (330ft) in the mix.
A1 Trade Consortium has great experience in the nautical sector and looks to build a model marina that is totally integrated with the local community and respectful of Kefalonia’s natural resources.
Renewal works will start in the fourth quarter of this year and take approximately three years.
DRY STORAGE
Patterson Lakes: pioneering Australian automated technology
The largest marina in the Australian state of Victoria, Patterson Lakes Marina in Melbourne has taken receipt of the country’s first automated stacker crane – a five tonne JDN Monocrane with 3m (10ft) reach and 12m (39ft) lift height. Charlotte Niemiec reports
Patterson Lakes Marina is no stranger to new initiatives. The marina’s history dates back to 1913, when Alfred Turner Priestley brought his family to Carrum for a holiday. Five years later, he purchased 170 acres (69ha) of pastoral land north and west of the Patterson River, operating a dairy farm from its northern side. In 1966, the Priestley family established a dry dock marina – the southern hemisphere’s first man-made marina – which they called Whaler’s Cove Marina. In 1988, the farm and marina were sold to make way for the new suburb of Patterson Lakes. The marina was later renamed Patterson Lakes Marina and it remains the largest in Victoria.
Today, it is a full service facility offering both wet berths and drystack storage options. Drystack boat storage
A five-tonne JDN
is becoming a popular and efficient method for storing boats in Australia, says marina managing director Sam Zuchowski.
“Given the premium on waterfront
space in many parts of Australia, drystack storage is an attractive option because it maximises storage capacity within a limited footprint, whilst offering numerous benefits in terms of protection, security and convenience,” Zuchowski adds and, as the boating community continues to grow, demand for efficient and space-saving storage solutions like drystack is expected to rise.
The marina has 250 drystack slots that cater for boats up to 9.2m (30ft), offering all-year-round protection from Melbourne’s temperate oceanic climate renowned for its changeable weather conditions. “Drystack storage is valued for its protection and security as boats are stored out of the water in a covered facility, which can help reduce maintenance costs and protect the vessels from the elements. Our dry dock is an excellent option for boat owners who prioritise these benefits,” Zuchowski says.
Automating the drystack offering
To help improve efficiency at the marina, management chose the automated JDN Monocrane for its reliability, precision and advanced automation features, Zuchowski explains, which make it ideal for efficiently managing boat storage operations. JDN Monocrane is a leading crane designer and manufacturer in Australia, founded in 1979 and offering a “one stop solutions shop” for design, manufacture, installation and service of a full range of standard and specialist lifting solutions.
The automated stacker
Monocrane offers an automated solution in the new drystack.
DRY STORAGE
crane works in tandem with a boat lifter to handle boats being launched and stowed via the waterway in the drystack facility. As it is driverless, the system streamlines the boat launch and stowing process, making it faster and safer.
During the boat launching process, boats are automatically retrieved from their designated slot or rack via a QR code located in the Boat Cloud App and placed on the boat lifter. The boat lift then lowers the vessel into the water.
The Boat Cloud app was designed and developed by Boat Cloud LLC, a company focused on providing marina services software. The app simplifies the scheduling and management of boat launches and retrievals, reducing wait times and improving a marina’s overall efficiency.
Upon return, Patterson Lakes Marina offers a washdown service. After this, to stow a boat, each boat is equipped with a unique QR code, located on the stern. The operator scans the code with the stacker crane’s scanner after it has been placed on the boat lift.
This triggers the automatic stowing sequence, where the crane moves the boat to its designated storage location.
To ensure safety and precision, cameras are mounted on the stacker crane, providing real-time images to the operator. Additionally, advanced positioning devices allow the operator to ensure precise positioning and movement of the crane millimeter by millimeter, further enhancing efficiency and safety.
Wet berths and other facilities
The marina offers secure all-weather wet berths on Bellingham floating docks for boats up to 29m (60ft) in length. All wet berths are fully serviced with 240-volt power pedestals supplied by M Tech Marine Technologies, water and firefighting equipment. “We are continuing to upgrade our wet berths,” Zuchowski notes. Additionally, the marina offers a limited number of jet ski docks.
The marina is securely gated with electronic card-scan access and all main walkways are protected by gate card secured entrances. Additionally,
Patterson Lakes Marina is the largest marina in the Australian state of Victoria, offering wet slip moorings for boats up to 29m (60ft) at Bellingham floating docks, and drystack for 250 vessels up to 9.2m (30ft). Set in a beautiful coastal location, it is well equipped for boat service and charter.
24-hour video security is in place.
A purpose-built marine service centre offers on-site maintenance and repair services, ensuring that owners have convenient access to essential boat care. The centre offers everything from mechanical repairs through to upholstery and antifouling. Its hardstand area can accommodate boats up to 60ft (29m) in length and is serviced by a travel hoist with a lift capacity of 25 tonnes. The hardstand is situated near new, purpose-built factories that offer mechanical services and complete boat maintenance.
A 24-hour fuel dock is located in the Inner Harbour, offering unleaded and diesel fuel.
The Cove hotel offers dining and gaming for guests, and the marina offers a gym, tennis courts, bathroom and toilet facilities.
The gateway to the peninsula Patterson Lakes Marina lies midway between St Kilda and Portsea, with direct access to the popular Port Phillip Bay, making it an ideal spot for boating enthusiasts. It is known locally as the gateway to bustling waterways and the peninsula, via its access to Patterson River. Its proximity to the city of Melbourne – around a 35 minute drive – also makes it a convenient escape for city dwellers looking for recreational boat opportunities, or for incoming yacht owners to visit the city.
“Several charter companies operate from Patterson Lakes Marina,” Zuchowski says, making it an ideal destination for those looking to experience the water without the commitment of boat ownership.
Patterson Lakes Marina itself is set in a picturesque location with beautiful surroundings, providing a pleasant and relaxing atmosphere for boat owners and visitors. The marina’s wellmaintained grounds and waterfront views add to its charm and appeal.
The area abounds with native Australian flora and fauna, including skinks, tree dragons, snakes and the shy duck-billed platypus, and is particularly prized for its birds and fish.
DRY STORAGE
Vintage drystack is now history
Technology has been promoted to saturation point with regard to drystack automation. Some 15 years ago, the concept then known as Vertical Yachts was received with awe by prospective clients acquiring a condo + boat in Fort Lauderdale. But the system, and those that followed, did not captivate the users as expected. Oscar Siches reports
In 2008, Hamilton Harbour Yacht Club was raised from the shores of Naples Bay, Florida and revolutionised the drystack system. Hamilton was not just one more drystack, but a concrete-built drystack, resistant to Cat 5 hurricanes, which are scary local phenomena.
GCM from Fort Myers, the builder of this drystack, used the tilt-up technique: slabs for every wall, cell and level are created flat on the ground and afterwards lifted into position by crane and fixed together. This technique avoids the need to completely surround the building with scaffolding and requires just a small ground surface area for the work set-up. As Hamilton Harbour proved to be a successful operation, GCM realised that with an automated crane to move the boats, the centre aisle width (needed for forklift manoeuvring) could be significantly narrower, reducing the footprint of the building and either reducing the cost of the plot or freeing land up for commercial and hospitality use.
Drystack became very popular in the USA due to its practical advantages when, in the 1960s, the number of boats sold started to exceed the number of berths available. It was a bold move, but if we consider that people were moving from single homes to residential condos at the time, why not adopt a similar principle in the booming nautical industry?
GCM owner, Robert Brown, went hunting for what he considered to be the ideal machinery (crane) to handle the boats. After finding and discarding existing maritime equipment, he found
LTW, an Austrian manufacturer of all types of containers moving equipment in all temperatures, humidity and corrosion-prone conditions. Drystacks are usually at the shoreside, they are humid and suffer salty air from the sea. Most boaters are aware (more or less) of this exposure. But let’s consider a few other aspects that are not so obvious.
But typical drystacks had a few downsides. They were ugly sheds spoiling the natural beauty of a shoreside. Most of them were run by forklifts, generating loud noise from their engines and hydraulics, and dripping the inevitable lube and hydraulic oil in the aisle and launching/lifting platform. The exhaust gases (not called emissions then) were there, but we were not conscious of the damage being done. In a way, the 1960s ended the old-style industrial revolution; bigger, taller and more powerful was still better – and nothing to worry about.
I apologise if I am distracting you with tales from the past, but I truly believe history has always influenced modern issues. History helps us to be better prepared to understand and deal with the present! And that’s what Robert Brown did. He visited old facilities, talked to operators, witnessed operations, and conceived ideas for his new, super-efficient drystack. A few years later, he found an old facility whose operator was willing to take a big step towards modernity, and the new Gulf Star ASAR drystack was born.
The old shed was removed, the workshop was set, and the concrete slabs were cast and assembled. There were a few glitches with bureaucracy, and COVID didn’t help. Still, the drystack grew steadily, and with a friendly exterior aesthetic, as a community location with windows and decorative details matching the
Gulf Star, the pioneering ASAR marina, has generous add-on space for a popular restaurant.
ASAR founder and CEO Robert Brown (centre) with his sons Max Brown (left), vice president, and David Brown (right), business development, inside the Gulf Star Marina drystack building.
surrounding architectural style.
The choice of LTW crane technology included an independent, electric propulsion cart to fetch and deliver the boats to their appointed place in the building instead of the fixed forks of forklifts and column lifts. As unimportant as it sounds, the cart system allows for fundamental advantages: it allows the storage of boats in line on each building slot, increasing capacity by 30% to 50% within the same footprint, and allows the storage of large boats at the highest levels, incrementing the occupation per surface rate for prime rate boats.
Efficiency comes hand in hand with safety and reduced running costs. We know that in the unfortunate case of a fire starting, heat sensors will trigger an array of inert foam generators and will fill the whole volume of the drystack in 10 to 15 minutes, depending on the facility size. Operators can now rest easier. They can also save energy as, due to the very low electricity consumption, the facility can be run on solar panels. It can also be partially built underground to respect local building codes.
The system can be fully automatic, semi-automatic or fully manual to allow for storage stages, including services (hull cleaning and washing, polishing and repairs). It also has a self-learning capability, creating each boat’s usage expectation, be that seasonal, all-yearround, or just weekends, and making the most efficient distribution of each boat in the slots accordingly. This is the same principle supermarkets use when bringing forward Christmas decorations, Thanksgiving turkey and dressings
Drystack design concepts, as can be seen in this CGI, can be multi-use and incorporate extensive architectural detailing.
in October, or hearts and chocolates before Valentine’s. It is a priority-byuse protocol and very efficient in most cases. The most used, busiest boats get the prime position.
The building exterior offers benefits, too. The rooftop can feature a large pool with a bar or restaurant. Light structures can be built alone or combined with part of the internal building volume right down to the ground perimeter to house restaurants and cafés, convenience stores, chandleries, clothing outlets, offices – anything that the imagination and the market indicates. Community services like children’s playgrounds, and space for introductory nautical courses and training for future drystack operators can create a community-minded facility and not just a boat park.
The shoreside not only provides visitors with pleasant, natural landscapes but also the opportunity
DRY STORAGE
The tilt wall construction method was first used for Hamilton Harbour Yacht Club in 2008, saving space and time, and reducing the need for scaffolding.
to rent small watercraft (canoes, waterboards, etc). The magic lies in providing the local community as well as the boat users with a destination for enjoying the water; a community driven by its enjoyment of the facility.
And in larger drystacks the lower levels can form a condominium project. In this case, the absence of noise and emissions becomes even more important, and the possibilities of increasing the shoreside community services are almost limitless. A destination is born.
To wrap up, we have a system that is hurricane-proof, fire-resistant, silent and community-focused. It optimises use of space, can be powered by solar panels, be fully or semi automated or manually driven, has a very low CO2 footprint and a friendly visual impact. The modern automated drystack results from experience, user preferences, and ASAR’s forward vision and innovation.
DRY STORAGE
Sheltering boats in North Bimini
A new, fully automated drystack marina is to be built in North Bimini, Bahamas as a joint venture between marina management company F3 Marina, developer of the F3 Marina Fort Lauderdale drystack in 2021, and RAV Bahamas Ltd, developer of the Bimini Bay Resort and Marina and Rockwell Island Estates.
Only 48 miles from Florida’s east coast, North Bimini is easily reached by ferry, private boat or plane. Its pristine beaches and reputation as a major game fishing destination has made the Bahamian island popular with visitors from Florida and beyond.
There is currently no drystack storage available on the island and boaters are required to tie up at wet
slips and thus become exposed to inclement weather including hurricanes. This is a significant problem for local boat owners but especially problematic for Floridians as negotiating the Gulf Stream, running north between the US mainland and Bimini, can make for a difficult crossing. The new drystack will give them a safe alternative to keeping their boats on the island, and many
F3 Marina Bimini will be targeted at the high end of the boating market with sophisticated concierge, and racking for boats up to 17m (56ft) in length.
island residents will also welcome the opportunity to store boats in a hurricane-rated facility and out of the elements.
F3 Marina Bimini will offer covered storage for around 128 vessels up to 56ft (17m) in length and targets the high end of the boating market with concierge facilities in a first-class facility that offers transportation to and from the airport. Most slips will be available to rent but a smaller percentage up for sale.
“F3 Marina Bimini will provide boaters with a true luxury experience from the time they arrive on the island,” says F3 Marina president John Matheson. “This will completely change the boating landscape on North Bimini, providing a new level of service and peace of mind for boaters to enjoy.”
To further enhance destination appeal and continue the growth of residential opportunities in North Bimini, the luxury resort brand Banyan Tree Hotel and Residences has also committed to its first Caribbean development in Bimini. The resort is on track to open in early 2025 with a 50suite, 54-residence property.
DRY STORAGE
Collaboration sets groundwork for advanced drystack build
Bon Secour Marina in Alabama, USA, part of the Legendary portfolio of marinas, has been dramatically revitalised with a 507-slot drystack storage facility designed and built by Florida-based Mack David Buildings. The highly anticipated and ambitious project represents a new benchmark in boat storage buildings.
The concept of the drystack storage marina was born out of a need for a more efficient, secure and visually appealing solution for boat storage. Legendary, a premier provider of marine services in the USA and the Bahamas, sought to enhance Bon Secour Marina to accommodate a growing clientele of boat owners. Recognising the potential for drystack to achieve this aim, the company turned to David Coyle, owner of Mack David Buildings, for a functional and durable solution that incorporates several cutting-edge features.
“Mack David Building’s combination of competitive pricing and knowledge of marina operations stands out in this specialised industry,” said Legendary vice president Rodney Chamberlain. “David Coyle can create conceptual graphics very quickly to ensure that I, as the owner, get exactly what I am expecting.”
Coyle brought not just his extensive experience in marina construction, but also his knack for innovation to the table. One of the standout features of the marina is his proprietary no-toolneeded quick-release bolt system for bunker boards. This system allows for easy adjustments and maintenance,
significantly reducing the time and effort required to reconfigure storage spaces to accommodate different boat sizes.
Additionally, the marina includes adjustable ground stands and ‘easyadjust’ racks. These features provide flexibility and convenience for marina operators, allowing them to more efficiently access and manage boats. The adjustable racks and boards can be easily modified using the marina forklift.
The Gulf Shores region is no stranger to extreme weather conditions, making durability a critical factor in the design and construction of the marina. It is, therefore, built to be hurricane-rated, incorporating robust materials and construction techniques that provide enhanced resistance to high winds and storm surges.
The use of high-strength steel frames and reinforced concrete foundations ensures that the marina is not only durable but also provides a safe and secure storage solution. The design also includes strategic drainage systems to manage rainwater and prevent flooding, further enhancing the marina’s resilience.
The successful completion of the marina was the result of a collaborative
The Bon Secour Marina drystack in Alabama has covered storage for over 500 boats and additional outside raised racks.
effort between Coyle and the experts at Legendary. From the initial concept to the final touches, the project was characterised by a shared vision of excellence and innovation. Legendary provided valuable insights into the specific needs of boat owners, ensuring that the design was both practical and attractive. Coyle, meanwhile, focused on translating these requirements into a robust and aesthetically pleasing structure. The result is a marina that not only meets the functional needs of boat storage but also enhances the overall appeal of the site.
Boat owners can now enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing their vessels are stored in a secure, hurricane-rated facility. The ease of access and maintenance provided by the design features further enhances the marina operator’s experience, making it simpler and more convenient to manage boats.
The project also lays out the groundwork for future advancements in the field of marina construction.
“The marina truly is state of the art,” said Jeremy Holcomb CMM, general manager Legendary Marina and Yacht
Quick release ground stands increase efficiency for accessing and managing boats.
DRY STORAGE
Club, Gulf Shores. “The wide drive aisles allow us a clean swing on boats up to 50ft [15m] on a maximum of two points. In addition, the fire suppression design makes moving beams quick work for crew when necessary. The dual bridge design makes for a friendly and safe transition from vehicle to boat. You traverse down a beautiful promenade
and beneath the launch bridges, never walking across the busy forklift pad.”
“In addition to a vast in-water staging area, we also have 30 ground racks for flushing and washing, as well as 70 outside raised racks for staging up to three high. This assembly line from launch, retrieval, staging, wash/flush and back to the vessel’s home, makes
for an incredibly efficient launch and retrieval operation,” he added.
The Mack David/Legendary team effort will be repeated as another creative collaboration is on the horizon for Legendary’s Bluewater Cay Marina in the Bahamas. This is described as the first of its kind for storing 65ft (19.8m) boats weighing 55,000lbs (25,000kg).
Wiggins Lift will design and build a new forklift to handle boats of this size.
“The new Legendary Marina at Blue Water Cay will be the first true dry storage facility in The Bahamas,” claims Rodney Chamberlain. “The Bahamian dry storage market has been ignored for many years, so there is a lot of excitement for us to bring this marina online. The current government recognises the need for this marina and the benefits it brings to local Bahamians, so it has been a real collaborative effort throughout this process.”
The new drystack should be completed by mid-2025 but may edge into the third quarter.
The new drystack has wide drive aisles making manoeuvring of vessels up to 50ft (15m) easier and safer. Design, Manufacture and Installation of Floating Pontoons, Marinas and Fishing Ports. (+34) 986 607 235
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DRY STORAGE
Perfecting a forklift portfolio
When Marty Flaska set up a forklift workshop in his garage in Chicago in 1980, it was the start of an entrepreneurial success story. Joined by his brother, Mike, both of whom grew up helping their father in a small forklift repair shop, the co-owners have steadily built Forklift Exchange over more than 40 years to become an enterprise with multiple locations and international reach.
One of the largest material-handling machinery wholesalers in the USA, Forklift Exchange specialises in new and used equipment for a range of industries including marine. The company truly shines in the marina drystack sector, where it is claimed to be the leading new and used equipment, service and parts provider for marina forklifts in North America.
There have been many journey highlights. For example, Marty Flaska purchased manufacturing rights from Silent Hoist & Crane in 1994 for a brand renamed as Hoist Liftruck, and renamed as Hoist Material Handling when it was subsequently sold to Toyota in 2019.
For new marina forklift sales, Forklift Exchange retains its connection with the Hoist range as an authorised dealer, servicer and parts supplier for the Neptune, and has also partnered with
The Forklift Exchange midwest storage, service and refurbishing warehouse is located in Bedford Park, Illinois. It is equipped with service cranes up to 100 tons.
Most recently, through its partnership with Marina Truck Sales, the company has added Ascom and ABI Trailers brands to offer even more product options and flexibility for its marina customers. All of the new offerings combine with an extensive selection of refurbished used marina trucks, enabling Forklift Exchange to offer an unparalleled product selection of top marina foklifts.
The Flaska family has forklifts in its blood. Founder, Marty, and co-owner Mike, are joined by two younger generations of family members: Vincent (Vince) who is president; Maxx and Luke, joint principals; and Jason, national account manager. Marina World speaks to Luke Flaska:
Q: Is your portfolio of products complete or do you have plans for even further expansion?
A: We are always looking for new growth opportunities that complement our valued partners and pre-existing product line-up. Our goal is and always will be to serve and meet the needs of our customers to an industry-leading standard. Just like any industry, customer expectations and demands will continue to shift and evolve with time, our portfolio is no different. One thing that will always remain
Marina Truck Sales to offer new Wiggins marina trucks, service and parts.
Workshop space at Bedford Park is used by staff specialising in parts, paint, fabrication and technical services.
Luke Flaska: “We have the capacity to expand globally and we are eager to do so once we feel the market has grown enough abroad.”
steadfast however is the partnerships we have with our current partners. We believe strongly that a partnership is not temporary, but rather a life-long agreement to work together through thick and thin.
Q: What market reach do you have beyond the USA?
A: Wherever there is a booming marina industry, we want our trucks and service there. Currently, we have great customer relationships in North, Central and South America, along with Europe and Australia. We have the capacity to expand globally and are eager to do so once we feel the market has grown enough abroad.
Q: Supporting a large range of machinery from different brands in terms of after sales service and parts supply is an enterprise in itself. How is this arranged?
A: It is certainly a feat to support these massive machines in numerous locations across the world, but we’ve developed an outstanding team of committed and hardworking people who share the same goal. Every division within our organisation has motivated individuals who know how to support our customers and solve problems. This is the first step. The second step is hands-on experience, and thankfully we have more than virtually any other service provider after nearly 25 years of high-capacity forklift manufacturing experience by owning and operating Hoist Liftruck.
We engineered, manufactured, and serviced the first iterations of the Hoist Neptune, so it makes sense why our customers have so much trust in us to properly maintain the operations and lifespan of their machines. In terms of organisation, we have a division of Forklift Exchange dedicated solely to scheduling service calls for our technicians so we can maximise the amount of high-quality service work per day.
Over half of the team at our company consists of either shop or road technicians, and this is reflected directly in the quality of work we perform. We worked hard to get a talented team of high-quality individuals, and we are constantly searching to add more members to our team who meet our high standards. We also have a supply chain team that dedicates its time to parts sourcing and sales so our customers can always get what they need in a timely manner.
Q: What challenges are you experiencing now and foresee for the future as yard machinery ‘goes electric’? Is there much demand at the moment for electric or hybrid machinery?
A: As a company that always prepares for the future and industry trends, we have not seen significant demand yet from customers for electric marina lifts for what we believe to be two primary reasons.
First, there simply is not a robust infrastructure to support these machines from both OEMs and the charging infrastructure. Although there certainly are electric marina lifts manufactured each year, it remains a small percentage of overall new truck production.
Second, it is difficult for marinas to rely on electric machines due to cycle times, the weight of the machines, and significant hydraulic demands. When a diesel forklift gets low on fuel, you take a few minutes to refuel and you’re back up and operating. The same cannot
DRY STORAGE
be said for electric forklifts which are worked non-stop throughout the day and cannot afford to spend 30+ minutes recharging every few hours.
There is some interest growing in the field of hydrogen power, as it functions similarly to diesel in regard to long run times and quick refuelling with the benefits of green energy. This field is still in its proprietary stages, but it’s possible that we see hydrogen forklifts become a prominent industry in the next few years. For now, diesel remains king.
Q: How do you see drystack evolving?
A: As boats get bigger and heavier, drystacks get larger, and marina managers need bigger and heavier forklifts to move their customers’ growing boats. This is a trend that will never go away. The bigger, the better.
Q: There is room in the industry for fully and partly automated systems and traditional forklift operated facilities. What are the benefits of going the forklift route?
A: This is an interesting question. Automation and AI are obviously the hot topics of 2024 across every industry. Especially for the machinery moving and marina space, automation is an interesting concept. Although it may work in some practices, the reality is that it is more affordable to hire a skilled forklift operator and actually more efficient as well than having a slower fully automated boat storage system. Having a skilled forklift operator allows the operator to “feel” the machine and understand when you may be in trouble. Similarly, a skilled operator can actually outperform an automated system because of their ability to troubleshoot and find creative solutions
The newly renovated workshop at the Fort Myers facility is staffed by a team formerly known as Hoist Lift of Florida.
DRY STORAGE
A ten-ton industrial crane, indoor paint booth and full wash pit capabilities are features of the 18,000ft² (1,700m²) facility in Fort Myers, Florida.
to drystack obstacles. In a setting like an Amazon warehouse where you have automated robots moving 50lb boxes of goods worth a few thousand dollars at most, you can afford for machines to make mistakes and damage goods because this system welcomes automated processing. However, in a drystack setting where your cargo can be worth millions, you cannot afford to rely on a robot unless it is absolutely flawless. We are not at that point yet. There may be a place for automation, but it would be on boats that are outside the lifting capabilities of forklifts. When you get above a 60ft [18m] boat, the size of forklift required to pick it up and the aisle space and infrastructure required to support it become unfeasible. Based on our market research, the average boat size in the last 20+ years has increased from 23ft [7m] to 32ft [9.7m]. At this length, a forklift is significantly more efficient. Given the boat counts at marinas and heavy requirements during the season,
there are not enough hours in a day to pick, drop, pull, set, wash, rack and rerack boats with automated machines.
Q: What do you think are the biggest challenges facing existing and would-be drystack operators?
A: We’ve noticed a lot of consolidation across the drystack industry as of late. Smaller mom-and-pop shops have sold their marinas to larger managing corporations that are looking to help grow the marina industry. I wouldn’t
necessarily say this is a challenge as it has pros and cons, however, if you were thinking about opening a marina it is certainly much more difficult now as there’s a significantly higher amount of capital in the industry on the operator side. Additionally, environmental challenges, higher cost of entry, high interest rates, increased level of service expectations from customers, and finding consistent and qualified labour offer challenges as well.
THE PONTOON COMPANY
TALKING SHOP
Continuing the sustainability programme
Located in Abruzzo in central Italy, a region dominated by snow-capped mountains, wild nature, ancient memories and fabulous seas, Marina di Pescara is much loved by the British, Italians and Northern Europeans. Donatella Zucca asked marina director Bruno Santori to talk shop.
With 1,000 berths at a combination of 22 fixed and floating docks and a shipyard with 40 and 100 ton boat hoists, Marina di Pescara has for many years been one of the largest port facilities on the Italian Adriatic. Just 3km (1.8mi) from an international airport and in close proximity to ski slopes, it is a destination within a destination – and the environment is key.
Getting greener
“For us, environmental and sustainability sensitivity are part of a discussion that began at least ten years ago when we were among the first Italian ports to carry out separate waste collection directly on the docks,” Bruno Santori says. “Obviously, we didn’t stop there as
over the years the various boards of directors have always paid attention to environmental issues. One of the most important was the installation of a reverse osmosis water maker in 2018, which transforms sea water into fresh water and is used for irrigation and boat wash purposes. This means we are independent from the public supply and self-sufficient for these things. Water is a resource to be protected.”
The marina’s green mission has
secured it a European Blue Flag since 1990, TYHA 4 Gold Anchor status, and an assured place in the Assonat Porto Sostenibile project.
“Retaining the FEE Blue Flag is a dynamic process,” Santori explains. “It requires doing more every single year and, in 34 years, we’ve put a lot of irons in the fire. For example, we host two Seabin devices, which collect waste from the surface of the water and prevent it falling to the seabed where it would interfere with the ecosystem.”
The marina’s Gold Anchors were awarded in 2012, making Marina di Pescara the only tourist port in Italy at the time with such an accolade. Santori says that the path to securing the anchors overlapped with actions taken to secure the Blue Flag but that the main focus for the Gold Anchors was on management. “It rewards the services, the level of professionalism in the port, the safety equipment and so on, but from a very market-oriented perspective.”
The Porto Sostenibile accreditation, run by the Italian trade association Assonat, is also important as it measures performance in environmental, social and economic areas as well as financial status and digitalisation. The model was implemented via a pilot project of 12 marinas, one of which was Marina di Pescara, and now issues ethical sustainability statements. “This is an important step,” Santori insists,” as it helps us understand what is right, wrong or in need of improvement and is a label of guarantee for external stakeholders. It’s a passport for managerial and environmental correctness for customers and potential suppliers, and it’s also useful in the concession procedures.”
Owned 100% by the Chieti-Pescara Chamber of Commerce, the marina has
Bruno Santori
Above & right: Marina di Pescara, one of the largest port facilities on the Italian coast, is popular with locals, nationals and overseas visitors. The site includes an open air theatre for hosting summer events.
TALKING SHOP
The Piazzette is the most visited part of the site as it hosts a variety of shops and activities, and offers a range of dining options, many of which are highly prized.
been led since 2023 by a new board of directors chaired by Gianni Taucci, all of whom are further committed to increasing performance. New energy-saving electricity and water pedestals were announced last year and other energy efficiencies are on the cards.
“The water interventions I mentioned before also have lower production costs than if we took water from the mains,” Santori notes,” but we’ve also looked at the issue of charging stations. In addition to equipping the marina with systems that can be managed remotely with the necessary digitised features, we’ve reduced the cost of energy and water in the marina by 45%. We no longer have indiscriminate consumption invoiced at a flat rate so we’ve reduced our environmental impact by saving water and electricity consumption, which translates into reduced release of CO2.”
Changing demographics
Marina di Pescara has an enviable turnover, especially as its annual profit
increased in 2022 by €68,229 (turnover €2,805,857) with only 50% berth occupancy. How well did the marina do in 2023 and how is 2024 panning out? “Out of 1,000 places, we have 700 occupied on a long-term basis and an average of 200 to 250 in annual and monthly rentals, depending on the type of contract. What we are witnessing and focusing on is the positive impact of the generational turnover that is happening now. The marina was established in the late 80s and early 90s so the boat owners of these years are now handing over to new generations, which is our insurance for the future.”
Young people, however, use the marina differently. “There was a generation gap in sailing but today young enthusiasts, many of whom started at sailing and dinghy school, are coming back. There was an historic phase between the old and new millennia in which this step was missing for reasons I cannot explain. Among
the new boaters, however, I see a proportional growth of motor compared to sail. The prospects are comforting but, as we only have 11 years left of our current concession, we are trying to increase the number of long-term contracts.”
The board of directors also actively seeks to secure, maintain and increase visitor interest and last year president Gianni Taucci announced a plan to initiate winter season training and education activities for boaters and local residents to complement the summer season programme.
“The new board of directors took office in October and we essentially spent the winter preparing for the 2024 summer season, focusing on a greater relationship with users and making use of the collaboration with Assonautica Pescara-Chieti,” Santori explains. “The Peripheral Assonautica Italiana organisation embraces the entire nautical chain for the promotion and development of the sea economy including pleasure boating and nautical tourism. To extend summer activities into winter, we can also use the covered spaces offered by the Chamber of Commerce – but the summer here is very long!” he adds.
This is just one example of how the Chamber of Commerce influences a marina in which it has a totally vested interest. “It is a 100% shareholder and recognises the marina’s economic value. It therefore has a strong motivation to support and enhance its role. In addition to the marina staff, a real industry revolves around the port as around 200 people pass through the gates daily to work here. Then there is the economy generated and multiplied by the marina activities, such as nautical supplies, clothing, catering, boatbuilding etc., which contributes to making the port one of the top companies in Pescara.”
TALKING SHOP
A hub for visitors
Santori’s aim is for the marina to cover all bases as a departure, arrivals and transit place. “We cannot think of competing with Croatia or other destinations in the eastern Adriatic as here there are no islands, bays or attractive shelters, but our trump card is Pescara as a city,” he says.
“Boat owners from anywhere in Europe can reach their boat five minutes from the airport after a few hours of flight time. This is very important and is demonstrated by the growth of foreigners from Great Britain, Germany and even Scandinavia as permanent residents. English dominates in terms of foreign languages spoken and has always been used most in the nautical world, and the British are crazy about Abruzzo. We’ve also seen a significant influx of yachtsmen from Poland.”
As the marina is just a five minute drive from the airport, boat owners from anywhere in Europe can reach their boat swiftly after a few hours of flight time.
Visitors can enjoy the wild natural mountainous terrain although more could be done to promote the location.
“It could have a much greater impact if an integrated tourist marketing strategy was implemented. In some ways, Abruzzo is still an unexplored region and, in my opinion, there are still enormous margins to be exploited. We are trying here. For example, we are consolidating a network among the other regional tourist destinations in order to create a single interlocutor in the region, a main player for promoting tourism.”
“There are many places to visit, such as the first medieval villages – little known gems – just 3km (1.8mi) away, and the Maiella foothills a few kilometres further on, dotted with hermitages, monasteries and natural beauty spots. The wild component takes over towards the regional capital L’Aquila, which has several medieval and renaissance masterpieces.”
While much is available to explore locally and regionally, the marina itself has its lure. “The most visited place is the shopping centre – or rather the part of the Piazzetta that hosts various activities and dining options. Some of these are quite renowned, and it’s the place to be for all summer events, as a meeting point for visitors and for the citizens of Pescara.”
FLOATING SOLUTIONS
Building ‘tomorrow’s ’ floating structures
With a legacy spanning over three decades, Golden Marine Systems and Golden Manufacturing are not only firmly established as premier manufacturers of floating dock systems but well versed in seamlessly integrating various structures into their projects. Michael Shanley, president of Golden Marine Systems, spearheads this endeavour using his insight on the critical importance of meticulous planning and comprehensive understanding right from project inception.
Shanley asserts that the foundation of a successful project lies in the adept handling of initial information. A thorough comprehension of crucial details, such as weight distribution, footprint dimensions, utility requirements, intended structure use and the intricacy of the anchoring
system, lays the groundwork for a seamless transition into the design and engineering phase. Armed with such vital data, the design team can navigate through the complexities with greater ease and precision, ensuring adherence to the requisite design criteria.
A project for MarineMax in Pensacola, Florida required meticulous detailing to assess the impact of vessels docking on a floating structure.
The realm of essential information extends far beyond technical specifications alone, he notes.
Site-specific factors wield considerable influence over the project’s trajectory. Considerations such as water levels, prevailing wind and wave conditions, and exposure to long fetches emerge as indispensable elements in the planning phase. Furthermore, a meticulous assessment of vessel dimensions and operational requirements, such as fuel or other dockside services, is imperative when accounting for the impact of vessels docking onto a floating structure as showcased in the company’s MarineMax project in Pensacola.
Design and construction of floating structures must be tailored to meet precise yet diverse needs, e.g. solutions for fuel docks that incorporate auxiliary structures designed to accommodate boating supplies and provide office space for marina personnel.
In an evolving landscape, floating structures are witnessing a surge in popularity, particularly in the burgeoning floating home sector. Shanley attests to the growing demand from clients intrigued by the prospect of floating homes, which necessitates a holistic approach encompassing both floating dock systems and boat lifts.
FLOATING SOLUTIONS
Creative solutions for challenging projects
A floating infinity pool at the Mandarin Oriental Lago di Como hotel in Italy, completed in April 2023, was technically challenging in design and implementation but at the same time one of the most interesting projects undertaken to date by Finnish floating solutions specialist Bluet. Marina World explores this project and discusses floating projects in general with Bluet CEO Tytti Sirola.
The Mandarin Oriental Lago di Como project with pool and spacious sundeck was commissioned by the luxury hotel group Mandarin Oriental and, thanks to Bluet, succeeds in realising the architects’ vision of a stable aquatic oasis that blends seamlessly with the lake view. It is believed to be the world’s largest floating infinity pool.
Narrow-edge infinity pools create an illusion of water with no boundary and because they are filled to the brim to maintain the illusion, the edge has to be level within fractions of a millimetre.
“Our initial reaction was that this is an impossible task. An infinity pool 40m [131ft] long on a floating platform, required to stay virtually fixed in place
in restless waters, and next to a busy boating lane? It’s like trying to create an infinity edge along the entire length of a boat,” said Bluet technical director Kimmo Saharinen.
As no one in the world has previously built a free-floating infinity pool of such scope, there was no precedent with which to work. Stability was the key point of concern and, for example, wave buoys were used to collect data on the wave conditions in the area to help build a 1:10 scale model of the pool assembly with sundeck. The model was then tested at the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland laboratory in Otaniemi, Espoo by simulating Lake Como’s wave conditions in a wave generator.
The project took over two years to complete, met with a tranche of technical challenges that required creative solutions, and resulted in Bluet deviating from its norm of basing a floating pool on a barge structure (like a ship’s hull) and building the Lake Como pool on a catamaran structure.
Eliminating lateral and vertical movement on the sun deck moorings was particularly tricky – even the possibility of earthquakes had to be considered. Bluet eventually adopted a hybrid solution of existing underwater structures in combination with a 20m (66ft) damped armed mooring system designed by Bluet, which is typically used for houseboats.
The stability of the pool assembly was improved with heavy-duty corner weights, with each corner featuring four 1,000kg damping plates to help the structure keep its balance. Maintaining the infinity effect caused headaches for the Bluet team before they artificially increased the volume of water spilling over the edge by boosting the pumping to about three times that of a regular infinity pool.
Bluet’s early involvement at the conceptual stage of the project was a key element in its success. Throughout the whole process the company worked together with the Mandarin Oriental project team and world-leading architects Herzog & de Meuron, notable designers of icons such as the Beijing Olympic stadium and the Tate Modern gallery in London.
Above & left: An infinity pool and sundeck, designed and built by Bluet for the Mandarin Oriental Lago di Como hotel in Italy, blends seamlessly with the lake.
Talking to Tytti Sirola
Q: Was this the most challenging floating project Bluet has completed?
A: The Lake Como floating pool had many complex angles but challenges were truly found right at the beginning of our years of operation, ranging from the Allas Sea Pool in Helsinki to a private house in Sweden. This was because at that time we didn’t have the experience we have now, and the team was as yet not so well grounded together. We also had to improvise a lot as the schedule demands were very tight, and several things were done “for the first time”. We are proud of each and every project and can truly say that we are well experienced and prepared nowadays for whatever comes up when floating construction is being evaluated.
Q: Are floating structures suitable for coastal locations or are they better suited to more protected inland sites?
A: Floating structures are suitable for sheltered protected locations as they do not withstand the harsh conditions of the open sea and require either natural or man-made protection from wind and waves, for example, location in the bay, or protection with the help of either floating or fixed breakwaters. Marinas are considered to be one of the perfect locations for floating construction as they are typically located in calmer areas and they have a ready-built infrastructure, such as parking places, electricity, sewage and water. Also, the site conditions have been studied, so the design and analysing process doesn’t have to start from scratch.
Q: What anchoring systems are used?
A: Depending on location depth, waves and other site conditions defined after the water site study, floating solutions can be anchored by using traditional methods, such as chain or pile anchoring, as well as a combination of chain and rope anchoring, or technologies like Seaflex or Bluet arm mooring system, customised for the specific forces at
Bluet has overall project supervision responsibility for a marina development with floating houses at Verkkosaari in Finland. The project will be built in phases, starting with the marina in spring 2025. Image/design © Bluet Oy.
Tytti Sirola
FLOATING SOLUTIONS
each location. The selected anchoring method is not only based on the combination of site conditions and structural technical requirements but also cost-effectiveness and ease of transportation, as well as the need and frequency for the solution to be moved or towed if applicable.
Q: How durable are the materials involved, including the floatation modules, and do floating solutions require more maintenance than landbased structures?
A: Bluet is not restricted to one structure and material type but uses several different options as floating projects need to be designed projectspecific. Climate conditions at the water site need to be taken into account, as well as project needs, project type, end-use, local rules and regulations, and budget. We use concrete, steel, aluminium, plastic or a combination of these in our floatation modules, modularity being the key aspect for project customisation. Floating solutions do not require more maintenance than land-based structures. For example, floating pools require daily, weekly, monthly and annual maintenance and inspections much as a land-based unit, and Bluet provides a full maintenance manual and instructions, with local team training as part of our lifetime services. In harsher climate conditions we recommend annual anchoring checks after winter for example. Proper maintenance extends durability. Floating solutions
usually have a design lifetime of 50 years and are delivered with a normal two-year warranty period, which can be extended with maintenance contracts.
Q: You have many other interesting projects underway and recently completed including floating houses at Verkkosaari and a marina development in Jyväskylä. Can you give an update on these?
A: The Verkkosaari project is progressing although the schedule has been adjusted. The City has completed the landside infrastructure which we’ve been waiting for for several years. During this summer we will finalise the building application permit. The showroom will be built in the autumn, i.e. October/November before the ice sets in. Our target is to start producing marina pontoons during winter 2024/2025. The marina will then be built next spring (2025). We will have the breakwater ready before building infrastructure for the floating houses.
19 of 30 apartments are already initially reserved. Straight after the building permit is approved by the authorities we will start finalising the contract and officially start sales. The project is a collaboration between Bluet, the pontoon manufacturer, the house builder and general contractor. We have overall project supervision responsibility.
The first house buyers have priority on buying a berth in the marina and use of the clubhouse if they wish. There is a separate investor for the housing area and another investor/operator for the marina.
The project will be built in phases starting with the marina, and the houses will be split into three plots and built consecutively.
Lutakko Marina in Jyväskylä has been finalised, following our design and implementation works. The marina was reorganised to improve its functionality and atmosphere. It was a wellplanned marina facelift where recycling and costeffective aspects were taken into consideration. The plan for activating the marina with floating solutions has been added for the City zoning plan and we look forward to the future when it is time to turn plans into reality.
EVENTS
IBEX 2024: Exploring the biggest issues
The 2024 International Boatbuilders’ Exhibition and Conference (IBEX), North America’s premier technical trade event for the recreational marine industry, will take place at the Tampa Convention Center, Tampa, Florida 1st-3rd October.
Hosting over 700 exhibiting companies and anticipating around 8,000 attendees, IBEX will once again serve as a crucial hub for networking and business development. The Marina & Yard Trade Route (MYTR) will include exhibitors spread throughout all three floors of the exhibit halls. Marina and boatyard operators can curate their MYTR experience via the IBEX website and an on-site show mobile app. This allows them to visit the exhibitors that cater specifically for this part of the marine industry.
“We look forward to welcoming the marine industry once again to Tampa for this year’s show,” says IBEX show director Anne Dunbar. “IBEX is where the industry comes together to do business and learn about the latest technology and techniques. This year we have some new and exciting educational and networking events for visitors and exhibitors, along with our packed exhibit halls, IBEX docks and expanded outdoor demo space.”
Starting up
One of the major new initiatives for 2024 is the Start-Up Pavilion, a joint enterprise launched by IBEX and Yachting Ventures. The space will provide a platform for 12 startups to showcase their cutting-edge technologies and solutions throughout
the three-day event. Following a format that proved successful at Metstrade 2023 in Amsterdam, the new pavilion offers start-ups the opportunity to engage with industry experts, present their products, and participate in a pitching competition judged by a panel of investors.
For marine industry start-ups, participation presents a unique opportunity to gain exposure, access industry networks, and receive valuable feedback from key industry professionals, boat builders and OEMs in the USA. It is a cost-effective way to begin exploring the potential of the US market, while also benefiting from the media coverage and content highlighted by Yachting Ventures.
The Yachting Ventures team will also be working closely with the local tech ecosystem in Tampa to organise a pitching competition where five companies will compete for a chance to secure investment, gain further recognition and propel growth. The Tampa Bay area is a rapidly growing start-up hub that’s been named by Forbes as one of the best emerging tech cities and one of the best places to work in tech.
“We’re excited to launch a dedicated Start-Up Pavilion at IBEX,” comments Yachting Ventures founder Gabriella
Richardson. “Most start-ups we work with see the US market as a big opportunity. Being part of the pavilion will allow them to explore this market and connect with important partners and OEMs.”
First for education
New for 2024, and part of the Education Conference, IBEX will unveil its newly designed Main Stage. The Main Stage will host general sessions and events throughout the show, covering topics such as leadership, workforce, industry research and analysis. Also premiering this year is the new Leadership Track, designed for C-Suite visitors and offering a space for education and discussion about the future of the industry.
TOpICS COvErEd ON ThE MAIN STAGE INCLudE:
pathways to propulsion decarbonisation: Jeff Wasil, NMMA and Patrick Hemp, ICOMIA share some of the technical outcomes of the Pathways to Propulsion Decarbonisation for the Recreational Marine Industry study completed with Ricardo plc.
Marine industry workplace research: The Soundings Trade Only team presents the results of groundbreaking 2024 Marine Industry Workplace research focused on attracting, retaining and developing top tier talent. The research results are followed by an industry panel discussion.
Avoiding contradictions in technology: Today’s durable hulls are built for sustainability; boats are expected to last 40 years or longer. However, with more complex electronic components, how do we as an industry manage the longevity of the boat’s design and build compared with the relatively short lifespan of electric components? A panel discussion considers the lifespan differences in electrical systems, propulsion and vessel design, and what this means for boat repair and maintenance.
visionary leadership – the driving force behind the marine industry’s small and medium sized businesses: A two-hour session exploring the qualities of a visionary leader, including operating with a strong results orientation, being supportive, seeking different perspectives and solving problems effectively. The panel will discuss strategies that reflect company culture and business stage of evolution. register at www.ibexshow.com
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EVENTS
Fourth Monaco Rendezvous focuses on innovation
The Monaco Smart & Sustainable Marina rendezvous for 2024 will take place on 22nd and 23rd September at Yacht Club de Monaco, uniting leading figures from the marina and yachting industries to collaborate and foster an environment dedicated to smart and sustainable marina solutions. under the aegis of Monaco, Capital of Advanced Yachting, the initiative seeks to drive positive change in the marine sector, raise awareness and lead to concrete actions.
Organised by M3-Monaco Marina Management and supported by Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, the two-day gathering will focus on unveiling cutting-edge technologies and innovative strategies for creating marinas that are not only efficient and appealing but also responsible and ethical.
“In a world of perpetual change, marinas stand as crucial anchor points for the maritime industry. Our vision is to create responsible and resilient spaces, where technological innovation and environmental preservation blend harmoniously. By uniting our efforts on a global scale, we can shape a future where marinas are not only economic hubs but also models of sustainable excellence,” says José Marco Casellini, CEO of Monaco Marina Management.
Bernard d’Alessandri, secretary general of Yacht Club de Monaco, adds: “Many owners are deeply concerned
about the future of yachting. This trend can only be sustained if the facilities that host yachts are adapted to support the energy and environmental transition. We have a responsibility to promote initiatives that contribute to greener yachting. A marina is a crucial element in the yachting ecosystem, acting as a micro-city that seamlessly connects and interacts with the land and sea environment.”
A two-stage event
The Smart Marina Awards 2024 form a central focus of the Monaco event and, as in past years, an international jury with experts in many fields will be hard at work. Operational and ‘project’ marinas will present their actions and practices to lower their impact on the environment, and start-ups and scaleups will go through a selection process to demonstrate solutions related to biodiversity regeneration, energy production, waterfront construction,
Attendees at the third Monaco Smart & Sustainable Rendezvous in 2023.
energy optimisation, waste and water management, equipment and marina management categories.
Innovators will be able to participate in the Marina Case Study provided by Flisvos Marina (Greece), Karpaz Gate (North Cyprus) and Marina di Stabia (Italy), and to meet selected marinas and architects before the event through an online networking platform.
Architects come into focus as this year’s call for ideas includes the design of a floating marina in the sensitive Calanque de Sormiou in Marseille, France. Aiming to further preserve the environment, particularly the seagrass in the Mediterranean, without causing upheaval for boaters, the competition encourages the use of innovative materials, functionalities and energy-efficient technologies to promote sustainability and preserve bio-diversity in the marina sector. Marinas, start-ups and scaleups, and architects will go through a selection process throughout the summer. The e-catalogue, referencing 50 start-ups and scale-ups and 20 marinas and architects has been produced throughout June and into July (deadline 22nd July). This will be followed by one-on-one interviews with the jury and consensus meetings.
Connecting and contributing
Around 250 professionals focusing on all aspects of the ecosystem will attend the annual rendezvous. The Master of Ceremony, David Seal, will set the tone for the two-day event with networking sessions, workshops and conferences, focusing this year on the role of banks, architecture and technology in encouraging and benefiting marinas that work to protect the environment and optimise energy and manage resources, while always offering excellent user experiences, high-end facilities and involvement with local communities.
The Monaco Smart & Sustainable Marina Rendezvous will celebrate the winners of each category – Marina, Start-up and Scale-up, and Architect –at the Awards Ceremony.
Further information: smartevents@ monacomarinamanagement.org
EVENTS
Marinas24: big turnout for new venue
The Marinas24 International Conference and Trade Exhibition reaffirmed its place as one of the largest marina industry conferences in the world after welcoming 398 delegates across a two-day event at the royal International Convention Centre (rICC) in Brisbane in May.
Commenting on the new venue, Suzanne Davies, CEO of event organiser Marina Industries Association (MIA), said: “On the back of record attendance at Marinas22 on the Gold Coast two years ago, it was clear we had outgrown a hotel format for this event. The RICC was selected as it provided us with the flexibility to grow the exhibition and the conference while maintaining the intimacy of sole use of venue and, with the numbers that supported this event, it was the right decision.”
The programme, which brought together a fantastic line-up of speakers, was opened by the Hon Michael Healy MP, Queensland Minister for Tourism Industry Development and a strong supporter of the industry. He highlighted the measures in place for future sector growth. An economic forecast and implications for the industry was delivered by Tapas Strickland, NAB director of economics, which set the scene for Andrew Chapman, MIA president, to present the latest Health of the Industry data and Suzanne Davies to discuss how the MIA will support industry growth and success.
Plenty of industry issues and opportunities were explored in the concurrent sessions including insurance, legal implications, lithium, workforce challenges, alternative power sources, yield management and shared boat clubs.
Conference highlights included discussions on the opportunities in the lead up to the 2032 Brisbane Olympics, and an exceptional keynote panel of experts from Dana Point California (Joe Ueberroth), Sanctuary Cove (Greg Shaw) and the green field site North Harbour (Bryan Finney) who shared their success in creating vibrant and profitable marina precincts.
Plenty of time was allocated to enable delegates to visit the 60+ industry exhibitors
Over 60 exhibitors showcased products and services.
Plenty of industry issues and opportunities were explored during a vibrant conference programme.
who showcased the latest products and services.
Several highly relevant industry publications were also launched, including the 2023 Health of the Australian Marina Industry Report. As in past years, Michigan State University in the USA conducted the research and collected data from over 40% of Australia’s marinas. Findings revealed that, in accordance with government supplied models, these 291 marinas contribute over $2.4 billion to the Australian economy.
The MIA also released its Climate Ready Guidance, a free member resource to help marina owners and operators transition to a low carbon economy and build resilience in terms of infrastructure and operations, and Nautilus Marine Insurance, supported by the MIA, launched its guidance material for marinas and boat owners on the Risks and Management of Lithium Batteries.
As always, social events formed a major part of the delegate experience. A Welcome Reception on the forecourt of the RICC was held amongst impressive exhibits from some of the industry’s biggest players. A structured networking Happy Hour was held in the evening on Day 1 and the Bellingham Bar at the conference hotel was the social hub for everyone. The event closed with the Super Jetties Soirée, held at Howard Smith Wharves.
The Marinas24 Study Tour took delegates to Brisbane’s biggest maintenance facilities, The Yard, Brisbane and Rivergate Marina and Shipyard before heading on to d’Albora Eastcoast Marina and Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron.
ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES
Selecting the best charge points
rolec, renowned for being in the vanguard of design and manufacture of outdoor electrical equipment for over three decades, is best known in the marina sector for its huge range of bespoke power pedestals, sanitation and emergency services equipment. Complementing this is a range of Ev charge products, also to be found in marinas, and, more recently, solutions for charging electric boats. The company shares some guidelines for marina operators.
Electric charging systems for both car and boat have been subject to exciting new technology that has improved the overall user experience. High-powered fast DC chargers with the capacity to produce up to 360kW of power direct to a boat are now available. This, paired with advances in battery technology, has revolutionised the boating industry’s capacity to provide green transport.
Charging options
When an operator decides on a charging solution, it is important to understand the key differences between AC and DC charging.
Notably, the main distinction between the two is charging speed. AC charging is, by nature, slower at filling batteries than DC charging. However, the decision on what to choose is more nuanced than just speed.
AC charging, for example, is championed as the more battery-friendly option for electric boat charging due to its gentler
approach to electrification. On average, an AC charger can take eight to ten hours to provide a full charge and, as such, is best suited for overnight charging or for boat owners who are setting out on the water less often or at a much slower pace.
Electric boat charging via the UltraCharge pedestal (left) and the Quantum (below).
This charging system is also the more cost-effective option, both in terms of unit price and electrical usage. The electrical draw of an AC charger is significantly lower than its DC counterpart meaning that charging hardware doesn’t need to be as substantial, saving space and money. Additionally, overnight charging also allows the user to take advantage of favourable electricity tariffs, translating to an overall cost-saving.
DC charging on the other hand is most recognisable for its rapid charge speeds. Comparatively, a DC charge point could provide an 80% charge in as little as 20 minutes, and an average of between 20 and 60 minutes. The benefits for boating rental agencies, larger vessels and more frequent users (such as water taxis) are clear – a reduction in boat downtime. Charge units are also fully configurable, upgradable and scalable to meet marina needs now and in the future.
An AC charger is therefore sufficient for most electric boaters while keener skippers might opt for a combination of AC charging with ad hoc DC rapid topups as a great option.
Think AC for need, and DC for speed.
The right station
After determining whether AC or DC charging is the right fit, other features need to be considered. These include durability, accessibility and aesthetics. For example, the unit needs to be able to withstand daily wear and tear at a waterside location where weather is unpredictable and traffic may be high. For this reason, it is important to look for units manufactured with more durable materials, like aluminium and steel, that are industry tested, and come with a generous warranty and maintenance policy.
It is also important to consider how charging hardware will work within the marina network, both aesthetically and in relation to accessibility. Features, such as built-in LED amenity lighting for example, will not only fit the overall look and feel of the waterside location, but also provide a pivotal function in increasing unit visibility.
WHERE THE GLOBAL LEISURE MARINE INDUSTRY COMES
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The METSTRADE Show is the world’s largest marine equipment trade show and the only truly international B2B exhibition. With excellent networking opportunities, a broad range of showcased innovations and located in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, the METSTRADE Show is an unmissable event for every professional in the marine industry.
ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES
World-first vessel-to-grid project
The Virtual Bunkering for Electric Vessels (VBEV) demonstration leverages the success of the earlier Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition 2 (CMDC2) feasibility study, showcasing how electric vessel batteries can provide energy storage and flexibility services to harbours, ports, and the grid when boats are not in use.
Alex Bamberg, CEO of Aqua superPower explains: “Enhanced energy management will allow sites to better adapt to increasing demands on
An Aqua 75 DC fast charge station. power from electrification of vessels, potentially reduce the grid connection where capacity is limited or costly and integrate more renewables. We are proud to lead this vital project that demonstrates Aqua superPower’s first class marine charging expertise and positions the UK as a vessel-to-grid technology pioneer.”
The VBEV project will demonstrate the opportunity for bi-directional (V2X) infrastructure to utilise marine
batteries to provide energy storage and management services to harbours, ports and the grid, minimising costly grid upgrades, reducing energy bills and increasing renewables integration.
Two vessel OEMs, energy company EDF, the University of Plymouth, City College of Plymouth, the CENEX research centre and bi-directional software provider Fuuse form the project consortium, which is funded under the UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (SHORE) programme and delivered via Innovate UK.
The project introduces software upgrades, communication protocol adoption and innovative charge controllers into electric vessels. This integration enables seamless communication between batteries and bi-directional chargers, laying the foundation for a vessel-to-grid management platform. This platform empowers optimal charge and discharge scheduling, maximising energy efficiency.
VBEV will test two pivotal scenarios: vessel-to-grid, exporting energy to the grid for flexibility and balancing services, and a behind-the-meter solution for enhanced on-site energy management. These scenarios cater to the diverse needs of ports, harbours, vessel operators and grid network operators.
With the electric vessel industry on the rise, this initiative promises a scalable future with benefits ranging
from improved battery health to reduced operational costs and revenue generation. VBEV will produce the first vessels capable of bi-directional power transfer, set a standard for other vessel manufacturers, develop a vessel-to-grid management platform, and provide world-leading research and development of a commercial product for customers.
As the pioneer behind the initiative, the VBEV project positions the UK at the forefront of cutting-edge technology. Beyond technological innovation, this endeavour opens substantial opportunities for UK supply chains and export, putting the nation on the global map of maritime leadership.
Dr Lee Durndell, lecturer in chemistry at the University of Plymouth, sums up: “This project is another important step in the UK’s transition to clean
maritime technologies. There is clear appetite from both vessel and harbour owners to see the sector grow over the coming years, but technical questions remain that need to be answered. One of those is around battery performance and health and this project will begin addressing that, while aligning with the growing commercial interest in clean maritime and how it can be rolled out more widely.”
The VBEV demonstration project is part of Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition Round 4 (CMDC4), funded by UK SHORE and delivered by Innovate UK. The UK SHORE programme is a £206 million initiative focused on developing the technology necessary to decarbonise the UK domestic maritime sector. www.aqua-superpower.com
Aqua superPower is spearheading a groundbreaking world-first initiative to develop a vessel-to-grid system.
Charging up via the Aqua 75 at Hamble Point Marina, UK.
Fast charge demonstration at Ocean Village, UK.
European marinas advance ocean stewardship
TransEurope Marinas has joined a 20-strong partnership to improve land-sea interface observation via the LandSeaLot project, an exciting four-year project to improve the observational capacity of the land-sea interface.
Run in conjunction with universities, research institutions and international research infrastructures, LandSeaLot seeks to address the potential of the land-sea interface to increase biodiversity in coastal regions, whilst promoting carbon sequestration and climate resilience.
A kick-off meeting hosted by Deltares in Delft, Netherlands in March comprised an intensive three-day workshop with encounter sessions, sensor trials and a guided tour of the impressive Deltares research and simulation facilities. Presentations from European agencies, European Commission representatives and policy officers stressed the high levels of expectation for the project’s outcomes, emphasising the importance of building upon the results of previous Horizon Europe projects, and detailing where efforts could contribute to current initiatives, such as the European Digital Twin of the Ocean.
Project rationale
The land-sea interface comprises a complex observational environment due to constant flux stemming from tides and currents, meteorological variability, changing morphology, the mix of freshwater and saline waters, and the presence of pollutants, amongst other factors. Despite significant research being carried out in this often densely populated domain, there are still notable gaps. Examples include where fine scale in situ monitoring can serve to both offset the limitations of satellite data and for validation and calibration.
Further efforts are thus required to integrate the different observing communities and strengthen the observation capacity. Benefits of this work include the means to detect and track pollutants, monitor the flow of carbon, study impacts on local biodiversity and identify harmful
algal blooms that could present a danger to watersports enthusiasts. Implementation is planned to take place across nine living labs, located in major estuaries across Europe.
Best practices for data management have an important role in the project. Scientific research heavily relies on the FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable) to ensure the quality, transparency and reproducibility of research findings. Consequently, FAIR data exchange standards will be created to incorporate citizen science data. LandSeaLot will also progress towards semantic interoperability between the various streams and develop interoperability standards supporting the harmonisation between in situ and satellite observations and citizen science data. To become an open-access resource, data is then prepared for uptake into the European data aggregators
EMODnet, for use by policymakers, researchers and businesses.
TransEurope Marinas’ role
Bridging land and sea, and hosting boaters, nautical tourism activities, residents and marine companies, TransEurope Marinas’ role in the project is related to citizen engagement as a component of a co-designed community strategy, together with in situ observations, remote sensing and computer modelling. Marina communities will receive guidance on the use of smart-value sensors and related resources to facilitate observations of different variables such as sea-level, salinity, temperature, pH, turbidity, etc.
As marinas start to consider incorporating resilience-related practices, e.g. more climate-proof infrastructure and regional earlywarning systems, modelling that
ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES
predicts sea-level rise or changes in weather patterns can help with decision making and planning for marina infrastructure upgrades. Equally, learning how a marina affects local dynamics, such as water quality, current patterns and sediment transport, can be used to improve marina design and reduce environmental impact.
LandSeaLot project coordinator Jos Brils welcomed the inclusion of TransEurope Marinas: “Working with marinas is a novel experience for us, but as intrinsic land-sea interface hubs, their contribution is key to empowering citizen involvement and helping this project achieve the impact it deserves. We look forward to developing this work with TransEurope Marinas,” he said.
Benefits for the wider industry
The recreational boating industry is facing multiple transitional challenges related to sustainability, digitalisation, changing demographics and increased regulation. Actions are underway to
start responding to matters such as the adoption of renewable energy or circular solutions for boat construction, but areas such as digital representation and climate resilience, for example, still require effective collective strategies.
As identified in recent years, marinas could gain from becoming more societally relevant within their wider regional communities. This might include better environmental education programmes regarding nearby marine habitats and ecological preservation, advancing biosecurity initiatives, contributing to environmental science endeavours, and connecting with local community groups to further inclusivity and diversity initiatives.
Preparatory work in LandSeaLot will also provide a closer understanding of regional sea conventions promoting responsible practices at sea (e.g. OSPAR, HELCOM) and environmental protection legislation such as the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive and Water Framework Directive.
Joe Lynch, CEO of the International
SEA Index rolls out to French marinas
The successful Superyacht Eco Association (SEA) Index, a benchmark to assess CO2 emissions for yachts of over 25m (82ft) in length launched in 2020 by Yacht Club de Monaco (YCM), is being adopted by marinas on the French Côte d’Azur.
Part of YCM’s collective ‘Monaco, Capital of Advanced Yachting’ approach and recently awarded the Capernegies label, the SEA Index tool will now be taken well beyond Monaco and utilised in a triangle of 15 harbours and marinas between Merton, SaintTropez and Bonifacio in Corsica that are home to some of the world’s biggest yachts.
“The SEA Index has become an essential tool. And I would like us now to go even further by measuring
other greenhouse gas emissions and noise pollution which is a major concern,” said HSH Prince Albert II, 40year president of YCM.
The announcement reflects the commitment of multiple marinas to increased sustainability and, as YCM general secretary Bernard d’Alessandri noted, “marks the recognition of the work accomplished by the SEA Index since its launch.”
“Our aim is to federate harbours and marinas across the Mediterranean and beyond by creating a network
Council of Marine Industry Associations (ICOMIA), commented: “As the global boating industry works towards becoming more sustainable, collaboration and joint research initiatives with groups such as the oceanographic science community can only serve to better prepare us to future-proof the industry. We commend TransEurope Marinas for its role in LandseaLot and look forward to supporting the project, as well as sharing the outcomes with our global membership.”
From gaining a strategic understanding of data management practices to more familiarity with the coastal ocean governance ecosystem, the learning opportunities in this project are profound and TransEurope Marinas’ role will enable a flow of insights back to the industry – together with the generation of educational tools and resources for boaters and other marina visitors.
For more information visit the project website: landsealot.eu
of committed territories,” he added.
This specific deployment of the rating system is an opportunity to respond to growth in yachting in the Sud region, which attracts over half the world’s fleet of 30m+ (98ft+) yachts. According to a study by Earthcase, instigated by the Regional Tourism Committee, the yachting sector in the Sud
region has an impact on the economy of €1.1 billion and 10,200 jobs.
With this certification and its index, these harbours and marinas will be able to allocate berths, particularly in high season, to boats with the least environmental impact.
Yacht Club de Monaco launched SEA Index in 2020.
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Scottish marina offers development opportunities
A profitable marina and holiday business with access to the stunning island network off the west coast of Scotland has come to market with further development opportunities.
Craobh (pronounced Croove) Marina, which sits within a natural harbour on the north shore of the Craignish peninsula in Argyll, includes 200 fullservice berths, a facilities building, car park, boatyard, workshops, six holiday
cottages, a three-bedroom house and a staff flat.
The estate comprises over 125 acres (50.6 ha) of freehold land and 44 acres (18 ha) of water/harbour bed, which is leased from the Crown Estate. Around
15.6 acres (6.3 ha) of the land has been allocated for mixed-use development in line with the Argyll and Bute Local Development Plan adopted in February 2024.
World-class marina management and development, bringing elegance to top destinations across the globe.
Craobh Marina was developed in the early 1980s by linking a group of islands together using a system of stone causeways to create a sheltered position that is accessible at all states of the tide. The pontoons are secured by chains and anchors in a deep-water harbour.
The marina was sold in 1993 to privately-owned Holt Leisure Group and the business has recently been removed from the group’s other marina and leisure businesses and established as Craobh Marina Ltd in preparation for a shareholder retirement sale.
Enquiries to Colin Crosthwaite: marinas@crosthwaites.com
BIMINI, Bahamas
EDINBURGH, Scotland
FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida
ABACO ISLANDS, Bahamas
SHOWN: F3 MARINA BIMINI – Bimini, Bahamas
Mega Tango by
BUYING & SELLING MARINAS
Avoid the pitfalls, spot the trends
Selling a marina business is complex and often involves many unknowns, particularly for a first-time seller who may be unaware of the common pitfalls that can disrupt a sale, says Jon Patrick, director – head of leisure and development at UK-based Christie & Co. He talks to Marina World about these common problems, market trends, and the sales process.
Issues that delay the process are often uncovered as a result of due diligence undertaken by the buyer, banks and surveyors, and it is in any seller’s best interests to be well prepared in advance. Patrick cites the following as key things to watch for:
• Dredging – if dredging is relevant to the site, the seller must be able to demonstrate a regular programme and its associated costs.
• Bathymetric surveys (mapping the depths and shapes of underwater terrain) – experienced marina buyers will expect to see these and, in general, it is better for owners to have their own survey and thus be on the front foot in terms of questions they may receive.
• Pontoons and walkways – are they in good condition and Health, Safety and Security (HSS) compliant?
• Electricity and hook-up supplies –age, condition and supply details.
• Harbour walls and lock gates –need to be in a good state of repair. Documentary evidence of regular
Christie & Co has recently negotiated the sale of Alba Sailing (above) and Port Dinorwic Marina (right).
checks and maintenance is helpful.
• Other surveys – subject to cost, it can be worthwhile to invest in structural pier and land contamination surveys and take any necessary remedial action.
• Third party leases – concessions are a valuable part of many marina operations and need to be accurate and up to date. Any outstanding rent reviews need to be addressed.
• Sea bed leases – all documentation
Jon Patrick
should be in place with the relevant crown estate or local authority.
• Trading information – have at least three years’ certified profit and loss accounts available, together with management accounts.
• Mooring and berthing data – ensure all fee information is up to date and in a format that shows the performance of the business over a three-year period. Information regarding charges per metre, seasonal variations and available space is key.
• Staff – create an anonymised schedule of full and part-time staff including roles, start dates, number of hours and rate of pay.
What should you avoid doing? “The key to preparing any business for sale is ensure that you don’t stop running it as though you’re going to be doing so for the next few years,” Patrick emphasises. “In other words, don’t stop any required investment. If you need to make staff hires do so, and ensure that all and any H&S issues are addressed. It should be business as usual.”
Q: What are the trends in the UK for buying/selling marinas?
A: The continuing trend in terms of the transactional market for marinas is that only a very small percentage of marinas might change hands in any one year. This appears to be a similar trend elsewhere, with the US reporting 78 transactions in 2023 in a significantly larger market (10,445 marinas) and
BUYING & SELLING MARINAS
a 16-year average of only 65 marina sales per annum.
Compared to previous years, we have seen greater activity in the sector. There are a variety of reasons potentially driving this. We have things like retirement (marinas often stay in the same hands/family for many years) and succession planning can be a challenge, particularly where the next generation may have moved away for education/work purposes.
Business and partnership splits can also influence a decision to sell being made, but we’ve also seen an increase in financial distress as a result of the significant increase in interest rates and associated costs of capital that owners with higher levels of gearing have had to accommodate.
The opportunities we’ve handled have I believe created further market awareness, not just from within the industry, but also from investors. We’ve had a number of approaches from the private equity community keen to understand the industry and what it may offer from a scale and development perspective.
Q: Are buyers more likely to be groups or private individuals?
A: In terms of what we’ve experienced from the processes we’ve run, the potential buyers are very varied. Not surprisingly, when compared to the other operational real estate sectors we specialise in, the distance potential buyers travel to look at marinas is far greater.
The closest sector in terms of business model we see to the marina market is the holiday and caravan park market –think pitch fees v berthing fees and caravan sales v boat sales etc. As a result, some transactions have seen 25-30% of viewings come from caravan/holiday park owners and this is a trend we see continuing.
I would say that a typical sale can attract interest from individual owner/ operators, group operators, high net worth individuals and investors with a keen interest in boating, along with other leisure business owners looking at acquiring opportunities that could be bolted on to their existing operation, particularly where marinas may be operated under management.
Q: Is there interest from overseas?
A: Yes. We had interest in Port Dinorwic from corporate operators in France and Greece, whilst one of our early calls on Broom Boats was from Australia. With the assistance of our marketing team, we do have the benefit of both UK and international outreach – very different to when I started out advising business owners!
Q
: How realistic are sellers when it comes to asking price? Is there a guideline calculation that potential sellers can use?
A: There will always be industry standard methods that can be utilised to help inform the appropriate price or value of a business but ultimately the market will decide what any business is worth. We would recommend against placing unrealistic expectations on price as this is invariably an impediment
to generating interest and by definition, market competition. This is simply solid sales and marketing advice based on thousands of transactions we oversee, whether for individual or portfolio deals.
Q: How long does the sale process generally take?
A: Always one of the questions we get asked for certain and never one to which we can provide a definitive answer. It also depends on whether a process is being conducted on an open market or confidential basis. Open marketing has a more direct route to potential buyers so tends to be slightly quicker, plus it tends to deliver around 25-30% more viewings and more bids, too. That’s a big generalisation, of course, but over the many transactions we conduct it’s a very good overview.
In terms of timescales, we would expect to have a good idea of the direction of travel following launching a business to market in the first six to ten weeks.
Over the last 18 months, the average time taken from agreeing a sale and instructing solicitors has been around six months so it’s fair to say that a typical process is around nine months.
Q: Aside from ensuring that all is in order, what extras can a seller add, if possible, to raise the value or make a sale more appealing?
A: The key in almost all situations is to ensure you have good quality and up to date financial trading information going back over at least three years, but ideally pre-pandemic so that 2019 is shown as a “normal” year. Showing the best level of net profit and/or being able to demonstrate where and why certain costs in the accounts are non-recurring and could justifiably be added back to the bottom line underpin value.
In addition, there should ideally be definable opportunities for an incoming owner to be able to add value. These could be by improving existing efficiencies or increasing occupancy for example and thereby increasing profitability.
Opportunities that require additional financial investment are also key so things like opportunities to add drystack facilities, holiday/residential accommodation, additional service lines such as boat brokerage or amenities such as a club house/ café/restaurant are more long term, but provide a helpful addition to the marketing of a business.
A rare opportunity to purchase a mooring licence on the Thames at Blackfriars in central London was marketed by Christie & Co in 2021. The sale included permission to build an 80m (262ft) long floating pontoon.
WIGGINS MARINA BULL
How technology paves the way for a smarter marina
In today’s digital landscape, technology is reshaping how businesses function, and the marina industry certainly isn’t excluded from that. In fact, marina owners find themselves benefiting significantly from the move from pen and paper to cloud-based digital solutions. Brent Wierson discusses how Molo software solutions can enhance marina space management, optimise service and repair, boost customer satisfaction, and drive revenue growth for businesses.
With the integration of advanced management tools, such as real-time fuel pump controls and streamlined payment systems, marinas can transition from traditional methods to efficient, customer-focused operations. By leveraging these innovations, they can optimise efficiency, increase profits and offer exceptional services tailored to modern boaters’ needs.
Streamlining operations
Molo’s robust software facilitates efficient management of slips, mooring and drystack storage, allowing for systematic schedule and tracking of all vessels. Features like transient slip bookings and recurring storage optimisation ensure marinas maximise space usage and revenue, thus reducing wait times and improving service reliability for customers and businesses alike.
integration. For example, fuel sales are imported into Molo with a single click, drastically reducing manual data entry and associated errors. Additionally, monitoring pump activity by individual staff members ensures accountability and operational transparency.
Advancing service management and repair
Software can also be used to organise estimates, work orders, technician labour tracking and inventory into one system creating a much more informed shop. Whether a prior estimate is being copied by pulling up job templates, or the job is being started from scratch, the software supports a wide array of workflows. Private notes and unlimited attached files can also be included.
Work orders are paired with a powerful service calendar to schedule technician time, travel lifts, and more. The calendar can even support linked appointments for launches, hauls and job due dates. Tracking actual and billable hours for multiple technicians is simplified via the mobile or desktop option. The software also allows inventory to be tracked at multiple locations at once to easily manage stock and parts on hand.
Enhancing customer experience
Using technology to enhance fuel pump management delivers additional opportunities to optimise profits. Use with fuel technologies, like FuelCloud, introduces powerful real-time pump
Technology significantly improves customer interactions by speeding up and simplifying processes. Molo’s real-time fuel pump integration enables quick and secure refuelling with contactless payments via smartphones, tablets or POS systems, making for a streamlined experience which enhances customer satisfaction, fostering loyalty and repeat business.
Additionally, the mobile nature of the software allows for flexibility and quicker transactions between marina staff and customers. The technology even streamlines and eliminates awkward traditional tipping when fuelling or with other dockhand related activities by offering customisable tipping options with either percentages or fixed amounts. This modernised tipping process enhances convenience and satisfaction for both customers and staff.
SMART TECHNOLOGY
Optimising revenue and payments
Molo’s seamless integration with major accounting systems such as QuickBooks and Xero enhances financial management. The software manages accounts receivable, payment processing, invoicing and inventory
with ease. Automated invoicing for storage and memberships ensures timely revenue collection, while credit card and ACH payment options provide flexible payment solutions, improving cash flow.
The software allows the user to easily create recurring charges for dockage, storage, add-ons and fees. Together with automatic charging, recurring revenue can be put on autopilot. Invoicing becomes more flexible and accurate by offering support for monthly, quarterly, and even custom instalments. Invoice line items can also be configured per hour, per foot of LOA, per square foot, per cent, and more.
Data-driven decision making
Advanced software solutions enable data collection and analysis, a significant advantage for marina operations who want to manage and continue to grow their business. Molo’s system offers insights into various operational aspects, helping managers make informed decisions. This data-driven strategy aids in
identifying trends, optimising resources and improving overall business performance.
Integrating technology into marina management leads to smarter, more efficient and customer-friendly operations. Molo’s marina management software showcases the transformative potential of technology, helping marinas streamline tasks, enhance customer experiences, boost revenue, and make informed decisions. By adopting these technological advancements, marinas can remain competitive and flourish in today’s digital world.
The widest docks in Spain
An 8m (26ft) wide floating concrete dock (right), manufactured and installed by Ronautica Marinas, is now in use by the Port Authority of Málaga on the Guadalmedina River.
The dock, which is claimed to be the widest in Spain, now gives the port 160m (520ft) of berth space for fishing boats. The docks comprise modules measuring 20m (66ft) in length and 4m (13ft) wide, joined together in pairs and anchored to the riverbed by piles to depths of up to 20m (66ft).
The structure is equipped with all necessary piping and cabling for water, electricity and fuel services, and is connected to the riverbank by a special 4m (13ft) wide aluminium gangway designed and manufactured to withstand live loads up to 500kg/m².
The modules were precast in Ronautica’s yard to ensure quality standards and transported by road to the site where they were assembled by a Ronautica team.
Aquática Ingeniería was responsible for the design and structural calculations within the framework of a long-standing collaboration with Ronautica on joint R&D projects. www.ronautica.com
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• Approved service agent and parts distributor for:
• Specialists in Wise boat handling products.
New hoist completes cat haul-out facility
In order to capture the business of maintaining and storing catamarans, Jolly Harbour Marina & Boatyard in Antigua & Barbuda has built a new haul-out facility and purchased an 85BFMII (85 tonne capacity) boat hoist from Marine Travelift. The new machine joins a 75-tonne Marine Travelift machine that has been in use since 2015.
Jolly Harbour general manager, Jo Lucas, confirms that planning for the new haul-out began in 2023 in response to the rapidly growing market for catamarans.
“The recently purchased boat hoist was also part of the plan,” she says, “and Marine Travelift was chosen due to an already established relationship with great results.”
The 85BFMII has been customised with extra width to accommodate beams up to 34ft (10m) and a sailboat top beam extension incorporated to efficiently handle sail boats without removing masts. Additional customisations include LED lights, wireless remote control and a jib crane.
The 12 lights significantly improve visibility, especially at
night, and the remote control gives an operator all-round visibility without the need for multiple spotters. The crane has a 2,500lb (1,100kg) capacity and can be used for maintenance and service work removing masts or pulling engines etc.
In addition to the new hoist, the marina has a Marine Travelift TM40 transporter with catamaran boat pads on order and due for delivery in September.
Jolly Harbour Marina & Boatyard was built in 1992 and has consistently grown in size. Over the years, it has changed ownership twice, in 2010 and 2021, but has remained committed to a top priority of offering excellent customer service.
www.marinetravelift.com
PRODUCTS & SERVICES
Index to Advertisers
ASAR, USA 23
Aqua superPower, UK 54
Bellingham Marine, USA 7 & 63
Bluet, Finland 30
Bluewater Marine & Dock, USA 58
CJ Plast, France 54
Capria, Argentina 20
Conolift by
Kropf Industrial, Canada 44
Crosthwaites, UK 50
D-Marin, Greece 27
Eagle Floats by Hendren Plastics, USA 57
Edgewater Resources, USA 50
F3 Marina, USA 49
Flovac, Spain 58
Forklift Exchange, USA 14
Gigieffe, Italy 48
Golden Manufacturing, USA 12
IBEX, USA 39
Ingemar, Italy 10
Inmare, Italy 31
Lindley, Portugal 61
Livart, China 60
MPP Engineering, UK 60
Mack David Buildings, USA 18
Marex, Croatia 50
Marina Master by IRM, Slovenia 30
Marina Projects, UK 64
MARINAGo by Scribble Software, USA 47
Marine Travelift, USA 43
Marinetek, Finland 4
Martini Marinas, Italy 48
METSTRADE, Netherlands 41
Molo Marina Management/Stellar Systems, USA 60
Pacsoft, New Zealand 58
PierPump by Vogelsang, Germany 8
Rolec, UK 35
Ronautica, Spain 22
Roodberg - a brand of Frisian Industries, Netherlands 59
SEA Index, Monaco 44
SF Marina System, Sweden 2
Seaflex, Sweden 6
Seijsener, Netherlands 36
Superior Group, Australia 19
Twinwood by CJ Plast, Portugal 56
WISE Handling, UK 36
Walcon Marine, UK 26
Wiggins Lift Co, USA 54
Barefoot-safe decking options
US decking specialist Strongwell has introduced a ‘barefoot safe’ grit option for both its pultruded and moulded grating products.
The option is available for Duragrate moulded grating with mesh patterns of 3/4in x 4in (19mm x 102mm), and 3/4in x 3/4in (19mm x 19mm) Mini Mesh in 4ft x 12ft (122cm x 366cm) panel size. Both meet all ADA requirements for mesh size and slip resistance.
The panels can be efficiently cut on site to minimise waste, and the system features load bearing bars in both directions to allow for use without continuous side support.
Duragrate weighs significantly less than metal gratings, and its high resin content provides excellent corrosion resistance and requires very little maintenance.
The Duragrid pultruded grating alternative is a customised system designed for applications not suitable
for standard glass fibre grating. It is available in thicknesses of 1in to 2 1/2in (25.4mm to 63.5mm), with open space up to 90%. Other options include: bar shape; cross-rod placement; custom fabrication; custom resin; and colour.
www.strongwell.com/grating
Waste clearance on the seabed
Marina Port de Mallorca in Spain has become the first marina to test out Turbino, a new underwater vacuum system developed by Recyclamer.
The Recyclamer Association 11m (36ft) vessel ‘Red Snapper’ moored up in the marina so as to collect water samples at various points in the port of Palma. The collected samples passed through the Geneseas robot, which detects floating waste, and tests were then carried out with Turbino, a system that trawls the seabed vacuuming up plastics.
The marina has been partnering with the initiative since May 2023 and set aside a berth as an operational base. Along with its sister facility Marina Ibiza (both part of the IPM-IMG Group),
Marina Port de Mallorca purchased a Geneseas robot and has been using it to collect waste and data.
The marina robot crosses the water surface collecting waste, microplastics and hydrocarbons. It has a real-time control and monitoring system for water quality, monitoring parameters such as pH, temperature, conductivity and dissolved oxygen etc.
Using Turbino in tandem to work on the actual seabed should significantly reduce levels of waste in the water, most specifically plastics. www.recyclamer-innovation.com
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