DOCKS
From serene marinas to bustling ferry docks, SF Marina turns vision into reality. Our oating breakwaters and concrete pontoons are designed for easy installation, low maintenance, and lasting durability. Built to withstand the elements, we ensure your marina stays exible, reliable, and still there after the storm. Bring your vision to life with SF Marina.
Charlotte Niemiec collates news highlights from the 2024 editions of Marina World and Mooring Post
Mel Symes talks to Dominic Zammit about the rationale behind boatfolk
The Metstrade 2024 team put together the best-attended event to date and now plans expansion for 2025
The new Porto Carlo Riva Marina in Rapallo, Italy offers five-star luxury. Donatella Zucca reports
the cover: Surrounded by cafés, restaurants and plenty of urban bustle in a historic Victorian setting, Portishead Marina in Bristol, England is one of 11 marinas around the UK in the boatfolk portfolio. Read more on p. 25
Marina World FROM THE EDITOR
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Plastic peril
Projects and equipment explored in the Environmental Products & Initiatives feature in this issue naturally point to preservation and protection of water quality. Our planet is nothing without its oceans, and there is no question that human activity is seriously threatening our seas.
Ocean pollution is caused by many things, including plastic waste; 80% of which likely enters the ocean via rivers and coastlines and comprises, most particularly, plastic food wrappings, bags, bottles and disposable razors. The effect on the ocean ecosystem is devastating.
It is estimated that there are 77 to 199 million tons of plastic waste in our oceans, and nearly 15 million tons of plastic enters the marine environment every year. By 2050, plastic will likely outweigh all fish in the sea(1)
Almost 1,000 species of marine animals are impacted by ocean pollution (17% of which are already under threat), and over 500 locations are recorded as dead zones where marine life cannot even exist. The total area covered by these zones is around 245,000km² (95,000mi²); the approximate surface area of the United Kingdom. If the current trend continues, ocean plastic pollution will triple over 40 years(1)
One of the most alarming statistics, however, is that only 1% of marine litter floats; everything else sinks to the seabed. Hold this thought in your head when you envisage the world’s five floating garbage sites (known as plastic accumulation zones) where you can contemplate seemingly endless islands of very visible floating plastic, all of which forms part of just 1%...
The best known site, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP) – located between Hawaii and California, holds the largest accumulation of ocean plastic in the world. The GPGP covers an estimated surface area of 1,600,000km² (618,000mi²) – twice the size of Texas or three times the size of France(2) .
The vast majority of plastic in the GPGP is rigid or hard polyethylene or polypropylene or derelict fishing gear, especially nets and ropes. But findings of a study, reported in Environmental Research Letter (3) November 2024 and based on The Ocean Cleanup’s systematic surveys of the GPGP between 2015 and 2022, have revealed that the number of centimetre sized plastic fragments is increasing faster than larger floating plastics, with a five-fold increase measured over seven years. Researchers hypothesise that these fragments are likely new to the region.
Laurent Lebreton, lead author of the paper, said: “The exponential rise in plastic fragments…is a direct consequence of decades of inadequate plastic waste management. Our findings should serve as an urgent call to action for lawmakers engaged in negotiating a global treaty to end plastic pollution. Now, more than ever, decisive and unified global intervention is essential.”
The researchers emphasise that, while countries are prioritising upstream plastic pollution prevention, the interception and removal of already present plastics from the global marine environment is essential to urgently mitigate the generation of increasingly smaller plastic fragments in the ocean for decades to come.
Plastic is a very valuable material that has transformed and safeguarded our lives in many ways. But it is time to look at this at source; buying wisely, reusing when possible, and opting for true recyclables.
Carol Fulford Editor
Meet the Marina World team 28th-30th January on booth 821 at AMI Conference & Expo, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
STRONG · SAFE · SUSTAINABLE SEAFLEX
CUSTOM
Jeddah Marina receives operator licence
SAUDI ARABIA: Jeddah Yacht Club and Marina, owned by Public Investment Fund company Sela, has become the first international marina in the country to be issued with a marina operator licence by The Saudi Red Sea Authority (SRSA).
The move followed the award of two licences in the cities of Yanbu and AlLith to Al-Ahlam Marine.
The licensing programme is part of SRSA’s mission to advance the coastal tourism sector by creating an attractive
environment for tourists, investors and marina operators in the Red Sea region. Licences and permits establish specific guidelines, rules and standards for marinas, including their development, management and operation.
Poralu Marine launches Wearth Group
FRANCE: The diverse activities and brands that fall within the Poralu Marine umbrella have been consolidated under the new name Wearth Group. A contraction of water and earth but also ‘we are earth’, the new entity unifies all business activities and brands, which will continue to operate in their respective markets.
With 40 years of experience, 15,000 projects worldwide, two production sites (France and Canada) and 13 companies, Poralu Marine has undergone strong and continuous growth since it was founded in 1984. The company has diversified its expertise as its historic market of harbours and marinas has changed all over the world.
Mooring Post
Highlights from December/January:
• UK: MDL Marinas plans £13.6 million investment
• USA: Major Broadwater Marina investment on Mississippi Gulf Coast
• AUSTRALIA: Sydney Super Yacht Marina celebrates 25 years
• USA: Marine Group Boat Works secures Foreign Trade Zone status Don’t miss the Mooring Post newsfeed and early access to Marina World online:
www.marinaworld.com/signup
“We’ve grown to the point of becoming a group. We’ve now made that group a reality,” explains Group CEO Laurent Gasiglia. “Our market presence is reflected in a new identity, driven by a pledge that will expand its impact far beyond its current horizons.”
Wearth Group comprises: internationally renowned marina builder Poralu Marine; dedicated harbour and marina management specialist MM&C; marine product marketplace All Nautica; rotomoulded components specialist Rotax Marine; aluminium bridge expert Poralu Bridge; The Searial Cleaners marina waste specialists; Waterfront Development, designer and provider of floating infrastructure, buildings and homes; and the autonomous planter manufacturer BioPratic.
The group is structured into three divisions: Wearth Marine, Wearth Land and Wearth Energy.
“Wearth Group reflects a vision in which industry doesn’t just act as a driver of economic growth but also as a tool for positive social and environmental change,” says Gasiglia. “Our ambition is clear: to embark on a wonderful human and entrepreneurial adventure to help our regions develop, wherever they may be, from the water to the land.”
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Survey reveals vital economic contribution
NEW ZEALAND: The first-ever Health of the New Zealand Marina Industry Survey has revealed an annual revenue of $153 million, supporting more than 470 people in jobs – and a contribution of around half a billion dollars to the nation’s economy.
Forty marinas took part in the survey, which was conducted in 2023 for the New Zealand Marina Operator’s Association (NZMOA) by a specialist department at Michigan State University in the USA.
Value to the wider economy is, however, seen as much further reaching. “Marinas and boatyards are hubs of employment and industry,” says NZMOA chair Chris Galbraith, who is general manager of Bay of Islands Marina. “Boat owners need a wide range of maintenance services, and in some cases, we attract large amounts of international boats that come to New Zealand for pleasure, maintenance and refit – also making it part of our export economy.”
By way of example, Bay of Islands Marina with 420 berths has 28 tenant businesses, including marine trades, cafés, retail outlets and boat sales. The precinct around Westhaven Marina alone, which is the largest in the Southern Hemisphere, has 2,000 contractors, including boat builders,
yacht brokers and marine electricians registered on its database, and Nelson Marina’s masterplan predicts it will be home to 40 businesses by 2027. In total, the industry’s marinas support more than 300 small businesses. Individual marinas each engage more than 63 contractors annually for a wide range of services.
The industry is also responding to the global desire for environmental sustainability and 17 marinas have now joined the New Zealand Clean Marinas programme. Older marinas are making substantial investments to improve their impact on water quality, and new marinas – like Waiheke Marina – are designed to meet the stringent requirements of their Resource Consents, with environmental sensitivity as a priority. The average capital investment in environmental protection and facilities is $3.1 million.
At the time of completing the survey in 2023, marinas were well supported by customers with the average operation sitting at 86% occupancy.
LAMDA Marinas signs to build and operate megayacht marina
GREECE: LAMDA Marinas, part of the LAMDA Development Group, has signed a sub-concession agreement with the Greek State, the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund (HRADF) and the Corfu Port Authority for the right to build, develop, manage and operate a megayacht marina on the island of Corfu.
At the signing ceremony, LAMDA Marinas Investments managing director Stavros Katsikadis said: “Today marks an important day for Greek maritime tourism and in particular for the Greek marinas sector. With the signing of the sub-concession agreement for the Corfu Mega Yacht Marina, we are beginning
LAMDA Development; Stavros Katsikadis, managing director LAMDA Marinas Investments; and Theodoros A Gavriilidis, chief investment officer LAMDA Development.
the development of a significant new Greek marina, approximately 20 years after the last marina agreement of this scale in Greece.”
“It is also a milestone for LAMDA Marinas. Following the success of the Mega Yacht Flisvos Marina and Agios Kosmas Marina in The Ellinikon project, our company is now investing in Corfu, one of the premier megayacht destinations across the Mediterranean,” he added.
Katsikadis outlined that the goal is to create and sustainably develop a modern marina with water and land-based infrastructure suitable for year-round berthing. LAMDA Marinas Investments will invest over €50 million in the construction and development of the marina, while the total cost of the acquisition will exceed €89 million.
With the development of the marina in Corfu, LAMDA Marinas will control approximately 40% of the total revenue from Greek marinas.
Half Moon Bay Marina
Half Moon Bay Marina, winner of the NZMOA Awards for 2024 and (inset) Chris Galbraith, chair of NZMOA.
L to r: Odisseas Athanasiou, CEO
Delivering the marinas of tomorrow
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Outstanding sweep at marina awards
UAE: Three Turkish marinas in the D-Marin portfolio won five prestigious awards for excellence at the Abu Dhabi Maritime Awards in November 2024.
In the ‘Outstanding Marina’ category, Turgutreis secured the gold award for the second consecutive year, while D-Marin Göcek received silver and D-Marin Didim earned the bronze award.
The Outstanding Marina Award recognises exceptional performance and continuous improvement through new ideas and technology to enhance operations and customer experience. The judges particularly praised D-Marin for its ability to deliver outstanding customer interactions, understand customer needs, and foster loyalty through feedback. They
also commended D-Marin for its exemplary health and safety practices alongside its effective staff development initiatives.
Additionally, D-Marin Göcek won gold in the ‘Customer Experience’ category, while D-Marin Didim secured gold for ‘Sustainability’ in recognition of its strong environmental efforts and state-of-the-art facilities.
Each of the marinas underwent a rigorous evaluation process, with representatives undergoing over three hours of questioning from a panel of nine jurors and 16 assessors, all from prestigious organisations and regulatory bodies.
Vilamoura marks 50 years with Nova Marina launch
PORTUGAL: Marina de Vilamoura celebrated a historic 50-year milestone in November 2024 with a special ceremony attended by government officials and distinguished national and international guests. The occasion also marked the official launch of its new superyacht facility Nova Marina.
Nova Marina features three new pontoons and offers 68 berths for vessels of 20-40m (66131ft). All have individual pump-out points, remote management services for water and electricity consumption and dedicated charging points for electric boats. The marina also features stateof-the-art desalination systems and photovoltaic energy generation for sustainability.
“We have transformed a visionary concept into an attractive destination that represents innovation, sophistication and a profound commitment to nautical excellence,” says Isolete Correia, CEO of Marina de Vilamoura and CEO of the master planner *Vilamoura. “From the beginning, we understood that a marina is not just about boats and berths, but also about an experience that connects people with the sea, fostering relationships and offering a broader vision of nautical culture.”
Developed in 1974 as the ambitious vision of Artur Cupertino de Miranda, Marina de Vilamoura has become Portugal’s largest and most prestigious marina, recognised with numerous international awards, including a rare 5 Gold Anchor Platinum certificate.
Marina de Vilamoura has evolved alongside the nautical market, growing from its original 612 berths to 1,000 at its peak. Today, it has 825 berths, catering to the demand for larger vessels and establishing itself as a renowned global tourist destination. “Over these 50 years, our journey symbolises much more than mere nautical infrastructure. Above all, we are creating a legacy that will define nautical excellence for future generations,” Correia adds.
Yachting hub features in Airport City plans
HONG KONG: The Airport City at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), being developed as a new world-leading landmark under an expanded blueprint spearheaded by Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK), will feature Hong Kong’s biggest marina.
AAHK will fully utilise the water resources adjacent to the airport island to create a 600-berth facility that will enable Airport City to become an unparalleled yacht tourism destination in Asia, especially in the Greater Bay Area. A diverse range of water-based leisure and recreation facilities will also be developed.
First unveiled in 2019, the blueprint combines the airport’s core functions with a variety of projects including an ecosystem for the art industry, AsiaWorld-Expo phase two development, a fresh food market supplying high-end products from around the world, a ‘sportainment’ complex, and more. The new projects will promote high-end commercial, tourism and leisure activities, and are expected to be complete from 2026 to 2031.
Different kinds of indoor and outdoor leisure, cultural and entertainment facilities will be developed along the coastlines of the airport island and
the Hong Kong Port Island, with hotel development and promenades of distinct characteristics. Public spaces will be interconnected for various kinds of festive celebrations that draw visitors.
Fred Lam, chairman of AAHK, said: “HKIA is a leading international aviation hub in Asia. With the threerunway system fully operating, we are
in a position to press full steam ahead with innovative projects in different market segments. The expansion of the development blueprint will focus on leveraging Hong Kong’s unique advantages and creating synergy among various projects to transform the Airport City into a new landmark of Asia.”
Marina expansion to be hub of new harbour district
FRANCE: Major plans have been announced by the municipality of Dunkerque in northern France to double the capacity of Dunkerque Grand Large marina as part of ambitious plans for a new and more welcoming harbour district.
developed with a range of new hospitality options for visitors and residents to eat and drink while enjoying great views of the marina. The canal to the north will be
reinforced, landscaped and lined with new residential buildings, and a new terraced walkway will connect the marina to the beach.
The marina, which is part of the TransEurope Marinas network, is a popular destination with plenty of historic charm and modern facilities. It is ideal for boaters travelling from the Netherlands, Belgium and the UK.
Initial work was set to begin late last year, with the required dredging due to be carried out by November 2025. The boatyard project is scheduled to take place January 2026 –April 2027.
Story source: TransEurope Marinas
Berth numbers will be increased from 220 to 450 and improvements in the boatyard will enable vessels to be hoisted at all tides. The waterfront will be
First urban marina in Huelva
SPAIN: A new 400-berth facility has opened in Huelva in south-west Spain. The first urban marina in the port city, it enjoys easy access to the natural beauty of the Marismas del Odiel Nature Reserve while being close to the action of the city centre.
While offering full-service berths for vessels of 6-40m (20-131ft), the marina also offers temporary/transit berths for superyachts (up to 60m/197ft).
Environmental considerations have been uppermost in all planning and building works, and the operators, who hold the marina concession until 2059, have wasted no time in teaming up with TransEurope Marinas so as to garner network expertise and assistance in boosting visibility and promoting nautical tourism.
“Marina del Odiel is set to become a cornerstone of Huelva’s economic and social development,” managing director Manuel Jiménez Marquéz told TransEurope Marinas. “Its strategic location on the Odiel River,
coupled with modern facilities and a commitment to sustainability, holds a great potential to attract both domestic and international visitors.”
“By prioritising eco-friendly practices, including waste management, renewable energy, and ecosystem conservation, we aim to create a model of balanced
coastal development. This approach will not only minimise environmental impact but also attract investment, generate jobs, and foster collaboration with local industries like fishing and tourism.”
Maarten Desloovere CMM, chair of TransEurope Marinas, welcomed the marina to the group. “We are very lucky to have Spanish members in such a fantastic range of locations – from Galicia through the Straits to the Mediterranean and down to the Canary islands,” he said.
“TransEurope Marinas’ expanding network, now including Marina del Odiel, offers our berth holders a wider range of destinations and enhanced boating experiences.”
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GLOBAL REVIEW 2024
Focus on future proofing
Last year saw large investments around the world with no one region dominating. Key projects focused on building superyacht capacity, modernising infrastructure and installing luxury waterfront amenities to support growing demand. Charlotte Niemiec picks out some highlights
In the US, Florida enjoyed its usual flurry of developments, particularly in Fort Myers, following the devastation caused by Hurricane Ian in 2022. Snook Bight Marina was rebuilt after the storm completely tore away the marina’s wet slips, fuel docks and piles. The new system provides 70 slips and a 160-boat drystack operation. Gulf Harbour Yacht and Country Club also reopened with 101 slips for boats up to 80ft (24m) in length, finished in just 18 months. Work also progressed to replace docks at Salty Sam’s Marina.
The City of Clearwater approved a $43.5 million complete rebuild of Clearwater Beach Marina. Project goals include replacing all aging docks and utility pedestals, with completion scheduled for April 2026.
Suntex Marina Investors opened the 70-slip Las Olas megayacht marina in Fort Lauderdale, after more than two years of build work that included installing 7,000ft (610m) of seawall. It is now one of the largest megayacht
D-Marin partnered with Vlora Marina to create Albania’s first world-class marina.
marinas in the US, accommodating yachts ranging from 65-315ft (20-96m).
One River Marina was planned on the Delaware River in northeast Philadelphia – the city’s first new marina development project in decades. Upon completion, expected by spring 2026, the marina will have more than 200 wet slips and drystack storage within a six acre (2.4ha) waterfront site.
Dry storage company Mack David completed work on a hurricane-proof 507-slot drystack storage facility in
Aquellum, part of the Saudi Arabian NEOM project, is a futuristic development with a floating marina at its core.
Alabama, designed to accommodate different sized boats and offer ultimate flexibility. The company is set to repeat its efforts at Legendary’s Bluewater Cay Marina in the Bahamas, aiming to complete by mid-2025.
Saylorville Lake Marina in Polk City, Iowa, improved marina access and now plans a new dry storage building, improved fuel dock, upgraded bathrooms and new courtesy slips. In Oklahoma, Nine Marina in Eufaula added 34 covered slips and built a ship store and fuel dock.
Major work began to improve infrastructure at Broadwater Marina on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, with upgrades to stabilise the property’s outer structures, alongside repairs to the perimeter and marina bulkheads.
Safe Harbor Marina Bay in Quincy Bay, Massachusetts, installed a floating concrete breakwater system for better storm protection. The new breakwater doubles as docking space for transient megayachts, with electricity and water supplies routed through integrated utility ducts.
Island Global Yachting announced a
GLOBAL REVIEW 2024
new marina in the heart of Savannah, Georgia. Upon completion in spring 2025, the marina will feature 100 berths for vessels of all sizes, including over 1,000ft (300m) of dockage to accommodate deep draft superyachts.
Oasis Marinas was contracted to manage its first marina in Texas – JMK5 in Kemah, a full service marina with immediate access to Galveston Bay, featuring 331 wet slips and a range of amenities.
Caribbean upgrades
Marina Bahia Golfito in Costa Rica doubled its superyacht capacity by installing an aluminium dock system with a floating concrete pontoon solution. The destination, which is becoming increasingly attractive to large yacht owners and crew, can now host two 300ft (91m) superyachts, two 200ft (61m) vessels and two 150ft (46m) yachts.
A consulting group endorsed plans to expand Nanny Cay Marina and Resort in the British Virgin Islands, including introducing a third marina facility that would add over 6,600ft (2,000m) of dockage.
Plans were revealed to build a fully automated drystack marina in North Bimini, Bahamas. Targeting the high end of the boating market, F3 Marina Bimini will offer covered storage for around 128 vessels up to 56ft (17m).
The largest luxury community planned for NEOM, Jaumur is designed around a marina protected from the sun by an aerofoil-shaped sculptural structure.
Europe enjoys major investments
In northern Europe, Skänors Hamn, a marina just south of Malmö in Sweden, was rebuilt and reconfigured to increase mooring capacity and better shelter its infrastructure. Four newly installed main jetties can now accommodate around 120 boats.
In the UK, Premier Marinas purchased the Trafalgar Wharf site in Portsmouth Harbour, a property that includes Europe’s largest drystack facility. MDL Marinas invested £7 million across its network of UK marinas, allocating around £1.3 million to Torquay Marina in Devon for dredging and upgrades to its pontoons, quay walls and berth holder facilities. It also spent £2.2 million on its flagship 362-berth Ocean Village Marina in Southampton, covering the complete
Work began on Nova Marina, the new basin at Vilamoura Marina on the Algarve coast, Portugal.
replacement of pontoons on the south side and installing new smart electric technology.
The Windermere Marina project was completed in England’s Lake District National Park, with all traditional fixed timber jetty structures replaced with modern floating pontoon equipment; plans for a new 135-berth marina on the Isle of Wight were announced; and two piers were replaced at the Queen Elizabeth II Marina in Guernsey, the Channel Islands. This forms part of a wider £10 million investment programme to update the marina’s 40year-plus design.
A master plan was drawn up to develop Banagher Marina in the Republic of Ireland and create a pedestrian-friendly, vibrant community with 250 berths and improved mooring facilities.
In Italy, Sardinia’s port authority invited bids for a new 17.4ha (43.2 acre) port area with pontoons dedicated to vessel construction, repair, refit, maintenance, storage and complementary activities. Construction also began on the long-awaited Livorno Marina, which is expected to complete in June 2026 and boast 815 berths.
An Italian-British collaboration, Natpower H, announced the world’s first network for green hydrogen refuelling of recreational boats. The first 25 installations will be made in Italian marinas as part of a goal to reach 100
GLOBAL REVIEW 2024
in the Mediterranean before expanding globally. The company’s circular building technologies reflect its commitment to an ecologically responsible future.
In the eastern Mediterranean, D-Marin announced a partnership agreement with Vlora Marina in Albania. Currently under construction, the world-class marina will offer 438 berths for year-round mooring for vessels up to 50m (164ft) in length, providing much-anticipated marina facilities to the country’s coastline. D-Marin also became the new operator of the Camille Rayon marina in the heart of the Côte d’Azur, France. The marina has 841 berths and caters for all boats sizes up to 75m (246ft). The company plans a significant €52 million investment in the marina and its facilities over the next 25 years.
A1 Yacht Trade Consortium was selected to develop Argostoli Marina in Kefalonia, Greece. It plans to spend more than €30 million on upgrading and maintaining existing infrastructure. Ninety berths are planned, with some for superyachts up to 100m (330ft) in the mix. Greece’s Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund (HRADF) also signed a 40-year agreement, at a fee of at least €1.5 million, for Pylos Marina SA to develop Pylos Marina in Messenia.
Spain’s Marina Port Vell completed a €20 million transformation project ahead of its involvement in the America’s Cup to enhance its capacity and services for large yachts, adding 23 new berths for vessels up to 70m (230ft), reorganising the mooring area and installing a new fuel supply.
The Valencia Port Authority moved operations forward to reshape Marina de Valencia, building three marinas equipped to host vessels of 8-130m (26-430ft), a refit and repair yard with first-class specialist companies and a leisure, dining and entertainment area.
STP Shipyard Palma in Mallorca, Spain also invested nearly €8 million in expanding its technical area, including the construction of five new berths capable of welcoming yachts up to 110m (360ft) in length. The first phase
The dramatic NatPower H refuelling station brings green hydrogen power to recreational boats. CGI: Tecma Solutions
focused on preparing a new docking area and installing the infrastructure to guarantee end-to-end service for superyachts.
Portugal’s Vilamoura Marina on the Algarve coast began construction of its new associated marina. Three pontoons with a total of 68 berths to cater to large boats of 20-40m (66-131ft) were installed, equipped with individual waste water pump-out systems, charging points for electric boats and systems for remote monitoring and management of water and electricity consumption. Construction was finalised by the end of the year.
The Ports of Madeira also sought an operator for Funchal Marina in Madeira, Portugal, to create a modern, attractive and competitive marina.
Middle Eastern ambition
More projects were announced under Saudi Arabia’s NEOM master plan. ‘Norlana’, on the Gulf of Aqaba’s coastline, will feature a top-level 120-berth marina planned as an international hub for superyachts with members club, while ‘Aquellum’, is styled as a futuristic ecosystem harmoniously integrated into natural surroundings. Hidden within a breathtaking 450m (1,480ft) mountain range, visitors begin at a floating marina before boarding a specially designed vessel to enter via a concealed underground canal. Once inside, visitors will be treated to an exhilarating 100m (330ft) high vertical experience with an impressive
Al Khuwair Muscat Downtown and Waterfront Development is planned to revitalise central Muscat, Oman.
The future of dry stack marinas is poised for a thrilling and long-awaited evolution! New building designs, engineered to withstand hurricane-force winds, are ushering in a wave of amenities and versatile spaces. Imagine combining luxury brand retail boutiques, 5-star fine dining experiences, impeccably crafted luxury residences, and really –anything you can dream of – all seamlessly integrated into the marina and boating lifestyle landscape.
ASAR (Automated Storage and Retrieval) technologies are at the forefront, offering spaceefficient and economically advantageous solutions for storing boats and automobiles – maximizing ROI by increasing revenue-generating space. This innovation optimizes the use of valuable shoreline real estate, while enhancing the overall allure and sustainability of your waterfront property.
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GLOBAL REVIEW 2024
courtyard space stretching from the water to the sky.
‘Jaumur’ is a master plan to build an iconic marina with more than 500 marina apartments and 700 luxury villas, boasting waterfront access and private mooring. 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.
IGY Marinas was appointed to manage Sindalah Yacht Club, NEOM’s inaugural island destination. The club is designed to seamlessly integrate with Sindalah Marina’s world-class berthing facilities, which accommodate superyachts up to 180m (590ft).
Construction work continued on Amaala, the ultra-luxury Saudi Arabian destination on the northwestern coast of the Red Sea. Flooding of the marina basin was complete by the start of the year and work began on the floating pontoons and fixed docks.
The Saudi Red Sea Authority (SRSA) also issued the first licences to operators of Al-Ahlam Marina in Jeddah and Jazan, and Red Sea Marina in Jeddah.
A quarter of the construction work on the prestigious 182-berth cutting edge Bahrain Marina in Manama was completed, and announcements were made regarding plans for the
Work started in Bali on Indonesia’s first full-service international marina. It will offer mooring for 180 boats.
$1.3 billion Al Khuwair waterfront development in central Muscat, Oman. This will span 330ha (815 acres) and is set to include a marina and recreational waterfront.
D-Marin signed an agreement to operate Port De La Mer in Dubai, a new Mediterranean-inspired marina at the tip of the northern peninsula of La Mer. Phase one opened in October with 32 berths for yachts up to 40m (131ft) in length, with plans to extend to 160 berths for yachts up to 80m (262ft) in coming years.
An important deal between Egyptian and UAE parties to build Ras AlHekma, a massive new city on Egypt’s north coast, was signed. Considered to be the largest investment deal in Egypt’s history, with potentially $150 billion involved, it will position the city not only as an urban business and residential centre but also as a tourist hub. A large marina is planned amid hotels, resorts and entertainment venues.
A third marina planned for Nanny Cay in the BVI will add over 2,000m (6,600ft) of dockage.
Expansions in Asia
An international standard leisure marina adjacent to a popular mall is planned in Taiwan. It will be built in two phases, starting with the installation of breakwater facilities and berths for around 30 boats, a temporary clubhouse and boatyard. Phase two will add 50 further berths as well as a hotel and family-friendly amusement facility.
A 220-berth marina for vessels up to 24m (79ft) in Jamsil Hangang Park, Seoul, South Korea is also planned. When complete, it will be the largest marina in the city. The developers aim to make the river a “growth hub” via the marina and additional mooring spaces for a total of 1,000 berths. Construction of Jamsil Marina was scheduled to begin in early 2025 with a view to opening in 2026.
Developers in Indonesia announced the groundbreaking of the first full service international standard marina in Indonesia, located in the Bali Maritime Tourism Hub in Benoa. The marina will be able to accommodate 180 boats, with over 50 berths available for yachts up to 90m (295ft). It will have a hoist of up to 200 tonne capacity and a high quality fuel station. The marina is scheduled to welcome yachts to the first dock in July 2025. Full capacity is planned for the middle of 2026. There is currently a buoy mooring system in place for accommodating 30 yachts up to 17m (56ft).
An MoU to develop a yacht marina in Uligan in the Maldives was signed.
Waiheke Island Marina in New Zealand became operational, winning an Outstanding Initiative Award for its build.
This will encompass top of class vessel docking and berthing facilities to serve as an entry gateway to the country.
A marine tourism plan was announced in Sri Lanka, seeking to position the country as a premier destination for boaters. It includes plans to develop small boat launch facilities, promote marina development and host boat exhibitions.
Superyacht focus in Australasia
The Queensland Government appointed a construction company to deliver the A$300 million ultra-luxury Mantaray Marina and Residences on The Spit – the first development in the area for more than 20 years. The project will create a 67-berth superyacht marina, resort facilities and club, designed to Platinum Gold Anchor standard. The government also invited bids for another mixed-use development on a parcel of state-owned land on The Spit, with the aim of increasing the number of marina berths in the area.
Sanctuary Cove Marina started the next stage of its expansion work to build 25 new berths to cater for local and international demand for berths, particularly for superyachts. The Boat Works finished work expanding its hardstand area and will now begin
Marina Port Valencia in Spain underwent major redesign to emerge with three individual marinas.
GLOBAL REVIEW 2024
work on the waterfront, including new marina berths at a concrete pontoon system. MA Financial purchased the privately owned, 330-berth East Coast Marina in Manly Harbour, while Alder Developments purchased the 22-berth Bowen Marina in the Whitsundays, North Queensland.
Plans were announced for a 42berth marina on the Brisbane River for Raptis Seafoods, Morningside near the Gateway Bridge, aiming to complete by April 2025. Other projects include a fixed 50m (164ft) jetty at Lindeman Island Resort, and a marine tourism hub at Flinders Street Wharves, Townsville, featuring marina berths and a floating bar/restaurant.
Superior Jetties and The Jetty Specialist merged to become Marine Structures, a company now looking to
play a large role in the international superyacht marina sector. The two companies have dominated the design and construction of state-of-the-art superyacht berthing and pontoons systems throughout Australian marinas for many years. Marine Structures is now positioned as the country’s largest pontoon manufacturer.
In New Zealand, Waiheke Island, the country’s newest marina, became fully operational and earned acknowledgements for the innovative thinking behind its build. Set within excellent cruising waters and with stunning panoramic views, developers had to determine how best to shelter 180 marina berths from wave fetch and ferry wakes without disturbing a colony of ‘Little Penguins’. Waiheke Island Marina received an Outstanding Initiative Award from the New Zealand Marina Operators Association for building the marina without causing permanent damage to the seabed or coastal currents.
Berths became available at the all-new Waikawa North West Marina extension in Queen Charlotte Sound, South Island. The new extension provides an additional 251 berths on floating pontoons in sizes ranging from 10-30m (33-98ft), including some berths specifically designed for multihulls.
Hopper Developments submitted an application to the government in May to fast-track the approval process for a potential marina at Hobbs Bay near Auckland, as its research indicates a shortfall in boating facilities in the area to complement recent residential builds.
Design, Manufacture and Installation of Floating Pontoons, Marinas and Fishing Ports.
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MARINA GROUPS
Penarth Marina in Wales is the most sheltered and secure location in Cardiff Bay.
Zammit:
current end goal is being the very best boating company in the UK.”
Pioneering inclusion: boatfolk’s accessible boating vision
boatfolk, a private equity-backed UK marina group created from the 2019 merger between established marina chains Quay Marinas and Dean & Reddyhoff, offers a network of facilities throughout the British Isles. Group commercial director, Dominic Zammit, challenges the industry to rethink marina management by prioritising people. He talks to Mel Symes.
With legal training and experience in digital strategy and brand management, Zammit was brought in to oversee the merger and craft the new brand identity. As group commercial director, he is responsible for the strategic direction of the group of boatfolk companies, including setting out long-term vision from both a commercial and growth perspective. The challenge of his role was compounded by a complete lack of knowledge about boats and boating culture.
“I came to the industry completely new to it and couldn’t really see what the purpose of a marina really was beyond a parking facility for boats. What was glaringly obvious as a nonboater, however, was that this was a surprisingly inward-looking industry that talked more to itself than to anyone outside of it. At the time, Southampton Boat Show, the UK’s hero platform for broadcasting boating to the nation, seemed to prioritise providing an opportunity for industry members to
sell products, as opposed to creating energy and enthusiasm around the consumer base. This echoed a large gap in the strategic vision for UK marina groups and fuelled our mission to make it easy for anyone to get on the water.”
Q: Can you describe how you’ve worked to address this gap?
A: We’ve worked hard to position ourselves as the accessible marina group that does everything for the benefit of the boater. This has been a natural build on the Quay Marinas and Dean & Reddyhoff legacy of being all about the people; all about the boater. This was the essence of the feedback
from the industry prior to the merger and has followed on as the vision for boatfolk, now and for the future.
If someone hasn’t been brought up in boating, then it’s admittedly not an easy pastime to get into. But it seems almost absurd to us that in such a small island nation, with so much coastline within two hours’ travel from most parts of the UK, boating represents such a niche in terms of leisure pastime.
Dominic
“Our
Family boating at Haslar Marina.
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MARINA GROUPS
We run a programme called #boatgen for young people from 11-21, where we provide awareness about how to get into boating and help remove the barriers - providing kit, training and access, all heavily subsidised or free of charge. We run outreach with schools and partner with charities like the Andrew Simpson Foundation and the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust, as well as sea schools around the UK, to give young people the chance to get out on the water for the first time – particularly those from minority groups or disadvantaged backgrounds. To increase the chances of long-term engagement, part of our focus is on creating pathways. We try to give each young person who comes through a #boatgen participation event access to other aspects of the industry – whether that’s apprenticeship opportunities or direct hire. The Andrew Simpson Foundation also offers the means to obtain diploma qualifications or take part in training instruction programmes.
All this, of course, serves our commercial strategy since, ideally, in 20 years or so, having had their first
taste of boating via boatfolk, we hope to be their first choice when they look to purchase their first boat.
Q: What about your other services: boatpoint, boatcare and Beyonder?
A: The first step for a new boater isn’t usually to locate a marina, but rather to find a boat they want to buy. Through boatpoint, we currently sell more boats than any other broker in the UK, so chances are that they’re going to buy their first boat from us. We launched our boatpoint brokerage business in 2020 and have been on a growth mission ever since. We now have eight offices around the UK, positioned in strategic points where there are brokerage opportunities and market potential. The natural synergy between our marinas and our brokerage offices has been very successful.
With everything in-house, we’re able to leverage unique opportunities for the boater, such as offering discounted berthing up until the boat is sold, etc., providing a clear competitive advantage. With 70+ boatcare (maintenance and repair) engineers across the UK, both sellers and buyers
Left: The Lightship floating restaurant is one of many attractions at Haslar Marina in the historic maritime heart of Portsmouth Harbour. Below (l to r): Royal Quays (North Shields, England); Conwy (North Wales); and Rhu Marina (Firth of Clyde, Scotland).
can get all the necessary maintenance work carried out within the same company.
Key to our success is the fact that the boatpoint brand is underpinned on the same philosophy of the wider boatfolk family: accessibility and approachability. The brokerage market was ripe for innovation when we introduced boatpoint and we were able to benefit from the surge of interest in buying boats fuelled by COVID. Since then, we’ve endeavoured to reduce any friction on the boat-buying journey. Our aim is to create a seamless transition from the boat purchase to the marina berth and to deliver a consistently rounded and relaxing customer experience.
Beyonder, our boat subscription service, available in three of our marinas, is now fully booked, which is fantastic. This is perhaps another of the factors that has led to our customer demographic becoming steadily younger.
Additionally, we’re very active online; almost all our marketing is digital. Within the marinas we bolster the destination-related attractions with our own restaurants and hotel rooms, using them as gateways into the other parts of the boating site. These various layers then contribute to extending awareness of boatfolk and encouraging people to give boating a go.
Q: No hurdles?
A: Oh goodness, of course!! We’ve found entering the world of hospitality a huge challenge, particularly in a post-COVID, weakened economy, and are moving towards a process of re-tenanting our existing restaurants. Ultimately, whilst restaurants are
MARINA GROUPS
absolutely central to enhancing the marina experience, we recognise that the marina business is not the hospitality business. We’ve invested some £7 million in our restaurants over recent years and that’s really brought up the standard in each location. But, fortunately, we’re now in a position where we can hand them off to professional operators who can take them to the next level and return our focus to our core boating operations.
New boat sales have also been tricky, but this reflects the status quo globally, with a softening boat sales market post-COVID and the economy driving a reluctance to spend on new boats. On the other hand, brokerage of secondhand boats remains stable – so this is where we’re currently consolidating our efforts.
Q: How else have you been tackling social sustainability?
A: Beyond trying to make boating more accessible to different sectors of society, we’ve tried to ensure that we’re recruiting from as diverse a background as possible. We cast our net as wide as we can, with multiple people involved in the recruiting process to avoid a biased outcome. We’ve spent a lot of time organising training and education for our team around diversity and inclusion and this is reinforced with annual refresher training. We’ve also hired a People and Culture manager specifically to help with this shift in attitudes and behaviours and to help us move in a new direction. We’re engaging in the marine conversation at grassroots level via our communications strategy and try to provide good examples and
inspiring leadership. Our staff demographic could do with improvement but I’m happy to say that our first #boatgen youth sailing team has an all-female crew!
Q: What about environmental sustainability?
A: From individual environmental stewardship initiatives in each marina, to a new five-year partnership set to start next year which will map marine biodiversity in and around marinas in the UK, we are tremendously active in this space. We are a supporting and founding partner of the Studland Bay Marine Partnership that involves the RYA, Natural England and the National Trust, the aim of which is to help raise awareness of more sustainable mooring practices and protection of the seabed. We’re also a mentor and partner of BrightTide, which next year will run an accelerator programme based on sustainability and AI for land-based agriculture and aquaculture. These projects involve local authority or government representation and are providing a means to take the conversation to MPs and policymakers.
Q: Would you say that as a result of your work, communication within the industry has changed?
All our energy comes from renewable sources and we’re just getting planning permission for installation of solar panels at a couple of marina sites. We’re continuing discussions with hydrothermal energy start-ups and considering water source heat pumps for shower heating.
A: I’d like to think that we have managed to create a shift in how marinas now promote their services. Previously marinas would predominantly showcase their pontoons, boat capacity and hoist size, but now the conversation moves more around sustainability, community engagement events, and what is being done to support the next generation of boaters. There’s been a palpable transformation, and I believe that boatfolk’s vision has been a catalyst for that with other marina chains following suit.
Does boatfolk have any plans to expand overseas?
“Well, never say never!” laughs Zammit. “Our priority for now, however, is to consolidate the existing marinas and roll out boatpoint and boatcare in each one, whilst broadening access to Beyonder. We want to create absolute parity within our estate in terms of what’s on offer and the level of service. Being private equity backed, there is invariably an imperative to continue to grow and develop. We’re always on the acquisition trail with a healthy pipeline to keep us busy.”
“Our current end goal is being the very best boating company in the UK. Our point of difference is that we’re the only truly national marina group. Strengthening that position and making sure that wherever you are, you can get to a boatfolk marina - this is what makes us an accessible brand.”
Services at Portland’s boatyard are examples of boatfolk’s extensive boatcare service for maintenance and repair.
Bangor Marina in Belfast Lough, Northern Ireland, is ideally located for access to the town centre and to excellent cruising and fishing waters.
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EVENTS
Metstrade recordbreaker sets ground for bumper 2025 event
The 36th Metstrade, held 19th-21st November 2024 in Amsterdam, recorded its highest ever attendance figure and hosted close to 1,900 exhibitors across 12 halls at RAI Amsterdam.
The show received 31,824 visits from 19,779 unique visitors spanning 134 nationalities. The overall increase in attendance was up 10% and 6% respectively when compared to 2023, the previous historic high-water mark. Attendance records were surpassed on each of the three days for this strictly trade-only show.
Metstrade built further on its depth and breadth of activities for the whole industry this year. A sell-out Superyacht Forum, held under Metstrade’s management for the first time, hosted 700 delegates. The premier appearance of the co-located Yacht Racing Forum, run in partnership with World Sailing, provided an exciting new focal point for cutting edge sailing.
Speaking at the close of the show,
Busy networking events included Marina World’s Waterfront Drinks in the Marina & Yard Pavilion.
Metstrade director Niels Klarenbeek
said: “The excellent results of this year’s show provide a confident foundation on
Nearly 20,000 visitors from all around the world were attracted to the diversity of marine trade products at Metstrade 2024.
which to base ambitious plans for 2025. I’m pleased to announce that Metstrade will expand into hall 8, which will add around 10,000m² [107,600ft²] of space. This will enable us to eliminate the current waiting list for The Superyacht Pavilion, provide options for exhibitors seeking more stand space, and open a circular route around the Metstrade halls to improve the visitor experience. There are further exciting initiatives in the pipeline that we will unveil in coming months.”
“Given the significant enhancements made to Metstrade in recent editions we are introducing an up-to-date brand image to reflect where we are today,” he added. “Metstrade has evolved from a trade show into a global platform driving the leisure marine industry forward. Our rebrand will reflect this growth and our commitment to fostering innovation, collaboration and long-term success across the marine leisure industry. Our new payoff – ‘Propelling Growth. Harbouring Innovation’ summarises exactly what Metstrade is all about.”
In addition to a busy Marina & Yard Pavilion, with various exhibitorsponsored gatherings and the annual Waterfront Drinks on the Marina World stand, there were educational opportunities via the Metstrade Theatre. Marina World sponsored two sessions. The first, chaired by Roberto Perocchio of Assomarinas, explored the buildup to the ICOMIA World Marinas
EVENTS
Conference to be held in Venice in 2025, and the second, chaired by Mike Ward of Marina Projects, examined the careful thinking behind upcoming work to comprehensively revise the internationally renowned TYHA Code of Practice for marina design and operation.
Developing a new Code
Mike Ward and Simon Goodhead of Marina Projects (a first-time exhibitor in the Marina & Yard Pavilion) along with Jon White of The Yacht Harbour Association (TYHA), homed in on upcoming work to revise the TYHA Code of Practice, a globally recognised marina operations manual that has not been revised since 2013. The Code now requires an extensive rewrite as the industry has changed and developed significantly.
Crucial issues, such as environmental legislation; health and safety legislation; sustainability; and modern design techniques and initiatives need to be addressed.
all criteria can be applied.
In terms of sustainability, the problem is “designing for uncertainty”, and the challenge is for the marina designer to build in the flexibility to accommodate different solutions. Different fuel options, a larger global fleet (178% increase from 2000 to 2023) of often larger vessels, increasing concerns regarding
Roberto Perocchio (standing) discussed IWMC 2025 with Joe Lynch, Mel Symes, Suzanne Davies and Alberto Sonino.
that they are first and foremost functional spaces that above all else must provide a safe haven and a calm environment.”
Heading for Venice
Roberto Perocchio, owner and manager of Venetian facility Marina del Cavallino, expertly moderated the session exploring the themes and aims of the next World Marinas Conference (IWMC), the flagship event of the International Council of Marine Industries Association (ICOMIA). IWMC 2025 will be held in Venice 15th-17th October.
ICOMIA CEO, Joe Lynch, introduced ICOMIA and IWMC, describing the conference as the “platform for engaging with members and for industry professionals to connect, build relationships and create new business opportunities.” IWMC 2025 will be held in a genuine working boatyard next to a marina; the result of the Venezia Certosa Marina regeneration project that has transformed a neglected munitions site into a sustainable economic asset for the local community.
Sites are more challenging than ever; accommodating superyachts is akin to hosting “small floating boutique hotels”; energy needs to be managed as part of infrastructure design; technology needs to be transferrable to different climates; and decarbonising means that no size fits
sea-level rise and flooding, and the application of smart technology must all in a sense be concrete background to the primary consideration, as Mike Ward noted: “Marinas are, and need to be, more aspirational today than they have ever been, but we must remember
Mel Symes of Innovamarina explored the conference theme ‘Innovation. Collaboration. Transformation’, which aims to address societal relevance (engaging a wider more diverse audience); resilience (aging workforce, climate adaption, circular economy); technological advancements (digitalisation, AI, data analysis etc); and environmental monitoring and stewardship.
Symes introduced Suzanne Davies, CEO of Australia-based Marine Industries Association, as a confirmed speaker on world markets. She shared findings from a recent market report and discussed some of the lessons she had learned organising events in Australia.
Conference host, Alberto Sonino, spoke about the unique venue in Venice, plans for an exceptional gala dinner and an exciting marina tour. He extended a warm welcome to all prospective delegates.
L to r: Jon White, Mike Ward and Simon Goodhead explored the challenges of rewriting the TYHA Code of Practice.
MARINA DEVELOPMENTS
Five-star luxury at all-new Porto Carlo Riva
The iconic Porto Carlo Riva marina in Rapallo, Italy has undergone radical change. While remaining close to its roots, it is now open to the evolving nature of yachting tourism and ready to face future environmental challenges. Donatella Zucca reports
Founded in 1975, privately-owned Porto Carlo Riva soon became established as a high-end tourist port with a reputation that gained in strength year on year until a freak hurricane came knocking in 2018. The ferocious storm wrecked the Italian coastline between Rapallo and Portofino and totally destroyed the marina, tearing up its breakwaters and ripping through
the marina basin and surrounding port infrastructure.
Despite a multitude of problems and expenses, Italian property investment firm Bizzi & Partners started work to rebuild the breakwaters and redevelop infrastructure and property. A public interest enterprise also set about making the town of Rapallo safe and enhanced its tourist appeal. Architectural design studio Tectoo, via its founder Susanna Scarabicci, designed the port architecture and Savarese Costruzioni e Sales, commissioned by Bizzi & Partners via tender, was responsible for the construction works. In all, the project cost €70 million, over half of which went towards rebuilding the breakwater. The rebuild of all defensive structures for the marina and the city was completed at the end of 2022, and in February 2023 the wave bulkhead test certificate was obtained.
In addition to being imposing and cutting-edge, the new 400m (1,310ft) long breakwater greatly exceeds legal requirements. Comprising 1,600 tetrapods, each weighing 20 tonnes, and 200,000 tonnes of rocks, its mantle extends for tens of meters into the sea
The all-new Porto Carlo Riva, rebuilt and re-imagined after being destroyed by a freak hurricane.
and its wave wall rises 7m (23ft) above sea level.
Smaller than before and even more exclusive, the new marina has 250 berths instead of its original 400 but can accommodate vessels up to 60m (197ft) at nine docks and protected piers. All berths have direct pump-out points for bilge water and sewage; vehicles can be parked in a new underground car park; and services, such as nautical brokerage, boat handling and Customs clearance are available. Over 200 new jobs have been created across the site.
In order to respond to the changing needs of the nautical market, the region and the consequences of any change in climate, Bizzi & Partners has created a service port that is amongst the most modern in the Mediterranean. Piers and buildings have been rebuilt in a better way, and bars, nautical commercial spaces, two restaurants, on-board delivery services and high level catering for guest events and entertainment added. Safety is paramount, exemplified by an excellent fire prevention system, personnel with first aid certificates, and video surveillance on the docks, entrances and commercial premises.
Porto Carlo Riva will be the first tourist port in Liguria to use purified municipal waste water for
Yachts moored at the pier alongside the Torretta restaurant (below) and at new marina piers (left).
MARINA DEVELOPMENTS
approximately 80% of its non-potable water requirements e.g. boat washing and watering plants and green spaces. Thousands of tonnes of inert materials were reclaimed from the storm surge and used to rebuild the site, and energy saving devices and solar panels are installed. In collaboration with the Ministry of the Environment, great care has been taken to protect the local marine flora and fauna and electric charge points have been installed for cars and boats.
To boost tourist appeal, Bizzi & Partners is leveraging the natural beauty of the Gulf of Tigullio while making Porto Carlo Riva attractive to superyachts with a top-of-therange clubhouse, retail and food and beverage outlets.
The key figure involved in the regeneration of Porto Carlo Riva, Davide Bizzi, founder and CEO of Bizzi & Partners, has developed and sold more than 30 million square metres of residential and commercial property in Europe and the Americas. His is a character animated by a strong
passion for design and architecture, a quality that is reflected in the design of his buildings and everything else he creates. This concept of out-of-the-box thinking and passion for excellence mirrors the approach taken by Carlo Riva himself when he first developed the marina as one of the first private tourist ports in Italy and the most iconic yachting destination.
Looking back in time, Carlo Riva –an engineer, navigator and pioneer of pleasure boating – was equally renowned for his shipyards and, of course, the luxurious Riva motorboats favoured by famous people from all over the world – think Brigitte Bardot! Fast forward to Davide Bizzi who, while considering the marina privileged – his first marina project and conceived as a five-star hotel – said it will have a sequel, having obtained an agreement with the Municipality of Bordighera to rebuild the port from scratch. The inauguration of the new Porto Carlo Marina was unsurprisingly a regional, national and international event.
Interestingly, after analysis, the
The Torretta hospitality building (left) is now open and the restaurant fully staffed (below).
management team decided against offering hospitality areas exclusively reserved for the crews and captains of large yachts, believing that they would best enjoy the same high-end facilities as other guests. These include a new hospitality venue called Torretta, which boasts a restaurant and American bar/ice cream parlour, all managed by the Mussini family under its brand O’Magazin al Porto. This is seen as the hospitality flagship of the marina, offering the best food and beverage outlet in Rapallo, and captains and crew enjoy its services from breakfast through to lunch and dinner.
Concierge services are well covered with an information point, staffed by two team members who can assist with itinerary planning and general requests (taxis, onboard grocery deliveries, restaurant bookings etc). Meeting rooms with Wi-Fi, the latest generation fibre and an integrated system for video calls are available, as well as a private office that can be reserved for meetings. When the clubhouse opens next season, wellness and gym facilities will be available.
An on-site property agency can assist in finding apartments for crew members requiring short and medium term accommodation although this is unlikely to be greatly utilised as, due to limited space, there is no refit area for large yachts. The on-site yard is suitable for hauling, launching and maintaining small boats up to 18m (59ft) in length and is managed by third parties.
The commercial facility features a merchandising mix that is appreciated by captains and ship owners and stands out as a base for Riva, Sanlorenzo and Nautor’s Swan. Border police, a property agency, ship chandler, jewellery store, high fashion and technical clothing retailer, delicatessen and wine shop will also open in 2025. The management team reports that one of the services most appreciated by captains is 24-hour mooring assistance, and the marina team is very proud to offer this.
The new concession agreed with the municipality includes maintenance of the public spaces of the public port and activities related to the Patron Saint Festival in July. Collaboration with the events office of the Municipality of Rapallo is also ongoing. The concession runs until 2056.
MARKET UPDATE: POLAND
Navigating through choppy waters
The growth in the number of boats in Poland has failed to catch up with the development of the marina industry in recent years. Coupled with other factors, like rising energy costs and taxation, this puts pressure on business revenue. Vladislav Vorotnikov reports
Official figures indicate a promising trend in the popularity of sailing in Poland. As of late 2023, the number of officially registered boats in the country stood at 63,000, according to the government database Reja24, administered by the Maritime Office in Szczecin. This number has been steadily growing by an average of 1,000 per year, reflecting a positive trajectory for the industry.
The impact of this upward trend should, however, be treated with caution. According to Przemysław Lenard, deputy director for the Maritime Office, the lion’s share of new vessels is registered by foreigners and these boats are never meant to sail in Polish waters or be moored up in the country. In 2023, the number of boats registered by foreigners under the Polish flag amounted to 26,200, Lenard said, citing the official figures. This represents a hike in vessel registration by foreigners over the past four years.
On 1st August 2020, the Polish Government embarked on a reform measure to dramatically simplify the registration of yachts and other floating vessels up to 24m (79ft) in length.
In previous years, Polish boat owners tended to register their boats in foreign jurisdictions for different reasons, commented Patryk Zbroja, a maritime lawyer and a boat owner. Now, the entire process has been transferred to the online portal Reja24.
The reform turned the tables significantly, as foreigners are now coming to Poland in large numbers to register their vessels, Zbroja said.
“The registration procedure is now simpler, faster and cheaper than it used to be. Previously, seagoing and inland yachts had to be included in as many as six types of state register, kept by different maritime chambers and maritime offices,” Zbroja explained.
However, the reform has had little impact on the popularity of sailing inside the country. Poland builds around 22,000 boats per year, of which 95% are exported, estimates Polboat, the Polish Chamber of Marine Industry and Water Sports. It is estimated that over half of all
The need for new berths in the Gdynia area, the heart of the Polish sailing industry, has long been evident. Photo: Marina Gdynia
11m (36ft) boats with outboard engines manufactured in Europe come from Poland.
Expanding capacities
Recent years have been marked by a rise in the number of public marinas in Poland and this trend continues. “An increased number of marinas have been developed, thanks to EU funding, that are owned by and managed by the state. The number of berths increases faster than the actual number of vessels,” commented Ewa Kot, owner and CEO at Marina Przełom in Górki Zachodnie, Gdańsk. Marina Przełom is nonetheless expanding its capacity. In 2024, it added 3,500m² (37,700ft²) of space for wintering and summer maintenance to meet increasing demand for storing and repairing sailing and motor yachts, Kot revealed.
Regional authorities across Poland are also mulling plans to build new or expand existing marinas. For example, the regional authorities in Świnoujście have recently said that they are seeking EU funding to modernise the marina in the North Basin.
“We want to obtain PLN13 million (€3 million) to modernise the piers so that they rise according to the water level,” Paweł Sujka, deputy mayor of Świnoujście said during an interview on Radio Szczecin.
The key rationale behind the project is to become more competitive. The
Boat handling at Marina Przelom.
MARKET UPDATE: POLAND
investment is needed not only to add more space but to make the marina in the Northern Basin look “more or less like the marina in Łunowo, in other words, very modern,” Sujka explained.
The renovation schedule, to be kicked off in 2025, will expand capacity by nearly 10%, enabling the marina to accommodate 560 vessels.
“There will be concrete piers attached to piles, completely resistant to storm conditions. After this modernisation, the marina will probably be the largest on the Polish sea coast,” noted Marek Bartkowski, manager of the marina in the Northern Basin.
One of the most ambitious current projects in the Polish marina industry is the upcoming construction of Nova Marina Gdynia. The project, developed as a joint venture model by Ghelamco Poland and the Polish Sailing Association, will involve the construction of a multifunctional building with an area of approximately 20,000m² (215,300ft²). Among other things, it will house the headquarters of the Polish Sailing Association.
The need for new berths in the Gdynia area, the heart of the Polish sailing industry, has long been evident. In an interview with Marina World in 2019, Przemysław Marynowski, a spokesman for Marina Gdynia, revealed that growth in the number of boats and yachts in the country boosted the demand for new accommodation, particularly in the Gdynia area. During the high season, usually observed in the summer months, it was typically booked by 100%, Marynowski indicated.
Emerging opportunities
Market players believe that the marina industry in Poland has some natural constraints. Cruising in the country is largely limited to the two sailing areas around the ports of Szczecin and Gdynia. Sailing north is challenging because Poland is separated from Lithuania and Latvia by Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia.
The distance between Gdynia and Klaipeda, Lithuania, is 143 nautical miles and if European boat owners had an opportunity to visit Svetlogorsk, Russia, at the mid-way point, this would give a new growth impetus to yachting in this part of Europe. But in the context of the ongoing political tensions with Russia, such opportunity will unlikely emerge in the foreseeable future.
In recent years, new marinas have also started to appear outside of the regions most popular among boat owners.
In May 2024, Nautica Marina launched a new marina in the lake-rich region of Warmia-Masuria, which can berth up to 150 boats.
In December 2023, regional authorities also presented a concept of building a marina on the Vistula River in Bydgoszcz in the central part of the country, northwest of Warsaw. The initiative is in its infancy but has attracted a lot of public attention as one of the proposed scenarios provides for the construction of a floating marina.
The Bydgoszcz marina is due to be an element of the emerging Kujawsko-Pomorskie Vistula Trail, a network of marinas proposed to
Marina Przelom (left & below) is expanding its capacity to meet increasing demand for storing and repairing sailing and motor yachts.
meet the needs of growing tourist traffic on the river.
Work on the trail is scheduled to start by the end of 2025 and Wody Polskie, a state water holding, is due to select site locations for the marina construction that will not be harmful to the environment.
“This will be a network of marinas and tourist attractions. Everything will be covered by one marketing umbrella,” Marcin Karasiński, vice president of the Vistula Tourist Organisation and coordinator of the Vistula Trail, told the local press.
Cost competition
The situation is far from being cloudless for Polish marinas. During the past few years, just like the entire economy, marinas in Poland have seen a surge in energy costs.
While all of Europe has been suffering from rising energy costs over the last couple of years, in Poland this has been particularly pressing. Wholesale energy prices in Poland are among the highest in Europe. As of the middle of 2024, the average wholesale price of electricity in Poland was €90 per MWh. Higher prices were recorded during this period only in Ireland and Italy. In comparison, in Norway and Sweden, the energy prices were as low as €32 and €39 per MWh, respectively.
“The rise of energy costs forces
MARKET UPDATE: POLAND
marina operators to seek alternative energy sources,” Ewa Kot said, and to help mitigate the rise in costs in 2023, Marina Przełom installed solar panels to provide a renewable and clean source of energy. A solution that Kot indicated is becoming common in the country.
But high energy costs are only one
of the factors putting pressure on the profitability of the marina business in Poland. “The common challenges for marinas operating in Poland are the annual tax increases and the introduction of new taxes,” Kot admitted.
And there is growing competition between the private sector in the industry and public marinas. “Private
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Private marinas face challenges due to rising costs and increasing difficulty in competing with public marinas that may not need to make operating profit.
Photo: Smiltyne Yacht Club Marina
marinas find it hard to compete with the public marinas that are financed from budget and may be operating at a loss,” Kot claimed.
Marina Royale Darłowo, located in the north on the coast of the Baltic Sea, despite its name, opted not to build a marina as a part of its project, Wojciech Konferowicz, sales director, POC Partners, the company managing Marina Royale, commented. The demand in this region is primarily met by two marinas located further inside the Darłowo port. Both are owned and managed by the state, Konferowicz indicated.
The coming years also promise to be somewhat challenging for the marina industry in Poland as the energy crisis is yet to loosen its grip on the sector, the general economic outlook remains uncertain, and competition is likely to strengthen.
Nova Marina Vilamoura (Portugal)
ENVIRONMENTAL PRODUCTS & INITIATIVES
Tomorrow’s solutions for today’s problems
In the final quarter of 2024, the diverse activities and brands that fell within the Poralu Marine umbrella were consolidated under the new name Wearth Group (see World News and Mooring Post December/January). Wearth Group growth director, Christophe Sauné, discusses initiatives that make for sustainable marinas.
At a time when waterfront development is a major concern in urban planning, when yachts and marina infrastructure are either flourishing or going through major renovation programmes, developers, investors and governments have the opportunity to make the right investment decisions. Indeed, marinas are designed and built to last over 30 years. With changing regulations and a trend to encourage or enforce sustainable practices, it seems mandatory for stakeholders to be proactive on promoting clean harbour construction and management habits.
sticks to this development philosophy. From design to construction and management, we strive for programmes aimed at preserving what makes our
Wearth Group, through its different brands and expertise, has been focused right from the beginning on supplying the most innovative solutions to limit the impact of marina installations on the environment. Our R&D investment policy firmly
industry special; the interaction with clean waters and clean environments.
Collecting waste
Collecting waste isn’t the end goal – in fact, it’s the starting point of a process of transforming practices and mindsets. Our range of litter collection products, The Searial
The Bebot beach screening robot is perfect for beach operators who consider there is strong economic value in providing customers with spotless sand.
Cleaners, can be combined to offer a fully customised solution adapted to specific site constraints while raising awareness regarding marine pollution. The Impact Program (see Fig 1) is a collaborative three-level system based on a concrete cooperation between a community of local partners: NGOs, charities, universities, public and private stakeholders, and sponsors.
For example, to deal with the increase in floating waste of all kinds in the Ourcq Canal (mainly aquatic weeds, but also packaging, bottles and cans), the City of Paris decided to invest in the Impact Program and the Invisibubble, a bubble curtain solution developed in collaboration with Wearth Group’s partner Canadian Pound. This system stops plastic waste and directs it to a previously determined collection point. Specifically designed pipes are strategically positioned on the seabed and release compressed air, forming layers of bubble curtains. Once stopped and redirected, the waste is collected at a single location several times per week. Despite this bubble curtain, fish movements are not disrupted, and no visual or noise pollution is generated by the system.
The objectives of the installation were clearly announced, and were measured during an observation period before being potentially deployed on a larger scale. The aims were to:
• Facilitate the canal cleaning by limiting the dispersion of floating waste
• Prevent hydrocarbon pollution from moving downstream
• Contribute to improving water oxygenation
• Preserve the canal biodiversity and reduce the proliferation of invasive algae
• Fight against the presence of plastic waste in the river and, ultimately, in seas and oceans
• Raise awareness about the installation by supporting the Paris City Hall team in designing and deploying their communication initiative
For achieving its promises, the project was recently awarded a Bronze Territoria Award and the City of Paris is
Fig 1. The Impact Program is a collaborative three-level system based on cooperation between local partners.
ENVIRONMENTAL PRODUCTS & INITIATIVES
currently investigating several additional sites where the system could be implemented.
Clean beaches
We notice that cleanliness for beach operators has important commercial value. But clean water and green practices aren’t, however, fully integrated as yet in traditional marina business models.
Despite the proven success of waste collection programmes and, more generally, environmental approaches in marinas, a huge difference remains between aspirations and effective and concrete action. Marina operators express a strong wish to invest in ecofriendly construction materials and keep their water basin as clean as possible. However, a deep dive into such environmental practices comes with dedicated investments and operational costs that can rarely be compensated by extra value perceived and paid for by marina end users.
On the other hand, and mostly by commercialising the Bebot – a beach screening robot – we noticed that beach operators find strong economic value in providing their customers with spotless sand. Cleaning practices are, therefore, an intrinsic part of their business model and OpEx plan.
As an innovative industrial company, our role is to fill this ‘green gap’ by providing not only technical solutions but by also developing commercial offers that help our customers value their environmental approach.
Building green
Our vision isn’t strictly restricted to water cleanliness. It initially started with construction methodologies, strongly focusing on decreasing the impact of marina construction on local
ecosystems. Building ‘green’ is a big step ahead with tremendous upsides.
Among other programmes, reducing carbon footprint in marina construction should remain one of our common primary objectives. The challenge is not only to conceptualise and design the right solutions, but also to federate the entire industry value chain around the concept of sustainable construction, from raw material suppliers to investors and marina end users.
Marinas in general, especially floating constructions, are manufactured for
Poralu Marine’s Ecostyle decking allows light to filter through and thus preserve underwater flora and fauna.
available to drastically decrease the development carbon footprint and its impact on local ecosystems?
From a developer perspective and purely on the financial aspect of sustainable considerations, the trend in marina property valuation and potential capital gain follows the trend of traditional construction: the lower the environmental impact at construction, during operation and at dismantling, the higher the financial value.
Indeed, discount rate (or expected return for investors) increases with the risk associated to the asset, naturally dragging down its future value. Thus, non-compliance with future sustainability expectations, which could be either legally imposed or considered socially non-acceptable, is foreseen by investors as a risk combining high financial impact and high probability, and thus reducing the value of the marina in the future.
Put differently, and mostly because shorelines, banks and rivers are
The Invisibubble curtain stops plastic waste and directs it to a collection point.
a limited period of time. Knowing that what is built today has an expiration date and not considering the end of life of the building materials seems like leaving our next generations with an issue we should have anticipated. In that sense, making tomorrow’s circular economy possible is a choice we commonly make today understanding the impact of construction and removal:
- How easy is it going to be to remove what has been installed?
- What are the recyclability options offered for the materials used?
- What construction options are
centres of attention when it comes to sustainable practices, building green is a must if we want our industry to remain attractive for future investors.
Marina infrastructure, operators, sailing, and boating in general stand on a stage where natural elements are the main pillars; the business in itself exists only because water and shoreline are perceived as pristine elements. They are thus under constant scrutiny. Preserving them by making the right choices is the only way to ensure long term business and pleasure for all, and tomorrow’s solutions can already be found today.
ENVIRONMENTAL PRODUCTS & INITIATIVES
Real-time spill detection - automatically
Do you know how many spills occur in your marina and where they originate? If the answer is no, a team of Spanish environmentally conscious specialists can help you take control.
Garau Ingenieros, Ocean Drivers and Dr Mariano Morell have worked to develop and promote an automatic spill detection system aptly named Spillcontrol. The system uses the most up-to-date technology to economically deliver an environmental real-time monitoring process that speeds up spill detection and thus minimises pollution risks.
A fully commercial product, Spillcontrol has been installed in three marinas in the Balearic Islands – Marina Botafoch in Ibiza, and Club Nàutic Portitxol and Club Nàutic Arenal in Mallorca – and other marinas are expressing interest.
The system involves the installation of fully autonomous cameras (no need for connection to the power grid or Wi-Fi networks) at
any location in the marina. These take images of the water, which are sent to the Spillcontrol servers. Using AI analysis via the system’s proprietary algorithm, spills can be detected and quantified via image analysis. If a spill is detected, an alarm or notification is issued.
Spillcontrol records all data and it is easy to extract specific information,
such as frequency, type and location of spills. This enables the marina operator to pinpoint any problem areas and take corrective action. The system helps facilities avoid fines for spills that did not originate in the marina by generating necessary documentation, helps the marina to stay ahead of future environmental requirements, and assists in obtaining ISO 14001 or EMAS environmental management certifications.
Equally importantly, it sends a clear message to customers that the marina is at the forefront of environmental innovation and cares about clean water. This is the ethos upon which Garau Ingenieros began the Spillcontrol journey – and here’s the background.
Garau Ingenieros is a civil engineering firm based in Mallorca that undertakes a variety
ENVIRONMENTAL PRODUCTS & INITIATIVES
of projects, such as roads, urban developments, wastewater systems, coastal works and harbours and marinas. “Our firm has a long tradition that began with my great grandfather,” says CEO Carlos Garau Fullana. “He was a civil engineer and for some years was the director of Palma Harbour. I represent the fourth generation of civil engineers in the family.”
Garau is an innovator who sought to make the best of his talented team. “We began work with drone topography, Building Information Modelling (BIM)
and other innovations but we wanted to go beyond this and find our own niche – a speciality that specifically suited us,” he emphasises. “Because we love harbours, we know a lot about how to improve water quality, and because it makes no sense to have top quality harbours and marinas with poor sea water quality, we decided to move the company focus towards improving the marine water environment.”
The shift in focus was made around four years ago and involved collaboration with Ocean Drivers,
a software and hardware firm specialising in marine developments, and Mariano Morell, a civil engineer whose PhD thesis explored the science behind Spillcontrol.
Other projects are also under development: CleanPort, a Spillcontrol development to create a harbour quality system based on AI and expert systems; and CICERO, a water quality system.
“We are in the pre-commercial phase of the CICERO project, which is being authorised by Puertos del Estado, the organisation that manages the various port authorities in Spain,” Garau says. “Puertos del Estado has a very interesting programme, Ports 4.0, that promotes innovative projects related to different aspects of port operations. We have been granted €300,000 for our project, which has a development cost of €500,000 over three years.” CICERO seeks better water quality via the natural processes already present in harbour waters, without the need for chemical products. www.spillcontrol.es
ENVIRONMENTAL PRODUCTS & INITIATIVES
Innovation to restore seagrass meadows
The UK-based Ocean Conservation Trust (OCT) has been focused on seagrass conservation for over a decade. Its Blue Meadows Programme, a holistic approach to seagrass protection, regeneration and restoration at scale, aims to protect seagrass meadows that already exist, and over the longer term, restore meadows that have been lost.
After years of trialling different restoration techniques, the OCT has now developed a purposebuilt deployment device for use by commercial divers. This innovative device, called HMS OCToPUS, is showing some promising signs of success.
Hydroseeding on land is a planting process to spread seeds rapidly, particularly to help fight erosion. Taking inspiration from this, OCT sought to develop Hydro Marine Seeding (HMS) as a technique to inject seagrass seeds directly into the seabed to restore, on scale, efficiently. To achieve this, the Trust commissioned a local Plymouthbased design team, Absolute Product Design, to engineer a mechanism based on a caulking gun. It was then named OCToPUS (Ocean Conservation Trust o Pressurised Underwater Seeder).
Underwater hydroseeding (above) and the specialist ROV that helps map and monitor sensitive habitats (below).
The spring-loaded handheld device is designed for divers to use on the seabed and has a 1.5 litre chamber filled with Zostera marine seeds suspended in a specialised carrying media. One OCToPUS unit can be used to inject 2,000 seagrass seeds in under 20 minutes, in just one dive, by one diver.
The Ocean Habitat Restoration team has completed 1.5 ha (3.7 acres) of restoration effort in the Solent Maritime, and 2 ha (4.9 acres) in Plymouth Sound National Marine Park. The team will continue to monitor the restoration sites, but preliminary results are positive, showing vital regeneration of the seagrass beds.
Amelia Newman, seagrass aquaculture technician lead at the OCT, said: “We focus entirely on subtidal seagrass, and with that there are a variety of additional challenges that come with working below the waves. So, we are really excited to be at this stage with our new device and starting to see how it could revolutionise the way OCT goes about restoring this vitally important habitat. We are so grateful for the support of one of our key partners, Ørsted, and the engineers at Absolute Product Design, who have been fundamental in the development of this innovative device.”
Samir Whitaker, biodiversity lead specialist at Ørsted, noted: “Seagrass meadows are highly efficient carbon sinks which improve water quality and provide food and shelter to numerous important species, such as sand eel and herring. The UK has lost up to 90% of its seagrass, but groups like the Ocean Conservation Trust have shown that we can bring it back. Restoring seagrass efficiently, and quickly, is imperative to tackling the biodiversityclimate crisis and Ørsted is delighted to have supported the development of HMS OCToPUS. We firmly believe that a combination of collaboration and innovation will be key to achieving real progress in biodiversity protection, preservation and restoration.”
In partnership with marine technology company Sonardyne, MarineSee, Voyis and Blue Robotics, the Trust has also developed a specialised Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) to further its conservation efforts.
ENVIRONMENTAL PRODUCTS & INITIATIVES
Mapping and monitoring of sensitive habitats like seagrass in the marine environment is challenging and the ROV is a tool that will enable OCT to map seagrass in unprecedented detail. Using state-of-the-art underwater positioning technology, the ROV is capable of producing high-resolution photogrammetry to track restoration efforts and monitor established beds. By also using other exciting complementary acoustic technologies, the OCT is aiming to demonstrate a more comprehensive way of mapping and monitoring seagrass, to support its restoration activities. The ease and precision of repeatability that should be achieved with this technology will also enable the OCT to much better understand seasonal and annual change in the seagrass meadows.
“To be able to look at seagrass in this way is hugely exciting for us as a team – we’re very fortunate to spend a lot of time in and on the water but this technology promises a much more accurate, detailed and efficient way we can monitor some of the main metrics of seagrass health,” said Andy Cameron, conservation projects
manager at the OCT. “This also means we can use divers differently for things the ROV can’t do. We’re so grateful for Sonardyne’s help to take a huge step forward in our capabilities to monitor, which will ultimately feed into improving how we go about restoring seagrass.”
Groundbreaking seagrass conservation work like this is important as up to 90% of seagrass beds have been lost in the UK since the 1930s, largely through physical disturbance, pollution and disease. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) estimated in 2014 that seagrasses are declining by 7% a year globally. This estimate makes it the fastest disappearing habitat on the planet.
Mark Parry, head of ocean habitat restoration at the OCT summed up: “We are dedicated to protecting and restoring seagrass meadows in the southwest and beyond, so it is thrilling
to see how we can build upon our efforts with these exciting devices and technologies. It is great to be working with a team of passionate people at the OCT who think outside the box, as well as receiving support from our partners and local organisations to help us conserve these vitally important habitats.”
Further information: www.oceanconservationtrust.org
ENVIRONMENTAL PRODUCTS & INITIATIVES
Coral Sea earns a first in sustainability certification
Coral Sea Marina in Airlie Beach, Queensland, has become the first marina in Australia to earn Sustainable Tourism Certification through Ecotourism Australia. The achievement underscores its commitment to global bestpractice standards and highlights its leadership in sustainable tourism.
Joscelyn O’Keefe, head of marketing and business development, explained why the marina sought the certificate. “Our marina is uniquely located at the heart of the Great Barrier Reef and as a destination marina we attract hundreds of thousands of visitors every
year,” she said. “We are acutely aware of the key role the marina plays in the development of a sustainable tourism industry in the Whitsundays and, therefore, our commitment to effective environmental management is a key priority for us as a business.
Ecotourism Australia
“Sustainability has always been at the heart of our operations. This certification will help us on our journey to continue to promote the concept of ‘travel for good’ to our guests, visitors and the wider community,” she added.
Ecotourism Australia’s CEO, Elissa Keenan, congratulated Coral Sea Marina on the achievement saying that it was not only a testament to its dedication to sustainability and environmental stewardship but also testament to the focus of the tourism industry in the Whitsunday’s region.
“We have 38 ECO Certified operators in the region and 18 operate their tour experiences from the Coral Sea Marina,” she revealed.
“Australia boasts the third largest marine jurisdiction in the world, contributing $118.5 billion to our economy and supporting 462,000 jobs annually. It’s our responsibility
Ecotourism Australia is a non-government, not-for-profit organisation, established in 1991, that promotes and supports the ecotourism industry in Australia through building capacity and actively promoting sustainable tourism operations and systems. It is recognised as the credible, national peak body for sustainable and nature-based tourism in Australia.
Its foundational programme – ECO Certification – was the world’s first national ecotourism certification programme. There are more than 2,000 certified experiences in the ECO, Sustainable Tourism, Climate Action, and Respecting Our Culture certifications.
Ecotourism Australia’s certification programmes, including the new Sustainable Tourism Certification, are acknowledged and recognised globally.
The ECO Destination Certification was developed by Ecotourism Australia using the international Green Destinations standard. The certification assesses a region across the four pillars of sustainability and the destination must pass an on-site audit conducted by a third-party auditor before certification can be granted.
Ecotourism Australia has global partnerships, working with the United
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), Green Destinations (an international organisation for sustainable destination development); and key partnerships in the Asia-Pacific region including with WWF-Australia, Parks Australia and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA).
ENVIRONMENTAL PRODUCTS & INITIATIVES
to safeguard these waters for future generations. Ecotourism Australia is proud to have nearly 200 ECO Certified operators and over 700 marine-based experiences across Australia who are committed to ensuring tourism activities play a role in preserving our oceans across our region. Coral Sea Marina is further contributing to this commitment,” Keenan said.
Sustainable Tourism Certification assesses businesses, through third party auditing, against Ecotourism Australia’s internationally recognised ecotourism standard across the four pillars of sustainability: environmental, cultural, socio-economic and sustainable business operations.
The marina has integrated numerous sustainability initiatives throughout its operations. The Coral Sea Academy educates guests and locals on the environment, Great Barrier Reef, and eco-friendly boating. The marina features interpretive signage, a seagrass nursery and citizen science programmes. It also honours the traditional owners of the land, the Birri-Gubba Nation, through cultural collaborations, signage and online
Resilient
resources. Coral Sea Marina Resort provides environmental information, green boating guides, and updates via digital platforms and newsletters, promoting sustainability and respect for the Whitsundays’ natural and cultural heritage.
Coral Sea Marina is an award-
winning destination marina in the Whitsundays, at the heart of the world-heritage listed Great Barrier Reef. It features 520 wet berths, two lively shoreside marina villages, and hosts 80% of the region’s on-water tourism experiences, including 52 commercial operators.
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Coral Sea Marina hosts 80% of the on-water tourism experiences in the Whitsundays.
BUYING & SELLING MARINAS
Upscale marina/RV resort on the Potomac
Coles Point Marina & RV Resort on the Potomac River in Virginia, USA –one of several substantial properties of its type to be currently available to investment buyers – is for sale via SVN Marinas, a premier advisory practice for marina and marine-related properties.
David Kendal, (inset, above) managing director with SVN/Nautilus and chairman of SVN Marinas, describes Coles Point as a ‘standout’ facility and, with over 25 years of expertise in commercial property, most particularly in marinas, he has an excellent barometer.
Covering 335 acres (135.6ha), Coles Point features a full-service marina with 145 wet slips, a waterfront restaurant, and a 39.5-acre (16-ha)
Christie & Co are the leading Leisure property specialists providing a full range of brokerage, valuation and consultancy services across the UK’s marina sector.
RV park with 118 RV Pads full-hookup (FHU) and expansion potential. It offers a mix of leisure, investment and expansion opportunities and this versatility, according to Kendall, is what sets it apart. Revenue streams include slip rentals, RV leases, fuel sales, hospitality and event hosting. Professional management ensures operational excellence and seamless guest experiences, making it a standout in Virginia’s vibrant leisure market.
“With RV travel and recreational boating on the rise, Coles Point aligns with consumer demand for high-quality, flexible travel options,” Kendall notes. “This property also offers substantial development potential, catering to the increasing demand for upscale RV sites and marina services.”
SVN Marinas has built a reputation for delivering value in complex transactions, including acquisitions, sales and development projects and, with a collaborative network of over 1,600 advisors, can tailor services precisely to marina sector needs.
Kendall’s vision extends beyond individual transactions as he champions industry best practices, educates investors on the unique dynamics of marina ownership, and fosters innovation in asset management.
For information, david.kendall@svn.com
Whether you’re looking to sell your marina/marine related business, are seeking a valuation or want to expand your portfolio, speak to the experts:
leisure@christie.com +44 (0) 333 034 1756
BUYING & SELLING MARINAS
West coast icon up for sale
An iconic wet slip marina on the US west coast has come to market via Simply Marinas. Priced at $30 million, the property is described as offering a rare opportunity to acquire a first-class marina facility in one of the country’s most desirable coastal urban locations and at the heart of one of its biggest boating destinations.
Absentee owned, the facility has approximately 6,100ft (1,860m) of dock space arranged as 161 boat slips on a floating dock system. Income is derived from slip rentals and 12 commercial business tenants who rent 100% occupied space in a 12,000ft² (1,100m²) commercial building (6,000ft²/550m² leasable). Slip occupancy is estimated at 98% with a waiting list for certain slip sizes.
With land area of slightly over four acres (1.6ha), held on a fee simple/ freehold basis, and leased water space, the marina is certified as a Clean Marina.
For NDA and Executive Summary, contact Michelle Ash team@simplymarinas.com
Superyacht facility investment in Fort Lauderdale
CBRE Marinas & Shipyards presents a unique opportunity to acquire Port Dania, a rare marine property located on the coveted Dania Cut Canal in Florida.
Situated in a prime location close to the Port Everglades inlet, the property accommodates yachts up to 250ft (77m) and has unparalleled access to South Florida’s waterways. Spanning approximately five acres (2ha), the property is perfectly suited for marine use, including boat manufacturing, yacht dockage and refit, drystack and port operations.
With approach depths of up to 17ft (5m), Port Dania can accommodate superyachts with ease in an area where yachting activity is so much in demand that there is a shortage of dockage, especially for superyachts requiring satisfactory depth and linear footage. Proximity to the inlet is a crucial and highly valued factor for superyacht businesses, as is nearby Port Everglades, which serves as a gateway to international trade and commerce in the heart of Fort Lauderdale. Both provide additional value.
“Port Everglades is bustling with connectivity, where global trade aligns with the superyacht community providing crucial services for the area’s maritime industry,” Julie Fisher Berry, senior vice president CBRE Marinas
and Shipyards, tells Marina World. “This is a unique opportunity to capitalise on this prime location in the Yachting Capital of the World and home to the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. It is one of the only locations that provides adequate depths for superyachts.” Sheila Roux, senior
associate, adds: “There has been a persistent shortage of marina slips in South Florida and this trend continues. The storage potential of this site makes it a valuable opportunity for investors in search of prime locations.”
For information, contact julie.berry@cbre.com
Conceptual rendering of the Port Dania site.
‘Great Loop’ marina comes to market
Grafton Harbor, commonly known as ‘The Key West of the Midwest’, is located in an Enterprise Zone on the southern border of Illinois where the Mississippi River meets the Illinois River. The property is offered for sale via National Marina Sales.
Featuring over 300 covered and open wet slips with full dockside amenities and a designated in-water storage area for jet skis and other small vessels, the marina is well protected by an effective breakwater and is located on the Great Loop, a popular and continuous waterway for leisure boaters seeking to explore eastern North America.
Facilities are plentiful. A fabulous restaurant on the second floor of the marina building is currently leased out on a five-year term to talented tenants who offer outstanding food in a scenic environment with elevated views of the rivers. A winery, located on the first floor, is owned and operated by the marina and carries a broad selection of wines.
Abundant parking is provided on immediately adjacent leased property, which has 75 years remaining on the current lease and a 100-year renewal
option. A 53ft (16m) all-weather tour boat, ‘Hakuna Matata’, included in the sale, is a great addition to the marina and runs regularly to provide an outstanding events venue, dinner tours, eco tours, and more, for customers and visitors.
Permanent slip holders and visitors with access to the swimming pool benefit from ten separate, convenient and wellappointed private bathroom suites for changing, and customers can also enjoy the floating ARRR bar, hot tub, general store, ships store and gift
shop. High speed diesel and gas/petrol pumps are installed and transient slips are available with reservations. For information, contact Rick Roughen, rick@roughen.net www.nationalmarinasales.com
PRODUCTS, SERVICES & PEOPLE
Diamond range launched in Amsterdam
Belgian company arabel-marina, an established supplier of harbour systems to marinas in Belgium, France and the Netherlands, launched new management software and a new generation of dockside pedestals at Metstrade in Amsterdam last November.
The upgraded software has been developed in close cooperation with harbour masters, software specialists and end-users, and adopts the latest technology to offer marinas maximum flexibility. Marina customers can easily reserve berths, add or update services as they travel and make easy payments. Marina managers benefit from an entirely automated check-in and sales process and can remotely monitor bookings, service uptake and revenue. arabel-marina offers
Sales contract for marina trucks
Marina Truck Sales, in partnership with Wiggins Lift Co and Taylor Northeast, has been granted exclusive rights to sell Wiggins marina trucks in 11 states within the northeast USA. Forklift Exchange, an affiliate of Marina Truck Sales, will provide ongoing service and support.
The expanded agreement significantly strengthens Marina Truck Sales’ position in the marina truck niche of the material handling industry and builds on established sales success in other territories in the USA and overseas.
The company will work closely with regional equipment dealer Taylor Northeast to ensure a smooth transition for all existing orders. Taylor Northeast will fulfil outstanding orders while Marina Truck Sales oversees delivery, setup and installation. www.marinatrucksales.com
a comprehensive range of slim profile electric pedestals that can be optionally managed via the company’s software system. New for 2024, the Diamond series (left) can provide electricity and water for four to eight berths, with or without meters. Each pedestal has four electrical outlets and four water taps as standard but the configuration can be varied as needed. Outlets and taps can be switched on and off and read remotely.
The Diamond is available in six different colours and
is expandable to up to eight outlets and eight water taps. Around-the-clock operations are standard for every marina and the company covers this with a broad range of service packages. These include installation and commissioning, training, maintenance and remote maintenance.
All solutions are designed, developed and produced in-house by a team experienced in electricity and metal working. www.arabel.be
Seawall specialist appoints distributor
Dock and Marina has been appointed exclusive manufacturer’s representative for Atlantis Seawall in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. The strategic partnership brings Atlantis Seawall’s vinyl sheet piling products – engineered specifically for seawalls, bulkheads and marine walls – to a broader US market.
their
and
David Metivier at Dock and Marina says the collaboration will enable the company to meet the growing
for
marine solutions in its region.
david@dockandmarine.com www.atlatisseawallusa.com
PRODUCTS, SERVICES & PEOPLE
Floating dock helps meet demand for superyacht berthing
A one-of-a-kind deepwater superyacht berth has been installed at Safe Harbor Rybovich – Berth One in Palm Beach, Florida. Measuring 390ft (119m) in total length, the floating concrete dock was commissioned in response to demand from superyacht owners and captains.
Vance Marine Construction installed six SF Marina Type 2060 floating concrete pontoons to create an L-shaped arrangement, with a 140ft (43m) section perpendicular to shore and a 250ft (76m) section facing south toward the Port of Palm Beach. A generous 20ft (6m) in width, the docks have a 36in (0.9m) freeboard with a double row of 4 x 6in (10 x 15cm) timber rub rails to accommodate a wide range of vessel sizes.
Vance also drove 12 new 30in (76cm) steel piles in an offset pattern that allows small vehicles to service superyachts on either side of the dock. The piles ride within SF Marina’s innovative guides that feature safety
covers and cushion block technology for silent movement during the 3ft (0.9m) tide. Integrated utility ducts in the pontoons are supplied for future installation of water, power, fuel and waste removal capability. Oversized ship bollards are rated for 25 tons.
The pontoons were manufactured
ISO wins for Liverpool
Liverpool Marina in the UK has successfully achieved ISO 14001, ISO 9001 and ISO 45001 accreditations, marking a significant milestone in its commitment to quality, environmental management, and occupational health and safety.
The achievement comes just 18 months after the marina team embarked on a long-term project to enhance operational standards and processes.
“We are incredibly proud of our team, whose hard work and commitment have made this possible,” said managing
director Chloe Baker CMM (above centre) last October. “Achieving these ISO accreditations not only enhances our reputation but also provides peace of mind to our customers, knowing that we adhere to the highest standards in the industry.”
in SF Marina’s factory in Sweden and transported to the USA by ship. www.sfmarinausa.com
Second club in Brisbane
Freedom Boat Club has expanded its operations in Australia by opening a tenth club; at Rivergate Marina in Brisbane. The premium site provides members with exclusive, direct access to the picturesque Brisbane River.
This is the second club in Brisbane and is owned and operated by seasoned franchise partner Brett Bolton, who brings over 26 years of expertise in the marine industry.
“We are excited to further expand our footprint in Brisbane with this new location,” Bolton said. “The Brisbane River offers an unparalleled city setting for boaters, and we are eager to provide an easy, affordable way for people to explore it. Our members will benefit from not only access to top-tier boats, but also expert guidance and a community of passionate boating enthusiasts who share the same love for the water.”
PRODUCTS, SERVICES & PEOPLE
Index to Advertisers
AMI Conference & Expo, USA 15
ASAR, USA 20
Applied Technology & Management, USA 36
Bellingham Marine, USA 7 & 67
Bluet, Finland 22
Boat Lift, Italy 45
CJ Plast, France 58
Capria, Argentina 42
Christie & Co, UK 57
Conolift by Kropf Industrial, Canada 39
D-Marin, Greece 33
Den Hartog, USA 48
EZ Dock, USA 65
Eagle Floats by Hendren Plastics, USA 55
Flovac, Spain 29
Forklift Exchange, USA 49, 50 & 53
Gigieffe, Italy 36
Golden Manufacturing, USA 14
Ingemar, Italy 10
Inmare, Italy 58
Lindley, Portugal 40
MPP Engineering, UK 42
Marex, Croatia 42
Marina Master by IRM, Slovenia 60
Marina Projects, UK 68
MARINAGo by Scribble Software, USA 41
Marine Structures, Australia 60
Marine Travelift, USA 47
Marinetek, Finland 4
Martini Marinas, Italy 30
Metstrade 2025, Netherlands 26
Molo Marina Management/ Stellar Systems, USA 24
Perspective Products, USA 60
PierPump by Vogelsang, Germany 8
Plus Marine, Italy 12
Ronautica, Spain 24
Roodberg - a brand of Frisian Industries, Netherlands 61
SF Marina System, Sweden 2
Seaflex, Sweden 6
Seijsener, Netherlands 50
Strongwell, USA 56
Sunwalk, USA 48
Titan Deck, USA 58
Twinwood by CJ Plast, Portugal 30
Walcon Marine, UK 18
Uli Heinemann
After just over 25 years at the helm of Brussels-based International Marine Certification Institute (IMCI), Uli Heinemann has opted to retire from his position as managing director.
Heinemann, who has played a key role in shaping the company – now the largest CE certifier in the water sports industry – was bid farewell by the board of directors at the IMCI annual general meeting in Amsterdam in November.
a new phase in my life,” he said. ”However, I will remain loyal to the industry and continue to work as a consultant and assessor in the areas of CE, UKCA and NMMA certifications. I can hardly imagine a life outside of this industry.”
“After signing more than 67,700 certificates, it is time for me to start
Ulrich Manigel, who has been with IMCI for 22 years, now takes on the role of managing director.
Suntex opts for Storable technology
US marina group, Suntex Marinas, has adopted Storable’s Molo and Stellar software across its entire portfolio of 72 owned marinas.
The enterprise-wide deployment underpins a strategic two-year digital transformation initiative designed to support Suntex’s aggressive growth trajectory, which encompassed 13 new marina acquisitions in 2024 alone. By standardising on the Storable platform, Suntex has been able to rapidly integrate new properties while maintaining operational consistency across its expanding portfolio.
“By integrating Storable’s advanced marina management software with our accounting and data lake platforms, we are enabling a modern customer experience, streamlining our operations, and unlocking insights and efficiencies through sophisticated analytics,” said Brian Rook, Suntex chief technology officer. “We look forward to continuing our collaboration with Storable to deliver even greater value to our customers and stakeholders.”
Through the enterprise platform, Molo, and rental management system, Stellar, Suntex has achieved significant operational milestones:
• Accelerated financial operations: centralised accounting with NetSuite platform integration has dramatically reduced monthly close times from weeks to days.
• Revenue optimisation: implementation of rental dynamic pricing automation has driven revenue increases up to 10%.
• Rapid deployment capability: new acquisitions can be integrated into Molo’s platform immediately, versus historical timelines of months or years.
• Streamlined training: standardised processes and technology across all locations simplifies staff onboarding and ensures consistent service delivery.
• Enhanced guest experience: comprehensive digital tools, including Stellar’s dock attendant, dock attendant mobile app and marketing automation tools, and Molo’s recurring billing and work order management, deliver a premium marina experience.
“Suntex represents the pinnacle of modern marina operations, and their full adoption of Storable’s Molo and Stellar demonstrates the enterprisegrade capabilities of our platform,” said Chris Edwards, general manager of the marine division at Storable. “Their success in leveraging our technology to drive growth while improving operational efficiency sets a new standard for the industry.”
www.getmolo.com www.storable.com
SETTING THE WORLD STANDARD IN MARINA DESIGN
CONCEPT DESIGN & MARINA MASTER PLANNING
FEASIBILITY STUDIES & MARKET RESEARCH
BUSINESS PLANNING
MARINA & WATERFRONT DESIGN
TENDER AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT
MARINA OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT
ENVIRONMENTAL & LEGISLATIVE ADVICE
PROPERTY CONSULTANCY SERVICES
GLOBAL WATERFRONT & MARINA DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANCY AT ITS BEST