SF Marina has been building and installing oating breakwaters and pontoons for marinas worldwide since 1918. We are committed to nding the best solution for every site.
e sturdy tugboat pontoons for the operation of large vessels in a port on the Swedish West Coast are examples of the capacity of our factory in Wallhamn. e pontoons are 10 meters wide and 23 m long. ey are also designed to accommodate heavy construction vehicles.
Photo: Stig Jansson, SF Pontona
Superyacht Facilities
Robert Wilkes talks to four marina operators who created superyacht docks from underutilised space; Donatella Zucca reports on the development of Porto Mirabello in Liguria, Italy; and Jeffrey Boyd discusses Anguilla’s new bid to be part of the superyacht circuit
New products, new concepts and advice to operators from Star Computers, MarinaWare, Harbour Assist, Successful Software, GEC, IRM/Marina Master, Pacsoft, Scribble Software, Dockwa, SlipFinder and MyTaskit
Front cover: Porto Mirabello in La Spezia, Italy, is perfectly located within Italy’s superyacht building belt and around 100 of its 1,107 berths were purpose built for vessels of 40 to 130m (131 to 426ft). During high season, it enjoys an influx of visiting berths of all sizes. Read more on p.26.
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Buy and sell
Strong activity in the property market is often a good barometer of economic recovery, and a spate of marina sales and exciting new opportunities gives a fillip to the current market place.
Hot news (see p.9) for top level investors is the for sale sign now hanging out for d’Albora Marinas; the largest marina group in Australia. The chance to buy an entire prestigious marina portfolio – seven sites in Victoria and NSW including three in Sydney Harbour – has created significant interest, according to McVay Real Estate, from both local and overseas enquirers. A buyer may well be found by the time you read this...
In terms of marina portfolio building, US-based Safe Harbor Marinas, a new company whose directors have a wealth of marina owner and operator experience, is continuing to consolidate its new found place as the largest marina owner and operator in the USA. In this issue we report that the company, which officially launched in January this year, has acquired four coastal marinas between San Diego and San Francisco Bay in California (see p.15). As Marina World closed for press, a further bulletin was issued announcing the purchase of 650-slip Brady Mountain Resort and Marina near Hot Springs, Arkansas.
In the UK inland market, Tingdene Marinas expanded its portfolio of marinas by purchasing a ninth site, Hartford Marina in Wyton, Cambridgeshire (see p.17) and Premier Marinas added Noss Marina near Dartmouth, Devon to its collection of eight prestigious South Coast marinas (see p.13). Premier Marinas was itself the subject of a buy-out nearly a year ago when the BlackRock UK Property Fund sold out to the Wellcome Trust. The sums involved were undisclosed but the asking price was reportedly in the region of £220 million.
Although entire portfolios are rarely up for sale, there are always purchasing opportunities. Simply Marinas claims, in its most recent newsletter, to have brokered 35 marina site transactions over the past three years and currently has at least nine marinas and boatyards for sale in North America and the Caribbean. Examples on simplymarinas.com include Sailor’s Wharf Yacht Yard in St Petersburg, Florida – a development opportunity with a US$6 million price tag – and Taylor Creek Marina in Fort Pierce, Florida at US$16 million.
Five marinas are currently listed on marinasforsale.com and four are under contract. Available facilities in Florida, Rhode Island and in the Caribbean vary from a 50-slip family-run concern at a little under US$2 million to a US$6.5 million facility with 43 wet slips and a drystack for 215 boats.
Whether buying or selling, there are brokers out there ready to help.
Carol Fulford Editor
Government plans eight new marinas
THAILAND: Eight new marinas will be built in Thailand as part of a government plan to turn the country into a marine leisure hub, the Phuket Gazette reports.
Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith announced that four marinas will be built in the Andaman Sea and four in the Gulf of Thailand, at least two of which will be capable of handling superyachts.
Two will be built in Phuket – a small Asian Marina in Rassada and a larger Kung Bay Marina in Pa Khlok. Construction of the latter is expected to begin early next year, but a ministry source said this was subject to the completion of environmental impact assessments.
A further two marinas will be built
in the southern province of Phang Nga, two on Koh Sumui island, one in Chonburi on the eastern side of the Gulf, and another in Trat, on the border with Cambodia.
The transport minister said it expected to attract domestic and foreign investment for the projects, which will be built on private land. He added that the ministry was collaborating with the customs, revenue and immigration departments to review the country’s regulations on foreign superyachts, which may be revised.
Progress for Nawi
FIJI: Pre-construction processes are under way for the AU$100 million Nawi Island Resort project, the Fiji Times reports.
Offering 166 berths including space for 10 superyachts, the development will include 40 private villas, each set in an acre plot, and full resort amenities. The build emphasis is on sustainability, with the use of
indigenous materials and local labour. Mike Gann, executive director designs and construction for Nawi Island Ltd, told the newspaper that construction is likely to start in March/ April 2017.
Multi-million pound marina mooted for Stourport
UK: Plans have been submitted for a £19 million 400-berth marina and associated facilities in Stourport on the River Severn.
The Marina Quays proposals include the construction of 108 holiday apartments, a marina club house with restaurant, a bar, gym, boat hire and sales facility, and the development of a new footbridge across the marina entrance.
A spokesperson from Clive Fletcher Developments, which put
forward the plans, said: “Stourport is an extremely popular location for boaters and there is significant demand for both visitor and permanent moorings in the area.”
Subject to approval, the marina will be built opposite the existing Stourport Marina, which offers 130 berths, a club house and boatyard facilities.
The most important marina construction decision lays beneath the surface
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With 45 years of research and development Seaflex is the most technologically advanced mooring option in the world, anchoring thousands of marinas, wave attenuators and buoys worldwide.
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Chatham up for expansion
UK: MDL’s Chatham Marina on the River Medway in Kent is to undergo a £500,000 expansion to include the addition of 54 new berths.
The new pontoon will be positioned close to The Historic Dockyard, an 80acre site which houses museum galleries and historic warships. Michael Glanville, group head of operations for MDL Marinas, commented: “The marina is at the heart of a multi-million pound leisure and retail development, so it made sense
for us to invest in these additional berths and the pontoon to accommodate the extra interest coming into the area. We look forward to showing prospective berth holders around the site.”
Chatham Marina is also well positioned for local cruising and for longer trips to mainland Europe.
Ardent to sell d’Albora Marinas
AUSTRALIA: Ardent Leisure, owner of d’Albora Marinas - Australia’s largest marina group – has placed the marina portfolio on the market. The decision is consistent with the company’s focus on its core business interests and enhanced capital management plan.
Comprising seven premium sites in Victoria and New South Wales, including three marinas in Sydney Harbour, d’Albora Marinas has over 1,300 berths, plus water and land leases. There are substantial development opportunities at a number of the sites.
The portfolio value has recently been boosted by a AU$6.5 million refurbishment at The Spit in NSW to position the site to accommodate
superyachts up to 36.6m (120ft).
The d’Albora Marina business is reportedly worth about AU$113 million on a carrying value and AU$108 million on property book value and has a reputation for premium service and key locations.
McVay Real Estate has been appointed by Ardent to run the sales process and significant interest has already been fielded.
WMC 2016: Register now!
Sponsors confirmed
NETHERLANDS: Registration for the 2016 ICOMIA World Marinas Conference (WMC), to be held in Amsterdam 17th-19th November, is open on www. world-marinas-conference.com
Over 300 delegates are expected to attend the two-day conference, which adopts the theme of ‘the future of marinas in a changing world’. More than 30 speakers will give insight on topics such as marina development, regulations, financing and innovations.
Organised by RAI Amsterdam in partnership with the ICOMIA Marinas Group and the HISWA Holland Marine Industry Association, WMC 2016 is keenly supported by leading industry companies. Marinetek (Finland) is the sole platinum sponsor; Seaflex (Sweden) is gold sponsor; and Roodberg (Netherlands) and Marina Planet (Italy) are silver sponsors.
“The future of marinas in a changing world is a captivating topic,” says Kristian Räme, Marinetek vice president international sales. “Marinetek wants to support and promote this gathering to help it become an interactive and beneficial forum between clients, key influencers and the marina industry. When outlining the future of marinas, it is essential to include the views of end-users, marina owners and those of the waterfront developers.”
Marina World is the media partner for WMC 2016.
Correction
The photo of Newport Beach Marina Park, CA, USA, published in our March/April 2016 issue should have been credited to Dan Herman, Rabben/Herman Design Office. We apologise for the oversight.
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Premier buys Noss Marina
UK: Premier Marinas has bought Noss Marina near Dartmouth, Devon from Administrators, Duff & Phelps. The marina was purchased for an undisclosed sum following a period in administration.
Set in 37 acres on the eastern bank of the River Dart in Kingswear, the
marina site has 180 serviced pontoon berths, 47 river moorings and a limited
Major revamp proposed by RGYC
AUSTRALIA: A new AU$31 million plan to rejuvenate The Royal Geelong Yacht Club (RGYC) marina and waterfront in Geelong, Victoria, includes a circular floating marina system that would boost the current berthing arrangement for the Club from 250 to 370 berths. The project would be funded in part by the Club using cash reserves and the proceeds from the sale of the 120 new berths but also requires substantial contributions from the City of Greater Geelong and State Government.
The marina and a proposed new yacht club would be open to the public.
The plan also provides for a 288m (945ft) long wave attenuator, a maritime education hub, media centre for waterfront events, shops and
upgraded berth holder facilities.
The RGYC plan is proposed to help secure the future of the Club and many see it as an alternative to the mooted but as yet unfunded Yarra St Pier project as a means of boosting berths in the city.
boatyard operation. Premier plans to work alongside local stakeholders to design and deliver a mixed use, employment-led regeneration of the site, most of which is currently in a derelict and unusable state. The regeneration is expected to bring over £100 million of investment into the area, creating a new identity for Noss as part of the Dartmouth and Kingswear community.
Enhancements to the infrastructure are likely to include a new and larger marina; new berth holder facilities; a new boatyard with increased lifting capacity and workshops for complementary marine activities; and a new home for South Devon College. The investment will be supported by sensitive residential development.
Premier Marinas owns and operates eight prestigious marinas on the South Coast and has a good track record for regenerating tired sites whilst preserving their marine character and the surrounding natural environment.
Year-end boost
ITALY: Milan-based marina engineering specialist Ingemar Group has reported a good financial year end for 2015 citing a positive annual turnover, a strong international presence and a rewarding diversification of products.
Completion of the floating pontoon extension for Marina d’Arechi in Salerno and ongoing work on floating landing stages for Venetian water taxis have been highlight projects in Italy.
The portfolio of new orders for 2016 to a value of more than €10 million, a significant percentage of which is from overseas commissions, has already overtaken the previous fiscal year’s results and will allow the Group to maintain its strategic investments in R&D and continue development of its production facilities at its Casale sul Sile factory.
The company is currently supplying and installing floating structures in Italy, Croatia, Montenegro, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
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Khiran - Kuwait: 3,350 m of pontoons and fingers for Khiran Marina in the Arabian Gulf
UK: Camper & Nicholsons Marinas (C&N Marinas) has been appointed by the Blackstone Group to take over the management and operation of St Katharine Docks, central London’s finest marina.
The historic docks - located by Tower Bridge and the Tower of London - are due to undergo a careful refurbishment and restoration programme, which will see the marina re-launched later this
year under the Camper & Nicholsons brand with 170 new berths for vessels up to 40m (131ft).
Since acquiring the site in late 2014, Blackstone has ensured the
Safe Harbor buys four CA marinas
USA: Safe Harbor Marinas has bought four California coastal marinas located between San Diego and San Francisco Bay. The acquisitions are part of the company’s ongoing effort to grow its inland and coastal portfolio.
The acquisitions comprise Ballena Isle Marina, Ventura Isle Marina, Anacapa Isle Marina and Cabrillo Isle Marina. Ballena Isle Marina is located in historic Alameda in San Francisco Bay. The marina is host to the Ballena Bay Yacht Club and a variety of yacht
races originate from its naturallyprotected harbour. Ventura Isle and Anacapa Isle Marinas are both at the entrance to Channel Islands National Park, a world-class boating destination. Both properties are a short drive from Los Angeles. Cabrillo Isle Marina,
continued evolution of St Katharine Docks as one of the capital’s most vibrant business, retail and leisure destinations. A key part of the ongoing works programme is the restoration of the marina, and C&N Marinas was commissioned to conduct a detailed audit and put together a proposal for its refurbishment, management and operation.
Dan Hughes, C&N business development director, commented:
“We have worked closely with Blackstone on a new vision for the Docks, to develop a genuinely international marina as part of a thriving waterside community in the centre of one of the world’s greatest cities. The plans include an improved marina layout and berth plan, better facilities both ashore and afloat, and an overall improvement to the marina experience.”
C&N Marinas marketing director, Sean Purdy, added: “The vision for the marina is for it to become a thriving hub of yachting and social activity for London - ‘the capital of the world’. As this 24-hour city adapts to the needs and demands of its ever-growing international business population, we see St Katharine Docks being at the heart of that.”
In addition to undertaking this demanding project in London, C&N is also creating an entirely new marina in Cowes on the Isle of Wight. The marina at Victoria Quay is scheduled to open in the summer of 2017 and will be a key contributor to the regeneration of East Cowes.
located in the heart of San Diego, is known for sweeping views and easy access to Point Loma and the Pacific Ocean. Together, the four marinas contain nearly 1,900 slips.
“We are very excited to welcome these four properties into our portfolio,” said Safe Harbor Marinas CEO, Marshall Funk. “Each of these marinas has a strong reputation and is a premier property in its own right. They make an excellent addition to the Safe Harbor network.”
With the addition of the four California properties, Safe Harbor Marinas now owns and manages 35 marinas in 14 states.
Intelligent marina design
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Tingdene buys Hartford Marina
UK: Tingdene Marinas has completed its acquisition of Hartford Marina on the River Great Ouse in the heart of the Fens. It is the ninth marina to join the Tingdene network of inland havens that now extends across the Thames, Wey, Severn, Norfolk Broads and the Fenland waterways.
Located in Wyton, Cambridgeshire, 200-berth Hartford Marina can be accessed from the coast via The Wash or from the canal network via the River Nene and Middle Levels.
The marina offers a full range of services including a workshop, chandlery, fuel, gas and pump-out. The onsite Tingdene Boat Sales office offers used motorboats and narrowboats as well as new vessels.
Tingdene Marinas operations director, Steve Arber, is delighted that Hartford has joined the company portfolio. “We specialise in offering marinas in stunning locations with great facilities and service, so Hartford Marina is a brilliant match for what we do,” he said. “There have been some notable people involved in the marina since it was created in the 1960s and we will build on their legacy using the experience and resources available to us within the Tingdene Group. This will ensure a successful future for this important facility on the River Great Ouse.”
Three contracts for SG Marina
USA: SG Marina, the marina management division of Siegel-Gallagher Management Company, has been awarded new management contracts for marinas in Waukegan (Illinois), Egg Harbor (Wisconsin) and Rochester (New York).
John Matheson, COO for SG Marina welcomes the contracts as opportunities for the company to build
Keppel Bay wins 2016 Jack Nichol Award
SINGAPORE: Marina at Keppel Bay, designed by Bellingham Marine, has become the first marina in Asia to win the PIANC Marina Excellence Design Jack Nichol Award. The award is administered by PIANC’s Recreational Navigation Commission (RecCom) and is judged by a committee that includes International Council of Marine Industry Associations (ICOMIA) members.
Elio Ciralli, chairman of PIANC RecCom, said the decision to give the award to Marina at Keppel Bay was unanimous.
“It takes appreciation for the environment and a thorough understanding of the engineering requirements to ensure that a marina is properly planned, sited, laid out, protected and built – all of which are embodied by Marina at Keppel Bay,” he said.
Setting new standards in marina construction and services, Marina at Keppel Bay’s floating concrete pontoon system, designed and built by Bellingham, can accommodate 168 yachts, including superyachts of up to 86m (282ft) inside the marina.
The marina also features Singapore’s first individual pontoon berthing structure for superyachts and the first modern reticulated vacuum pump-out system.
Everett Babbitt, president and CEO of Bellingham Marine, said: “It is an honour for one of our projects to be presented with PIANC’s prestigious Marina Design Jack Nichol Award, which focuses on the technical aspects of proper marina design and layout. I can think of no greater accolade that to be affiliated with an award that pays tribute to the late Jack Nichol and his work in the marina industry.”
Marina at Keppel Bay general
upon the local charm and strengths of each of the marinas, improve the visual appeal and overall levels of service to boaters, and add programmes that promote nearby restaurants, shops and attractions as marina amenities. “We work to integrate the marina with the local community and that synergy benefits the boaters, marina and area,” he said. “Strong marketing, exceptional service and a focus on publicly owned marinas are strengths that have made us successful.”
representative Roberto
and PIANC representative Peter Jansen (right) presented Trevor Fong of Marina at Keppel Bay (centre left) and Gary Charlwood of Bellingham Marine (centre right) with the 2016 Jack Nichol Award at a ceremony held in April at the Asia Boating Forum.
manager, Trevor Fong, added: “We are proud to have partners such as Bellingham Marine who have provided Marina at Keppel Bay strong support and expertise in building and designing a world-class pontoon system.
The quality and spacious pontoon infrastructure has contributed to the marina becoming a much sought after berthing facility in Singapore.”
Marina at Keppel Bay is located on a privately owned island and is part of the Keppel Bay waterfront precinct.
Waukegan Harbor is in need of a more up-to-date management approach in order to live up to its opportunity to make a much larger contribution to the local economy. The Marina at the Port of Rochester is a brand new 84-slip marina, designed by Edgewater and built and owned by the City. Egg Harbor Marina has 83 slips and was completely rebuilt about five years ago.
SG Marina now manages more than 2,500 slips at publicly owned marinas.
ICOMIA
Perocchio (left)
MEET THE WORLD IN AMSTERDAM
The Marina & Yard Pavilion (MYP) welcomes marina owners, operators, developers and suppliers from around the world. This year the MYP is featuring the ICOMIA World Marinas Conference from Thursday 17 to Saturday 19 November. Don’t miss this exceptional opportunity to meet your peers, see lots of innovations and be inspired by the latest industry news.
The Marina & Yard Pavilion is an event of METSTRADE, the world’s leading platform for professionals in the marine equipment industry and organiser of the ICOMIA World Marinas Conference.
SUPERYACHT FACILITIES
Adapting an existing marina to accommodate superyachts
by Robert Wilkes
The odds are good that marketing conditions that existed when your marina was built have changed. You may have a ‘problem child,’ a section of the marina that is underperforming. Or you may suspect there is an opportunity you could capture if you could repurpose part of your marina.
You’re not alone. Around the world, owners are adapting their facilities to welcome superyachts, and it’s paying off. In some cases a marina’s existing floats can be reconfigured and reused without additional piling, and this usually avoids reliving the lengthy permitting process.
Why superyachts?
Superyachts may offer the promise of increased revenues and improved brand caché. The prestige of becoming a superyacht marina can make your marina more competitive and allow you to charge more. Revenue from large yachts may be
more consistent than vacancy-prone small slips. Marinas that cater to larger boats can expect higher revenues from fuel sales, supplies and services. They are also unlikely to be burdened with derelict or abandoned vessels.
There are limitations. Reliable channel and basin depth, manoeuvring room and ample electrical power are required. 480V 3-phase is essential,
G-Dock at Marina Bay Yacht Harbor, once a storage point for derelict boats, has become side-tie moorage for large vessels.
as captains do not like to run generators in port. High-speed, high-capacity refuelling nearby is an asset.
I spoke to operators at four marinas who created superyacht mooring without starting from scratch. You might be able to do the same and it may be easier than you think.
Elliott Bay Marina, Seattle, Washington, USA
Seattle, Washington, the ‘Emerald City,’ rises from Elliott Bay in Puget Sound. Although far from the typical superyacht axis from Florida to the Med, the area attracts owners in search of adventure in the wilds of British Columbia and Alaska.
Elliott Bay Marina opened in 1991 with 1,200 slips of 33 to 62ft (10 to 19m). The city was starved for slips and the marina was an immediate success. Two decades later the owners
Silo Marina in Auckland, a superyachtfocused sister facility for Westhaven Marina, opened to immediate success in 2012 and was expanded in 2014.
With over 40 years of planning and running marinas across the globe, MDL Marina Consultancy is the team to turn to for full service marina business advice.
Our marina professionals have experience across the marina business, so we have the specialist know-how to support you at every stage of the journey. We’ll work with you to extract the very best results and make your plans succeed.
The close teamwork and tailored consultancy we offer is the advantage that will deliver vibrant, profitable leisure destinations with the foundations to deliver long term results.
SUPERYACHT FACILITIES
recognised the need to reconsider the slip mix. “The 2008 financial crises depressed the moorage market,” said Brian Kaloper, harbourmaster, “especially for our 39ft (12m) slips. Many of those were vacant six to eight months a year.”
Kaloper and Dwight Jones, general manager, saw a trend. Superyachts stay for a long time. “We thought larger boats would provide more consistent revenue,” said Kaloper, “and we charge by the length of the dock not the length of the boat.”
Bellingham Marine, the general contractor for the original marina, was consulted and developed a simple conversion. Five 39ft (12m) slips were selected as a test of concept. “We disconnected the finger piers and joined them in parallel to the main walk,” said Rob Rasmussen, general manager of Bellingham Marine’s Northwest Division. “The resulting 14ft (4.3m) wide main walk is stronger and more stable. Some finger-pier piling was removed but no additional piling was needed.”
Unifloat docks have timber walers attached by through-rods threaded on the ends and locked in place with nuts. “The through-rod channels of the main walk and finger pier modules lined up perfectly,” said Rasmussen. “With new, longer through-rods we could make them one solid unit.”
“Finger piers were in 10ft (3m) modules,” said Kaloper, “and that gave us enormous flexibility to fit it all together. Elliott Bay Marina already supplied 480V 3-phase power so no power modifications were needed.”
“We had a superyacht on our dock three hours after we opened,” said
Kaloper. “With it came better revenue, so we reconfigured more docks. All told, 32 of our old 39ft (12m) slips were eliminated to make longer berths.” Elliott Bay Marina can now accommodate ten superyachts as follows: two at 328ft (100m), three at 102 to 164ft (31 to 50m) and five at 78 to 98ft (24 to 30m). Maximum draft is 19.6ft (6m).
Customer service adapted to the demands of large yachts and professional crews. “We learned to be more flexible and more fluid,” said Kaloper. “We became a concierge operation for our superyacht guests. That raised the level of service for all guests.”
The new docks have drawn boats from far and wide. “We have yachts coming up the coast from the Panama Canal and staying a year,” said Kaloper. “We had a boat moor with us from Alaska that originated in Nova Scotia. The owner came by way of the Northwest Passage.”
Marina Bay Yacht Harbor (MBYH), Richmond, CA, USA
MBYH is located at the north end of San Francisco Bay in Richmond, California, next to Berkeley. “When they built this marina 30 years ago,” said Steve Orosz, harbourmaster, “we had 300 slips 29.5ft (9m) and smaller. Needless to say, the market moved on.”
The problem was G-Dock, a combination of 29.5ft (9m) and 36ft (11m) slips just 12ft (3.7m) in width and oriented crosswind. G-Dock had high vacancy rates despite discounted rates. “We began to store derelict boats on G-Dock and maintenance was falling
behind,” said Orosz. “It was time to make a change.”
Despite the affluence of the area, there is a shortage of large slips. “Over the years we’ve had enquiries from large-boat owners looking for space,” said Orosz. “So we turned G-Dock into a side-tie moorage for superyachts.”
“The new dock solves the crosswind problem,” said Orosz. “One thing is sure. The changes will give us enormous flexibility and we anticipate better revenues than what we had before.”
San Francisco is known for culture and Italian food but not for superyachts. Orosz planned accordingly. “We targeted smaller superyachts,” said Orosz, “around 98ft (30m); although we can moor larger. Again, we love the flexibility. If we don’t have a 98ft boat we can tie two at 49ft (15m), and we have more places to put multi-hulls.”
In a manner similar to Elliott Bay Marina, G-dock was converted by disconnecting finger piers and bolting them alongside the main walk. The 30-year old electric system needed upgrading in any case. MBYH installed a robust power system with more power from shore.
“The simplicity of the waler system was crucial,” said Orosz. “The throughrod channels lined up. If the docks had been cable or hinge connected it would have been too costly and difficult to reconfigure.”
MBYH has a five-year contract to host the on-the-water portion of a new boat show called Strictly Sail Pacific on G-Dock. “A complete renovation would be the ideal,” said Orosz. “This was a practical step we could do right away.”
Brand new superyacht docks at Hamilton Island Marina in the Whitsundays, Queensland, are supported by VIP concierge and guest services.
Why Gamble?
With a portfolio of over 100,000 berths worldwide, we know what makes a marina successful...
Think Moffatt & Nichol
Westhaven Marina, Auckland, New Zealand
Westhaven Marina has two sister marinas named Viaduct and Silo, all publicly owned by the Auckland Council. Panuku Development Auckland develops and manages NZ $1 billion in land, buildings and marinas for the Council. With more than 2,000 slips, Westhaven and its sisters form the largest marina in the southern hemisphere.
Silo, the newest, was built in 2012 entirely for superyachts. An unlikely name for a luxury superyacht marina, Silo is at the site of a wharf and cement plant, now a park.
Dedicated superyacht facilities are frequently privately owned. Rybovich in Florida and YCCS Costa Smeralda come to mind. The economic, political and social reasons for that I leave to the reader, but clearly the Auckland Council intends to capitalise on superyacht opportunities. Silo opened in 2012 to immediate success and was expanded in 2014. There are side-tie berths from 50m (164ft) to 140m (459ft) with 1m (3.2ft) freeboard and a 1,000A power system.
SUPERYACHT FACILITIES
“The New Zealand marine industry approached us about the need for superyacht moorage above 50m (164ft),” said Tom Warren, general manager marinas. “The wharf at the old cement plant was identified and the cement plant relocated to allow for a marina. We built a trial with four floating superyacht berths. That filled up straightaway, and more large vessels wanted moorage than we could supply. We built additional berths and now have eleven at 90m (295ft), with the flexibility to cater to a 140m (459ft) superyacht, which we have done. We have secured funds to reconfigure one pier to 137m (449ft).”
Why all the interest in taking superyachts to Auckland? “Vessels cruising the South Pacific need a place to shelter from November to March during hurricane season,” said Warren. “Many have been at sea a long time and need work, engine work or to rebuild generators. Sailing vessels need their rigs pulled. We have Southern Spars as a tenant, one of the best.”
“New Zealand is boating mad,” he continued, “so the boating infrastructure and the cruising possibilities are
endless. Given the tense world situation, New Zealand is a safe place to take a superyacht. We have an experienced management team with lots of boating experience, and we listen to the market. We’re pitching Auckland as the site for the 2018 ICOMIA World Marina Conference.”
Hamilton Island Marina, Queensland, Australia
Hamilton Island, the largest inhabited island in the Whitsundays, is located in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef. First developed in the early 1980s, the island was purchased in 2003 by Australian winemaker, yachtsman and philanthropist Bob Oatley. A series of redevelopment projects included new infrastructure, hotels, private living communities, a yacht club and a PGA championship golf course. Environmental systems were installed to sustain the pristine environment.
A 251-berth marina was developed in the well-protected harbour in the early 1980s.
Hamilton Island is now a fully integrated resort, the largest in Australasia. The Audi Hamilton Island Race Week yacht regatta takes place in August. It is the only island inside the Barrier Reef with its own commercial airport.
A test concept to replace five smaller slips with superyacht docks at Elliott Bay Marina was such a success that 32 slips have now been reconfigured.
Slips varied from 12m (39ft) to 40m (131ft) but, as in other places, boats became larger. “We had an 82% occupancy rate,” said David Boyd, general manager operations. “Vacancies were mostly in the smaller slips and we were turning away people for larger slips. We reconfigured smaller slips to build larger ones.”
Jon Hatton, engineer and project manager, added, “we are an Australian version of a superyacht marina but without 100m (328ft) boats as in the Mediterranean. A 40m (131ft) boat is a superyacht in our market. We have a tidal range in the Whitsundays of about 5m (16.4ft), so Med-moorage would have been impossible. We installed Unifloat concrete floating docks with long, deep piling.”
“We have eight new 40m (131ft)-long by 11m (36ft)-wide berths with finger piers,” Hatton continued. “The new docks opened last week. We increased electrical service throughout the marina to provide power for larger boats. We’re in a protected harbour and we don’t see much wave action, so the freeboard in the new slips is 400mm (15.7 inches) to match the rest of the marina.”
“Guests can land at our airport and within five minutes be on their boat,” said Boyd. “There are seven flights per day to Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Cairns. We’ll pick guests up at the airport, help them provision and book their activities. We treat our marina guests with personalised attention the same as VIP hotel guests.”
Boyd estimates that 80 to 90% of his marina guests are Australians and the rest international visitors. “Australians will travel a thousand miles and leave their vessels here for the season,” said Boyd. “Some leave them yearround.” He predicts the new superyacht moorings will increase the number of international visitors.
Robert Wilkes writes about the marina industry from his home in Bellevue, Washington, USA.
» The information is also accessible on the Port Vauban web site:portvauban.net
APort Vauban
An invitation to administer, manage and develop Port Vauban, Antibes.
The Town of Antibes intends to make Port Vauban into a global paradigm of ports. To achieve this goal, proposals are invited for the Outsourcing of Public Services and development of Port Vauban into the Port of the third millennium centred on these three aspects.
access point to the Mediterranean. The development of service levels will be based on innovative information technologies to meet the high demands of its visitors. and other awards. and commercial activities linked to the port.
SUPERYACHT FACILITIES
Home from home in scenic Liguria
The development of Porto Mirabello in Liguria, Italy, owes much to radical thinking. Offering top notch resort services and 1,107 berths, it is one of the best marinas in the Tyrrhenian Sea. As the highest number of superyacht yards in Italy are to be found in a stretch from Genoa to Livorno, it is perfectly located and it also benefits from a tax incentive as it is officially recognised as a marina ‘resort’. In Liguria this means it enjoys 10% VAT status, a benefit only available in a few Italian regions. Donatella Zucca reports
Located on a purpose-built artificial island off the city of La Spezia, Porto Mirabello helps fuse great yachting opportunities with the strong coastal seafaring and shipbuilding traditions of Lunigiana, an area that is a cocktail of natural, historic and artistic influences from both Liguria and Tuscany.
Porto Mirabello took just two years to build and opened with a 60-year state concession in 2010. It is a crown jewel for the city and is connected to the mainland via Thaon Revel, a 156m (512ft) long scenic bridge.
The project was realised so swiftly
thanks to Alessandro Menozzi, CEO and major shareholder of Industrie Turistiche Nautiche SpA (ITN), the builder/operator of Porto Mirabello. ITN adopted the development from the beginning, defied the economic crisis and slow bureaucracy, and built a marina that had been mooted 40 years earlier as part of a regional regeneration plan.
ITN’s Emilia-based entrepreneurs invested around €140 million in its unique construction. It is the only marina in Italy to be created entirely on water and is thus able to offer large
Alessandro Menozzi
berths and generous slip access; a welcome comfort for both guests and operators. Its 10% VAT concession also makes it far more financially attractive to visitors.
Generous infrastructure
Harmony, best technology, space and safety are key elements in the design. The principal docks stretch from 25 to 35m (82 to 115ft) in width and water depth varies from 5 to 8m (16 to 26ft) according to area and size of mooring. Vessels of 12 to 130m (39 to 426ft) can be accommodated at varying pontoons or newly installed Ingemar fixed wharves. The nautical infrastructure and waterfront property are a harmonious blend of hightech elements and natural products like wood and other local materials. Safety is ensured by a 620m (2,034ft) breakwater, positioned two miles away on a west/east axis to protect the marina entrance.
The marina is divided into two sections. The first has 407 berths, around 100 of which were built specifically for superyachts of 40 to 130m (131 to 426ft). Thirteen of the berths, for yachts above 50m (164ft), are positioned on the outer side of the main pier. The second section, offering 700 berths for boats under 14m (46ft), was developed in cooperation with the Port Authority and is arranged with 13 floating docks also situated on the outside edge of the main pier.
Varied services
Porto Mirabello is unsurprisingly strong on services, offering video surveillance, Wi-Fi and two good fuel docks. It has ample car parking, restaurants, bars and a shopping arcade with 30 shops, and staff in the marina office provide high levels of customer service. Luxury is enhanced by a 25m (82ft) swimming pool, a large solarium, a yacht club and a heliport on the main pier. The latter is extremely unusual in Liguria due to the mountainous terrain.
Large fixed piers purposely designed for superyachts reflect its commitment to the large yacht sector and a sophisticated security system with remote monitoring gives captains and owners peace of mind. This is further augmented by the fact that the marina shares its border with a military site. Superyachts have immediate access to high speed diesel refuelling at the main dock, which delivers at 500 litres/ min (110 gallons/min) and unleaded petrol and diesel fuel is also dispensed at a service station.
Reserved access, parking spaces and nearby garages are all available for superyacht use. The concierge offers personalised services for owners and crew, such as helicopter flights, courtesy cars and shuttles to and from the international airports and nearby airstrips for private jets. Local companies specialising in crew services are located on the main bridges. In addition to parking spaces immediately in front of each berth, there are 1,300 covered and open parking spaces and a garage for 287 vehicles.
The onsite yard can haul and launch vessels up to 700 tons and offers plenty of boat storage space, a sail repair service, steel and glass fibre hull repair workshops and other traditional repairs and services. A dedicated team is available every day of the year to help with any boating problems.
Enhancing visitor experience
Porto Mirabello offers extra services and lowest fees for seasonal guests and takes great pride in protecting the environment. Marina staff will help visitors rent scooters, bicycles, luxury cars, courtesy electric cars etc., and catering services are available for onboard dining. Via the local helicharter companies, visitors can access places of special interest as well as airports.
The marina has partnered with a loan company to develop a customised funding formula called Easy Berth that protects mooring fees from price list increases.
Mirabello has drafted guidelines for boat owners to encourage them to follow best practice when it comes to the environment in the marina and out at sea and since 2014 it has held a Blue Flag for tourist ports. Maximum environmental compliance is also being adopted in the ongoing construction of a complex of 11 luxury visitor suites, which have views across the Gulf of Poets and the city of La Spezia.
Speaking to Menozzi
President and entrepreneur Alessandro Menozzi has an excellent team at Porto Mirabello, including manager Daniela Pellini who took over direction of the marina in 2009 after 16 years at Porto Lotti, and vice president Massimo Caltelli who brings extensive shipbuilding and offshore experience.
Porto Mirabello, located as it is within a popular tourist spot, is always likely to appeal to visitors but Menozzi
seeks permanent berth holders as the first priority. “Our vocation is to be a home port and to work with crews and owners all year round,” he says, confirming that 60% of berths are already occupied by long term berth holders and around 15% taken up by visitors.
In order to create a home from home, the marina’s most important mission in coming years will be security but enhancing leisure facilities is also high on the agenda. “This summer we will open an English pub to add to our other amenities. I personally went to England to find out how to set this up properly so that the crews of large yachts, who are mostly British, can have a real pub experience. Also, in September, we are opening a captains-only gym and we are also creating a crew concierge to offer contacts and services specifically to crew members to make them feel at home.”
Supplies for large yachts are also available but less of a personal mission. “Last year we opened Versilia Supply Service,” Menozzi confirms. “However, supplies are not a business for us. We prefer customers to choose their own.”
» The information is also accessible on the Port Gallice web site:port-gallice.fr
APort Gallice
An invitation to administer, manage and develop Port Gallice, Antibes.
ntibes, a historical town with a wealth of outstanding archisailors from all seas. Port Gallice was inaugurated in 1967.
the Lerins Islands (2.5 miles) and the towns of Cannes, Monaco, St Tropez and Nice with its international airport.
The Town of Antibes is intent on continuing its development and making Port Gallice the Port of the third millennium, oriented development, with advanced information and environmental heart of Cap d’Antibes.
The Town of Antibes intends to make Port Gallice into a global reference point of ports. To achieve this goal, proposals are invited for Outsourcing the Public Services and the development of the Port into the third millennium centred on these three aspects.
Port Gallice will be the natural interface between Antibes, levels will be based on innovative information technologies to meet the high demands of its visitors.
becomes an outstanding example of sustainable development and continued certi cation “Ports propres” (Clean awarded in 2014, and other awards.
strengthening its nautical sector and its attractiveness to ities and commercial activities linked to the port.
facilities within the 6,600 m2 perimeter of maritime public land adjoining the port area, subject to restrictions.
SUPERYACHT FACILITIES
Launching Anguilla on the superyacht circuit
A new luxury marina on the island of Anguilla in the Lesser Antilles will offer new mooring opportunities for superyacht charters and other visitors. Development responds to a chronic need for new berths in the region and will put Anguilla on the cruising circuit for the first time. Jeffrey Boyd reports
Neither the global recession nor the stock market slides nor the disappearance of personal wealth has put a serious dent in Caribbean charter and yacht traffic. The yachting industry, which has been exhibiting consistent growth over the past few years, is being fuelled by an increasing desire for more active leisure holidays by the affluent. In addition, there is a growing interest in short-break and multi-centre trips (i.e. trips that combine yachting and/or sailing with some other land and sea-based activity).
The demand for active leisure vacations calls for a fleet of charter yachts - large private or ‘super luxury’ yachts in the size range of 79 to 230ft (24 to 70m) - that is growing in number and size. The 2015 Global Yacht Order Book indicates there are currently approximately 757 such yachts under construction worldwide. These are primarily over 100ft (30m) in length and will be added to the fleet of approximately 2,200 that are already in service worldwide.
Expansion of the large luxury yacht fleet comes at a time when the berth count, support facilities and resorts located in the most popular destinations are unable to accommodate them. Facilities have not even come close to keeping pace. When cruising in the Leeward Islands region, the average megayacht charter will only be able to tie up and dock in either St Maarten or St Barts if a prior reservation has been
new marina at Altamer Resort will deliver much needed berths and prestigious waterfront property.
made as during the peak season most, if not all, marinas are fully booked.
Enter Anguilla
The newest and most welcome response to the influx of large charter yachts is soon to be found in Anguilla. Anguilla is situated just to the north of St Martin and approximately 250 miles east of Puerto Rico and, although an island paradise, cannot currently offer dockage for any yachts. There are simply no marinas. As a result, yachts bypass the island completely or are forced to anchor off the beaches in an unsheltered cove for very short periods of a day or so. Visitors use dinghies to reach limited landing areas. The lack of facilities is a major inconvenience and has prevented the island from becoming a stopping point for charters and the luxury tourism they deliver.
Dramatic change will arrive in the not too distant future when a new luxury five-star marina opens at Altamer Resort at Shoal Bay West. With capacity to host yachts up to 300ft (91m), Altamer will serve as the official port of entry to Anguilla and solve the island’s berthing problem by providing the highest calibre slips, support services and resort amenities. The resort will also be expanded and upland residential properties built.
As a yacht charter destination, Altamer will be able to service and provision yachts while offering marina guests the use of all the resort facilities including concierge services.
Opening up the market
While the marina is not envisaged as becoming the home port for a significant number of megayachts, the proximity of the site to the Caribbean cruising grounds and the general allure of Anguilla and the Altamer resort itself dictate that mooring space for megayachts be integrated into marina plans. These will command premium prices and create significant demand for resort services.
Aside from this, large numbers of mid size cruising and fishing vessels typically of 30 to 60ft (9 to 18m) depart Puerto Rico for various destinations in the region (especially the Virgin Islands) during the summer months. Some of these could well find their way to Altamer, providing critical off-season revenue to the marina facility. There could be additional benefits when the residential aspect of the plan comes on line as, although the Caribbean has a healthy winter sailing trade and there are a number of highly rated superyacht marinas on islands that include Barbados, St Lucia and Antigua, few offer an integrated residential aspect.
Focus on property
Marina resorts also attract large numbers of people who don’t own boats but who want to live in a waterfront location. At Altamer Marina, residences overlooking the marina will have sought after views and the convenience of a central location adjacent to the restaurants, retail and nightlife. The views from seaside villas/ homes situated on the south facing peninsula with the marina basin to the rear and the open ocean to the front are literally ‘million dollar vistas’, which cannot be re-created.
The Altamer Resort complex will include 740,000ft² (68,748m²) of upland space, which is currently earmarked for a 164-unit resort type community and a duty-free shopping and restaurant promenade. The project will be the first of its kind for the island.
Jeffrey D Boyd is chairman and CEO of Marine Management & Consulting and Anaconda Holdings Ltd.
A
Jeffrey D Boyd
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MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE
Mobile technology –reshaping businesses around the globe
by John Camp
Over the past few years, mobile technology, the Internet and customer service have converged to the point where marinas and their customers can now communicate in ways that were inconceivable just a decade ago. The focal point of this new world is of course the Internet, which since the beginning of this century moved into the mainstream of business with a speed that surprised even the most visionary of people. For marinas, this new mobile age will be helpful for the most part; it will make many mundane tasks easier and faster, as well as create time for the key customer-facing activities that improve service levels and drive business forward.
Like most businesses, marinas and boatyards spend a lot of time communicating – with employees, boat owners, other customers, contractors and suppliers. It stands to reason, therefore, that improving the efficiency of how a marina communicates will have an impact on its competitive advantage.
Along with communication, the marina sector just like most other business sectors, wants to do more with less. The pressures to improve the way marinas work are relentless and everywhere. For example, across the world, the average age of boat owners, we are told, is getting older. This means at some point soon, if not already, marinas will have to work harder to win more business and
generate new revenue streams. Faced with situations like this and the threat posed by potential customers choosing other recreational activities, successful marinas must continuously work smarter and find ways to drive out inefficiency and at the same time offer new services.
Customer expectations
Customers of today are increasingly demanding partners, not as remote as they once were. Technology, especially through mobile devices, has given them immediate access to unprecedented choice, with a tremendous amount of information available. We cannot afford to ignore these changing customer expectations, which impact our customers, the marinas. The marinas
John Camp
need systems, which apart from freeing up time, help them understand and anticipate what their customers want, focusing on customer retention, loyalty and service excellence.
At HavenStar, we’ve learnt that the only way to evolve marina management systems is with customer involvement. For example, one of the challenges we face is that nearly all marinas require a degree of customisation. In other words, it doesn’t make business sense to design and offer a one-size-fits-all marina management software system. Most marinas that are big enough to need a management system, want one that mirrors the way they work and exchanges data with their customers and own business applications, many of which are unique. At the simplest level that means exporting data into applications that enable marinas to easily create text alerts, emails, letters and documents for customers, as well as powerfully analyse data. At a more complex level, the exchange of data can involve a real time interface with fuel dock management, access control systems and membership schemes.
Another essential collaboration for HavenStar is with metering solution providers such as Rolec and Meter-MACS. Much of the current development allows marina customers to enter their bank details once, agree to an automatic top-up and then do nothing more in order to use the service. This is a good example of doing more with less and at the same time giving boat owners and other customers better service.
In The New York Times last year I read there are now more mobile phones in use in the world than toothbrushes, with over 4.8 billion people owning a mobile phone compared with 4.2 billion owning a toothbrush! Whether that statistic is true or false, what is true is that mobile Internet use is at an all-time high and will continue to rise, with current surveys saying that over 60% of cell phone users worldwide go online using their phones. While desktop PCs
MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE
remain a popular method of Internet use, there is no denying that it appears mobile devices will become the preferred choice to access the Internet. Provided the marina data is protected and with reliable Internet connectivity, this means that many marina employees have already moved from being tied to a desktop or laptop PC to connecting to the marina management system from anywhere.
Comms on the go
With greater coverage and relative decreases in the costs of Wi-Fi, cellular and high-speed Internet access, the use of smartphones and tablets for working in-and-around the marina and boat yard is becoming common place, ranging from meeting customers on the water and at the dockside, carrying out muster checks and dock walks, to taking meter readings for pontoon services such as water or electricity; all accessing and updating the incumbent marina management software. Whilst technological changes in the last ten years or so have made a lot of faceto-face communication unnecessary, in the case of marinas, mobile technology and Internet connectivity is freeing up staff to give a more personal service. Tablets and mobile devices don’t mind being moved, customers do!
With the continuous innovations in cloud-based information storage security, marinas are gradually moving away from keeping data on-site. Most multiple site marinas now opt for an internally managed hosted solution,
i.e. one that allows information such as customer and boat records to be shared between individual marinas, giving clear benefits to customers and providing the marinas with information to offer exceptional personal service. With the associated cost of cloud offerings on a downward spiral, many single marinas are now opting to host their own customised marina management systems too.
It is worth considering other kinds of digital transformation currently being seen in the marina sector. Many marina websites are no longer dominated by just type-written pages. In collaboration with marina management suppliers, the websites include customer portals for on-line contract renewals, statements and booking berths, all talking to the back office systems. Many boat owners and customers expect such services, so it’s important to react quickly to changing customer demands.
Business Dashboards designed for
mobile devices and collecting data from marina management systems, which provide a brief snapshot of the entire business, are becoming increasingly popular and mainstream. Nowadays it’s very easy to customise such screens to suit the marina and make it available on any device, in any location with an Internet connection. Such technology makes it easier to raise the right questions, which, when answered, lead to more informed decisions.
Time to integrate
More than any single technology, marinas need to continuously consider the integration of systems that will allow them as a whole to move quickly as the marketplace changes. For example, we are seeing more web services and Apps developed for boat owners, such as Blue Water App in Europe and Snag-A-Slip in the United States. For participating marinas, these allow boat owners to search for and reserve berths in minutes. Sooner or later this new market place will consolidate and, provided it takes off, marinas may feel that for sound business reasons they have to sign up to this new sales channel. At the end of the day, a marina business is no different from any other. It’s all about getting things done, creating value and delivering products and services to boat owners and customers in a rapidly changing technological environment, ruled by the ruthless and often brutal discipline of competition and profit and loss. The good news is that the best way to find out what someone wants is to talk with them, and for marinas this new mobile age should give them the technology to do just that.
Contact HavenStar/Star Computers Ltd in the UK on email: marinainfo@starplc.com
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Focusing on the guest experience
by Erik Rulifson
Award-winning Marina Park in Newport Beach, California is owned and operated by the City of Newport Beach and, like any other waterfront development, it was a long time in the making. The goal of the development was to bring guest boaters from other areas into the Newport Beach peninsula for short visits, enable them to explore the idyllic location and bring additional revenues into adjoining businesses. In emulating the strategy of a well-run hotel by adopting real-time reservation software, the marina is well on its way to continued success.
Constructed over the last three years, Marina Park is Newport Beach’s newest marina. Located in the heart of the area’s vibrant city beaches, dining, shopping and harbour-front promenades, it is a world class marina offering elegant charm and the relaxing lifestyle of beachside activities.
In terms of build, it is a state of the art architectural dreamscape for the city. Featuring a wide open guest-friendly approach with windows adorning the walls, the focus is on waterfront activities. This approach minimises the transition from indoor to outdoor activities on the docks and surrounding areas.
Features include a sailing centre for beginners and experts alike, which
attracts local sailors wishing to brush up on their skills, or beginners just getting their first taste of salt water
sailing. Other amenities include The Lighthouse restaurant, a ten-acre park, children’s playground and fitness areas for basketball and other sporting activities.
The Balboa Bay area, of which Marina Park is a part, has long been home to both sailors and power boaters. Traditionally focused on long term moorage, the area features many options for local boaters to permanently store their vessels. But for short term guest moorage, there were far fewer options available, especially for visitors from outside the area to the bay. One of the goals of the facility was to offer an affordable option for visiting boaters.
Capturing visitors
While promoting the marina via magazine and newspaper advertising was on the agenda, another approach was needed to capture and manage visitors. Shannon Levin and her staff at Marina Park developed a set of
Marina Park is the newest marina in Newport Beach, California (above) and hosts various activities (right).
Erik Rulifson
• Single or Multi-site • On premise or online • Multi-lingual support
• Full Multi-currency transaction processing and reporting
• Advanced contact relationship management – includes membership
• Berthing efficiency and occupancy reporting
• Deferred revenue and forecast analysis
Options
• Synchronisation with MS CRM (on premise or online service)
• Integrated Website Bookings
• Boat Yard Manager Handles all plant and job scheduling
• Integrated EPoS
• Pedestal integration (including Rolec, Meter-MACS, et al)
• Dockside Manager
Real time Smartphone or tablet connection
Composite Decking
MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE
PDF based forms for collecting the information needed to provide the appropriate level of service for a world class marina. Much like the repair and boat sales business model migrated to automobile business practices in the 1980s and 1990s, Marina Park decided to use the modern practices and techniques of upscale hotels. While simple in concept, this led them to conclude that an enhanced guest experience would require more attention to detail and an online real time reservation and billing system.
In order to implement the hotel concept, Levin’s team looked for a software vendor that had a similar vision and had experience in the marketplace. After meeting with MarinaWare at the Marina Recreation Association of California’s annual conference, a working partnership was established. By leveraging MarinaWare’s 30 years of experience in the marina software market with a state of the art facility, the partners launched a plan.
The guest experience was promoted to the forefront of the management systems and procedures. This started with an online reservation system that allows boaters to choose the dates of their visit and the exact slip they want. Once the slip is selected, the customer enters credit card information and pays the deposit for the upcoming stay. To complete the reservation, the boater agrees to the marina practices/ policies and a PDF confirmation letter is emailed. The design of the software
allows individual slips to be booked in the same way as airplane seats. This allows for tighter control of the dock and minimises last minute shuffling of boats.
Most other marina reservation systems involve an email to the marina, a response from the operator, a payment process and then a confirmation notice. In a best case scenario, this can take up to 15 or 20 minutes.
What Marina Park needed was to have online status of all the available guest slips, all the time. This would give the Internet guest the same view as the marina operator. As each booking is made, a slip is marked as reserved and its availability is removed. This is very similar to the way an airline books seats on a specific flight or a venue sells seats for an event. An added complexity exists when the length, beam, draft and electrical requirements are considered. But by having guests enter the specifics of their requirements, time and effort is reduced for the marina staff.
The customer saves on time and effort too. Because of the real time nature of the software, boaters do not have to wait to hear back from the marina by phone, text or email. They receive the email confirmation letter and are assured of their space within seconds of making the reservation. Of course ‘taking’ the reservation is not as important as ‘holding’ the reservation. There is nothing more frustrating than arriving at a facility to find your reservation has been ‘lost’. With a written confirmation letter and
A MarinaWare online reservation system gives Marina Park a hotel style booking service.
corresponding reservation number, there are no angry customers with ‘lost’ reservations.
Hospitality extras
Once boaters arrive at the marina, they are met on the dock by staff armed with a wireless device. By utilising the wireless pad to access the marina’s central reservation system, the member of staff can confirm the customer’s information and check the boat into the reserved slip. During this process, security access cards and information about local restaurants, parking, current events, activities etc., are also provided to the guest. To further ease the burden, the well-lit walkways and signage are pointed out so that the route to the showers, toilets and laundry facilities, and details for handicapped access, is clear for all customers. This is the start of the concierge service that travellers have grown to expect when they stay at a well-run hotel.
During the course of any visit, additional charges can be billed to the customer’s account. This can include power, extra lines, cords or other necessary items from the office. When guests make the initial reservation and set up accounts, the marina keeps the credit card details on file. This card is then used for any charges while the boat is at the dock. It also has the added convenience of being used during the check-out process. Many times after the boat has left the dock, the meter is read and the electricity is billed to the customer. Again utilising the hotel model, the card on file is charged for any unpaid items and the customer account is reconciled by the marina operator.
After the initial account creation and visit to Marina Park, the customer can continue to make reservations for future visits. This includes the ability to use the same credit card to book multiple slips over different dates and thus helps the marina to generate reliable, consistent repeat customers - the basis for long term growth in a guest oriented facility.
Erik Rulifson is the principal at MarinaWare, marina management software specialists based in WA, USA. He can be contacted on email: erik@marinaware.com
SETTING THE STANDARD FOR BOAT HANDLING EQUIPMENT
Versatile hydraulic trailers
Hydraulically expanding width frame
Full frame lift for easy lift and set
Complete suite of options available
Factory pricing on all equipment sales
MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE
BWML opts for real-time control
A new award-winning management software system called Harbour Assist has been adopted by British Waterways Marinas Ltd (BWML) for implementation at its 19 inland and coastal sites as of September this year.
Developed by Viking Systems in Cornwall, Harbour Assist uses tailormade, cloud-based technology to give operators of harbours and marinas complete, real-time control.
The software lets operators and managers control everything from their mobile device or computer, from on-thewater payments to financial reporting. Customers and visitors can also log in from any device to manage their accounts and make payments.
The highly secure software has already been successfully deployed at facilities in Dartmouth, Padstow, Fowey and Torquay.
The new software was selected because it is fully integrated and thus able to support all aspects of BWML’s business. “The use of cloud technology was key for us as it provides universal access and connectivity in any location, helping us deliver improvements to customer service,” said BWML operation director, Darren Bramhall. “I was also impressed as to how additional features could be developed
within Harbour Assist, allowing us to consolidate features that would provide additional benefits to our 3,000
The Viking Systems team worked closely with BWML to customise the cloud-based Harbour Assist system.
customers in ways of communication and ease of payment.”
Nick Gill, commercial director of Viking Systems, explained the customisation. “We’ve worked closely with the BWML team to ensure the software suits both their needs and those of their customers. We’re delighted to be on board with one of the UK’s largest marina operators.”
Gill was also keen to stress that Harbour Assist isn’t just a solution for large marina groups. “The software can be scaled to suit virtually any size of operation,” he emphasised. “Dartmouth uses Harbour Assist to manage in excess of 2,500 berths but many of our clients operate a maximum of 200 berths and find Harbour Assist an ideal way to manage their day-to-day operations.”
“As well as managing visitor and annual berths, the software is fully integrated, letting you schedule and account for all the main marina or boatyard tasks. For example, annual inspection and maintenance, customer communications, waiting lists, liftouts and scrub-downs, hard standing ashore, drystack berthing, electricity metering and invoicing, fuel services and parking.”
By using GPS technology to map the marina or harbour and an easyto-use layout, managers can stay in control whether they’re in the office, in the yard or on the water. The sales and development team work closely with each client to match the system to their needs. And as with BWML, this can mean developing new functionality to meet their requirements.
Gill explains the ethos of Harbour Assist as “offering a cost-effective solution for everyone, from independent marinas to high-traffic coastal ports to harbours servicing small fleets”.
“A lot of harbours and marinas use outdated and server-based systems that aren’t integrated, which can lead to huge inefficiencies both in terms of time and money. A lot of current solutions tend to be one-size-fits-all affairs, so there was a clear gap in the market for something more efficient,” he added. Contact Harbour Assist in the UK on email: info@harbourassist.com
Photo: Simon Burt Photography
MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE
Integrated solution for multiple activities
A Successful Software marina management system installed in 2014 at Red Sea Marina in Saudi Arabia, has streamlined the management of diverse marina operations.
Red Sea Marina, which opened in 1987, sits on the bank of Obhor Creek some 24km (15 miles) north of Jeddha and is the boating hub for the region, offering 561 wet and dry berths and a full service boatyard.
The management software is in use to control all marina and yard services; a boat repair centre which offers repair and refit for vessels up to 65m (213ft);
a chandlery store with in excess of 24,000 products; a boat charter operation; boat sales business; and a scuba diving centre that provides diving lessons as well as selling and renting out dive equipment.
“At first, each department in our marina worked separately on different forms of Excel sheets,” explained marina manager Benjamin Gharbawi.
Marina on the map
Using its experience in marine digital mapping and mobile and web App development, Italian company GEC is gaining customer ground with its Marina Service website information and marketing tool.
GEC, via the global ActiveCaptain database, brings a website to life by replacing static and sometimes pointless information with an interactive App that enables potential customers to explore all your services.
Most customers will approach your marina from the water, which makes a detailed vector nautical chart far more useful than a static street map. GEC can overlay specific information on top of the chart to indicate the exact position of mooring buoys,
transient berths, fuel dock, restaurant, slipway/ramp etc.
If you offer swing moorings and rely on a launch to ferry visitors to and
“It was so difficult to control the work or achieve integrated performance that, as a solution to this problem, we contacted a local software provider. But the result was very disappointing and we spent a lot of money and time to no avail.”
The next step was to seek out help from Successful Software, a company formed in Greece in 1991 to offer specific marina-focused technology. Via its ‘Successful Marina’ product, the company offers a comprehensive, multilingual suite of solutions based around a core management module. Optional modules that cover every marinarelated area of business operation can be integrated, making it the ideal choice for Red Sea Marina.
“Successful Software transformed our isolated departments into one integrated entity and is helping us to improve our performance and enhance our customer relations,” Gharbawi commented. “Successful software is a successful investment for any marina. I highly recommend the team, especially for demanding projects.”
Successful Marina is constantly being updated with new features as John Barbanus and his team respond to feedback from marina operators and customers. The open architecture of the software ensures it is easy to modify and enhance, and makes it highly customisable.
Contact Successful Software in Greece on email: ibarbanas@ successful-soft.com
from their boats, the position of the ferry point can be highlighted, and reservations for pick up/drop off can even be made in real-time to avoid queues. Transient berths can also be reserved ahead of time using a similar booking system.
In addition to interactive viewing of the marina facilities and prices, viewers can read reviews and also write reviews whilst online thus creating an extra information resource and providing very useful insight for the marina owner/ operator.
The GEC Marina Service has been adopted by various marinas in the USA and is also available to other boating related companies.
Contact GEC in Italy on email: gghiggini@gec-it.com
MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE
Creating a new CRM culture
Marina Master CRM, the Customer Relationship Management system developed by IRM of Slovenia, is designed to change the way marinas operate. It improves the management process for managers and staff but also improves the customer experience to give long term satisfaction and foster loyalty. The innovative modules, advanced services and cloud-based options are part of ongoing development of a customised solution that takes customer needs and requests into account; a vitally important factor in the rapidly changing marina environment.
“Visiting a marina shouldn’t be about urgently needing to find a berth, fuel and a water pump, but an unforgettable holiday experience,” says Marina Master president, Tone Britovsek.
Today’s customers expect better service and are looking for more personalised, rather than generic, solutions to meet their needs. They are more easily disappointed, are becoming more demanding in terms of digital technology and are more likely to switch from one marina to another.
“Getting new customers is five to ten times more expensive than keeping existing ones,” warns Marina Master CEO, Irena Cadez. “If a marina wants to grow in a competitive market it needs to focus on its customers, systematically following them and understanding their needs in order to achieve long-term customer relationships.”
The CRM works for both staff and customers. Marina customers receive added value and benefits because they can communicate freely and flexibly
with the marina. They can order basic services (check in, check out, payment per consumption) or extended services according to their individual needs
Easily viewed on an iPad, Marina Master CRM software streamlines operations leaving staff with more time to focus on talking to customers and organising activities.
and expectations (boat lifting or just newspaper on arrival) anytime and anywhere, quickly and simply from their mobile or tablet. Consequently, they have more time to sail and to enjoy holiday services, which leads to long-term satisfaction and a good relationship with the marina. They can also benefit from added value extras such as boat sharing, berth sharing, yacht club membership and other services.
Marina staff benefit because they don’t need to check boat movements manually, enter new data, extend contracts and undertake other time consuming tasks as these are now automated. They have a complete overview of customer data, history and future reservations, internal/ informal notes and alarms, and can communicate easily with customers through email and SMS via a mobile device. Staff can organise campaigns and other marketing activities and thus have more time for added value activities and to talk to customers; an important investment when trying to improve relationships.
Finally, the new CRM approach will improve marina management from the owner’s and manager’s point of view, offering complete control of marina operations and a real-time business overview of critical data (auditing trail, cash flow, statistics) from the personalised Marina Master interface anytime, anywhere, from any device. There is even a cloud-based solution. This results in improved processes, a rise in productivity, increased marina income and better branding.
“The marina management solution that is flexible enough to develop continuously according to the needs of a marina and the latest trends will boost its competitive advantage and improve its reputation among existing and potential customers,” Britovsek concludes.
Contact IRM in Slovenia on email: info@irm.si
MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE
New generation solutions
by Cameron Kennedy
With around 40 years of experience with software development under their belts, Chris Thomas and the team at Pacsoft have learnt much about the impact software can have on a variety of industries and businesses. According to the team, the marina and boatyard sector is actually one of the more complex business environments to navigate and Pacsoft has risen to the challenge with software solutions that simplify business life for management and staff and increase their day-to-day knowledge of the marinas they operate.
While life can seem like a breeze on the marina, owners and managers need to keep on top of many things. Frequent water space rental turnover, drystack rental management, leasing ownership, Body Corporate management, utility management, car parking, accounting and finances, retail shop operation, boat moving and servicing, and compliance - the list goes on. Typically, the above business functions would be operated, administered and managed by a small number of staff, which could add up to big costs on the year’s balance sheet.
The marina and boatyard business also varies considerably depending on where the business is located – e.g. coastal or inland,
and according to the land area available and the demographics of the local population and customer base. Sometimes the marina can be a ‘port of entry’ with requirements from local government and perhaps environmental compliance may arise too. Software systems also have to provide management solutions and a range of easy-to-use tools to simplify marina operations in different countries, cultures and in various languages.
Empowering staff
A key issue facing this very specialised, complex and sophisticated business area is the matter of staff training and the ease of use of a management system. As a business develops and hires new staff, regular and up-to-date training is a must. Several years ago Pacsoft determined that these factors were a major inhibitor in the industry
Chris Thomas
and proceeded to develop features in its software, automating systems to the benefit of management and staff. They noted that many operators viewed IT training and IT systems as necessary evils and tried to minimise costs. However, the cost of not utilising an effective IT system can be much higher.
Many marina managers are also tempted to shy away from hands-on use and tend to rely on junior staff to operate the system. This can reduce the opportunity to use a strong IT system as staff tend to be motivated to learn just enough to do their job but not to push themselves to utilise the full potential of the system - improving the business along the way. Due to a potential lack of knowledge of system capabilities, management can miss out on the real opportunities for improving the business operation, productivity, efficiency and management insight reporting. Marina managers who understand the potential and intricacies of their IT management systems are set to reap the business rewards.
Thomas and the Pacsoft team believe that a good marina and boatyard system can significantly add value to a business operation by improving efficiency, providing flexible charging features and strong management reporting to assist decision-making and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). Like any asset, the IT system needs regular maintenance and review, and arguably more so than other assets as the world of technology is constantly changing. Having gained extensive industry knowledge and experience from working with marinas and partners around the world, and understanding these IT constraints and realities, Pacsoft decided a fresh approach was needed.
The New Generation
Embracing new technology and new ways of doing things has always been a big part of Pacsoft’s business philosophy, so it embarked on redeveloping its PacsoftMMS system from the ground up. Critical to the redevelopment was retaining flexibility, sophistication, efficient processes and building a solution that focused on ease of use – assisting users and leading them through business operation rules and processes. As over 100 man years of development went into PacsoftMMS, a redevelopment was no mean feat, but the new software nonetheless moved
forward to become Pacsoft NG (New Generation). It boasts built in features such as the ‘Visual Marina’ and the use of ‘Wizards’ to guide staff through processes like moving a boat from one berth to another.
The Visual Marina displays a very realistic view of the marina and/ or boatyard where the maps and boats are to scale. This realistic presentation provides many business benefits including ease of use, fast and efficient access to information, a security guard view and at a glance arrival and departure views. The Visual Marina also features a simple berthing or hardstanding optimisation tool to reduce inefficient berth allocations, which can lead to lost revenue for marinas that charge based on vessel size. Another major benefit is the simple audit tool to make sure berths have not been double booked, to determine what boats are where, to ensure records have been entered correctly and to guarantee that management information is based on correct data.
The ‘Move Boat Wizard’ is another key feature. A software wizard is an interface that presents the user with a sequence of dialogue boxes that lead him or her through a series of welldefined steps – turning the complex or infrequently performed into an easier process. The ‘Move Boat Wizard’ helps
control any changes in fees payable, final readings on electricity and water meters, changes to security gate access, charges for car parking or other charges; and with a new berth can involve allocating new meters and implementing car park fees or other charges. What needs to be considered when moving a vessel from one berth to another can vary significantly for different marinas. Instead of staff having to remember what may need to be dealt with, the Pacsoft Wizard will identify the relevant items to consider and lead staff through the process ensuring the local business operating procedures are being followed.
These two feature examples in the NG software can significantly improve the ease of use whilst meeting Pacsoft’s objective to help reduce training costs and enhance the benefits gained by the system use for the business. The company urges management to become more involved and knowledgeable about the capabilities of their management system and to be more demanding on their staff utilisation of the system. Treating your IT management system as a valuable business asset rather than a sunk cost is vital, along with regular staff training to maximise the potential for your business.
Contact Pacsoft in New Zealand on email: chris@pacsoftmms.com
Reservation App in expansion mode
US-based Dockwa, a software start-up in Newport, RI, has launched a cloud-based reservation management platform that allows marinas, yacht clubs and shipyards to process dock and mooring reservation requests with inventory management.
It takes just 15 minutes to set up a marina on the Dockwa platform and the company claims that marinas from Maine to the Bahamas have found that having their data centralised and organised through the reservation process can boost business. ‘Marinas have increased their operational efficiency and, as a result, increased revenue by as much as 17%, with one marina reporting its highest first-month
Scribble expands software options
As part of its drive to bring emerging technology to marina management, Scribble Software has introduced three new products: E-Signature Contracts; marinaGo mobile POS; and RentalH20.
The E-Signature Contracts App provides businesses with a fast, easy and effective way to deliver interactive digital contracts directly to their customer’s inbox. Utilising state-ofthe-art electronic signature services, customers can easily interact and sign contracts at will. The E-Signature service also allows marinas and service yards to automatically track document history, send reminders and receive signed contracts swiftly and securely.
marinaGo mobile POS is ideal for fuel dock and mobile sales as it facilitates cash, credit card and house account sales transactions using mobile phones or tablets with full access to your customer list. With support for real-time credit
revenue in history,’ the company says.
In addition to increasing marina efficiency, Dockwa makes boating more accessible to a technically savvy demographic and Dockwa’s marinafocused travel content also connects boaters to marinas and harbours that are off the beaten track. Boaters are able to securely reserve dock space or a mooring directly from their phone or computer. The marina then confirms the reservation, collects payment and deposits the customer’s information
card processing and house account ticket charges, the product takes the complete sales activity away from the counter sales clerk and out to wherever it is needed.
Rental H20 is a completely new asset rental management solution designed specifically with marinas in mind. Ideal for the rental management of boats and guest accommodation, it streamlines the booking process from initial reservation to completion. The intuitive ‘drag and drop’ design makes it very easy to manage all types of bookings.
To support the growth of its business, Scribble has recently opened a new operations centre in Mechanicsville, Virginia. Contact Scribble in the USA on email: sales@posscribble.com
into an intelligent database with a single click.
After receiving an overwhelmingly enthusiastic response with its current footprint, Dockwa plans to expand its offering to include premium marina marketing, operations and analytics features, and continue its rapid expansion throughout North America and to international waters.
Contact Dockwa in RI, USA on email: info@dockwa.com
MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE
Booking slips in real time
SlipFinder, a market leader in on-demand boat slips, celebrates its first year anniversary and now hosts more than 190 marinas on its platform.
“SlipFinder is free for marinas to sign up and offers them a way into the App arena,” explains president, Keith Cooper. “App purchases are climbing every year, amounting to as high as 50% of all e-commerce. So, listing your marina on the SlipFinder App is an easy decision,” he adds.
Marinas set up a free profile on the SlipFinder website that includes their available slips. They are able to limit the size of vessels that can book. Boaters set up a profile based on the dimensions of their boats and, when searching the SlipFinder map, can view marinas with ‘open spots’. When a boater books a slip the marina receives a text message and email and the slip comes off-line. It is a real time transaction.
As an additional service, SlipFinder has recently announced a partnership with the leading US onwater assistance provider SeaTow, which makes it part of SeaTow’s savings club. This offers members savings at various retailers, service providers and partners. SlipFinder customers who book slips and moorings can now use their active SeaTow membership number to gain a 50% refund on their booking fee.
“We are proud to announce this partnership,” Cooper says. “SlipFinder and SeaTow are both committed to driving technology and innovation to improve the boating experience for both boaters and marinas.”
SlipFinder has new features under
Subcontractor Assignment feature for MyTaskit
MyTaskit, a comprehensive marine industry software tool used by countless marine businesses, has rolled out several enhancements to its solutions for connecting service professionals to their technicians and customers for repair and maintenance tasks.
Just released within the MyTaskit Pro Coordination module is the Subcontractor Assignment feature, which will enable service technicians to coordinate work with subcontractors, enabling these businesses to see the task, along with all photos, videos and messages related to a work assignment, and then communicate/ coordinate with the Pro user on the tasks. MyTaskit Pro is offered as a free service for the subcontractors; as an enhanced offering it is available as a subscription service.
“Many of these enhancements came directly from customer feedback,” said Kevin Hutchinson, founder and CEO of MyTaskit. “Now businesses will be able to communicate and coordinate with their network of subcontractors much more efficiently, saving time and confusion.”
Other new enhancements to the Coordination module include several
features enabling MyTaskit to provide better service for service technicians and customers. For instance, the new upgrade of MyTaskit enables multiple technicians to collaborate on the same work task, allowing MyTaskit Pro users to quickly add assignments on the fly. Supervisors can now more easily cover other supervisors’ tasks and assign tasks in bulk, saving time.
MyTaskit also boosted its plan management capabilities for service plans and client profiles. For example, the new customer registration process enables technicians to collect a more complete client profile, which will in turn allow them to provide better ongoing maintenance and service reminders.
MyTaskit continues to integrate the technician task coordination and work order processing between the MyTaskit Pro Coordination module and its Operations module. Formerly known as DockMaster, the Operations module
development and is looking to offer its service in some European markets very soon.
Contact SlipFinder in the USA on email: keith@slipfinder.com
helps boating professionals with their back end operations, including financial management, work order processing, inventory management, point of sale, marina management and sales management. Many longtime customers of the MyTaskit Operations module are now using the web-hosted Operations module as well as taking advantage of MyTaskit’s enhanced credit card processing capabilities.
Last year MyTaskit partnered with Worldpay, an EMV-compliant credit card processor. As a result, many MyTaskit marina customers now use Worldpay to quickly process slip charges for hundreds of customers each month with the click of a button.
Contact MyTaskit in FL, USA on email: info@mytaskit.com
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Boatlifts boost condo sales
Manteo Resort Waterfront Hotel and Villas on Okanagan Lake, British Columbia, Canada, ordered over 50 hydraulic boat lifts from ShoreStation for slips at its new upmarket condominium development.
The luxury facility in Kelowna, 240 miles northeast of Vancouver, has also recently replaced its marina system, tripling space for guests.
Local contractor Shoreline Pile Driving installed 54 ShoreStation lifts of 6,0008,000lb (2,721-3.629kg) capacity at the condo slips in a move that Shoreline reports recently helped close a condo unit sale.
“ShoreStation has proven to be the industry’s leading hydraulic lift on Okanagan Lake for residential and commercial use. It has many unique benefits, as the cylinders are above water, pile-mounted, safe and secure. These lifts are extremely durable and withstand boat impact,
wind and wave action,” said Shoreline’s Brittney Jones.
Phase one of the marina project saw installation of 100 new slips, including the 54 with lifts. A further 34 slips will be added in phase two.
ShoreStation lifts can be installed low to the waterline to maintain a clean view of the dock. They are ideal for winter storage, reduce routine cleaning and eliminate risk of sinking. Each lift is powered by a safe, reliable 24V DC system and continues to operate if the AC on the dock circuit goes out.
A 15 year warranty, including cables, is offered. The lifts won a 2014 NMMA Product Innovation Award.
Contact ShoreStation in IA, USA via www.shorestation.com
PRODUCTS & SERVICES
Business expands at Coral Bay Marina
Coral Bay Marina in Islamorada, Florida, has purchased a new Marine Travelift (MT) 75 BFM II mobile boat hoist. This marks its third purchase of an MT lifting solution.
Founded on the island’s bay side in 1983, Coral Bay is a full-service marina and boatyard offering a wide range of services and over 30 slips for transient and live-aboard customers.
As yard space is limited, MT drew up a yard layout design to ensure the new machine would work efficiently, and was able to configure it to fit the existing runway while also increasing the inside clearance for larger vessels. The 75 BFM II now enables the yard to handle vessels up to 65ft (20m) long and 19ft (5.7m) wide.
Coral Bay chose a variety of options so as to enhance operational efficiency at the marina and attract new customers. One of the most important is a top beam extension, which allows the yard to lift a larger number of sailboats without needing to adjust rigging, and offers benefits when lifting large powerboats with forward-mounted superstructures.
A DC-LED light package for emergency night time operation was also ordered. “It’s flawless, with complete daylight-type visibility on the vessel, fore and aft, and on both sides of the machine,” said Coral
Bay owner, Walter ‘Buddy’ Collins. “We also chose the extra fuel tank in the lower side beam, which has allowed us to refuel on the fly with no disruption to our busy haul-out schedule. That will be a real added benefit come hurricane season,” he added.
The new 75 BFM II also features MT’s wireless remote control, which has a range of 300ft (91.4m), and two-speed hoists. The latter improve overall lift efficiency when there is high demand or when tidal fluctuations create a greater distance between water levels and the pier. The marina will be able to lift at roughly twice the standard speed with no load.
Collins and his staff are thrilled with the new machine. “Over the years, we’ve noticed that Marine Travelift keeps innovating with its designs while incorporating the latest technologies,” Collins said. “This machine, like our prior machines, has been crucial to expanding our operations. And the customer support, dealer network and parts supply has, as always, exceeded our expectations.”
Contact Marine Travelift in WI, USA on email: sales@marinetravelift.com
PRODUCTS & SERVICES
Marinetek launches sauna-on-the-move
SaunaBoat, an innovative floating sauna concept developed by Marinetek for its private customer base in Finland and Sweden, could find an alternative commercial use in the marina sector.
Available in two sizes and with a host of options, it combines a floating terrace and traditional Finnish sauna with a boat, when registered in the EU with the necessary CE certificate. It can move and moor up wherever required.
The SaunaBoat 14, a 10.2m (33.4ft) boat with 14m² (150.6ft²) of space is ideal for larger gatherings. Able to host up to 12 people, it is divided into two rooms, i.e. a sauna and dressing room,
and a separate toilet cabin. It also has a good sized terrace with space for sunbathing and a barbeque.
The smaller model 10, at 8.3m (27ft) in length with 10m² (107.6ft²) of space is perfect for family use and, like the SaunaBoat 14, can be fitted with a sleeping cabin instead of sauna if preferred. It also enjoys plenty of outside deck area.
Cabins for both models are of timber construction and sit on timber decking, and
the saunas rely on traditional wood burning stoves. The cabin is mounted on a hotdipped steel framed platform with plastic tubes that has been built using Marinetek’s proven pontoon technology.
The SaunaBoat is strong but light in weight, can be transported by road if necessary, and is smooth and stable on water. It is
easily and safely handled when fitted with an outboard engine of 15 to 20hp and has a cruising speed of 4 to 5 knots.
Optional extras include shore power connections, solar power, LED lighting and a grey water tank.
Contact Marinetek in Finland on email: info@marinetek.net
New solutions and new materials
SF Marina has expanded its already vast heavy-duty breakwater pontoon programme with even bigger and heavier units. An excellent project example in 2015 involved completion of a floating pier project in Lahälla, Sweden to accommodate up to three tugs weighing 1,100 tons apiece.
The special design had to allow for cast-in service tanks and be able to support heavy trucks. Units weighing 250 tons and measuring 2.7 x 10 x 23m (9 x 33 x 75ft) were connected to create a 46m (151ft) long industrial pier with 140cm (55inch) freeboard in an exposed location.
The technology for the floating pier, although used in this instance in a commercial application, has been developed as a costeffective, low maintenance means of mooring superyachts and, due to the high degree of engineering involved in elements such as connectors, can be adapted to suit any application requiring substantial
freeboard and heavy vehicle access.
SF has also been focusing on exciting new technology for the construction of lighter concrete floats.
SF X-line and SF Prodock – two SF product lines introduced during 2014/15 – are basalt fibre reinforced pontoons suitable for use in protected locations where wave height is less than 0.3m (1ft). Basalt is a natural volcanic igneous rock that reaches the surface of the earth as molten magma. It is mined as a raw material and there is no limitation in terms of supply.
The corrosion-free nature of the basalt enables structures to be lighter at equal or higher strength than
The technology for the floating pier in Lahälla was developed with superyachts in mind.
concrete as no concrete layer thickness is required to protect the reinforcement from corrosion. This allows for better overall costs as transportation and mooring can be achieved more cost effectively. The lack of any corrosive cast-in material also means that the life expectancy of the basalt pontoons is estimated to be very long (potentially 100
years). In terms of lifecycle cost for floating concrete structures this is a huge leap forward.
The technology has been developed in-house at the SF Marina factory in Wallhamn and the technology is now patent pending.
Contact SF Marina in Sweden on email: info@sfmarina.com
PRODUCTS & SERVICES
Swift installation for twin module attenuator
A new wave attenuator to protect a 36-slip marina at Rosario Resort & Spa on Orcas Island in the San Juan Islands of Washington State was installed in March. The structure was designed and built by International Marine Floatation Systems (IMFS) and is moored by Seaflex.
Weighing 700 tons, the attenuator comprises two 230ft (70m) long x 16ft (5m) wide x 7ft (2m) high modules and has a freeboard of 2ft (0.6m). The head end portion is designed for floatplane loading with a 32ft (9.8m) wide x 36ft (11m) widening and has truck tyre bumpers. Designed and engineered
with a concrete base to resist any torsional wave impact, it features just one connector joint. This is similar to IMFS’s standard rubber connector but is much larger, weighing 600lbs (272kg) and incorporating 2.5inch (6cm) cable bolts. Conduit chases are built in for water and electricity services, provision
has been made for fire protection piping, and safety ladders have been fitted.
The attenuator is moored using a Seaflex flexible mooring system. Fourteen units were used, each of which has ten strands or cables and measures 18ft (5.5m) in length. The units were secured using both rock
and gravity concrete anchors.
The use of Seaflex and the benefit of good weather significantly sped up the installation process, which took place in a single day much to the delight of the IMFS crew and the developer Strandberg Construction. Contact IMFS in Canada on email: imfs@floating structures.com and Seaflex in Sweden on email: info@seaflex.net
Sublift for beamier boats
Swede Ship Sublift has released a new version of its Sublift 12t machine to enable it to handle boats with a beam up to 4.8m (15.7ft).
The modification has been achieved by replacing the 2.5m (8.2ft) wide cross beam with a 2.8m (9.2ft) beam or an optional 3m (9.8ft) tube.
The new standard design makes it possible to straddle cradles up to 3.3m (10.8ft) wide although the Sublift machine is still under 3m (9.8ft) wide when in transport mode.
The revised design has not affected the price. Contact Swede Ship Sublift in Sweden on email: nils.moren@swedeship.se
PRODUCTS & SERVICES
Private marina invests in Badger dredger
Rose City Yacht Club (above), an established private marina and social club on the Columbia River in Portland, Oregon has put a new Badger class dredger from Louisiana-based DSC Dredge into service. The machine was purchased by the club to replace an older dredger in use for over 20 years.
The Badger is an 8in (20cm) cutter suction conventional style machine whose compact size and manoeuvrability are ideally suited to marina operations. Its Metso pump produces more than enough volume of material and static head to accommodate the parameters required by the marina.
With a working width of just under 10ft (3m) and an overall length of 54ft (16.4m) including ladder, the dredger can operate in spaces not accessible by larger vessels but can still dig to a depth of 20ft (6m) at a 60° down angle on the ladder. The lateral cut at maximum depth is approximately 50ft (15m).
The Badger removes and pumps material from the marina’s slips and fairways to a holding pond where the water is decanted off. The remaining spoil is mixed and used for landscaping fill.
At Rose City, as at many other marinas, siltation and sand build-up are ongoing problems. Spring run-off on the Columbia – the largest river on the west coast of North America – causes
the majority of its siltation challenges. Dredging is the only solution but it is nonetheless unusual for a private marina to invest in its own brand new dredger.
Rose City Yacht Club members have conducted their own dredging on a volunteer basis since 1988 when the original dredger was purchased. When this reached the end of its life, club members determined that the annual cost of a replacement - year on year over service lifespan - was actually 90% less than that of hiring out just one year of dredging services.
The club undertakes dredging activities from November through to February every year and DSC delivered the new Badger in early November in time to provide a week of hands-on training. The dredger has been named ‘J. Randall’ in honour of club member, Jerry Randall, who convinced members more than 20 years ago that dredging was necessary for the site and that member-conducted dredging was the best option.
Contact DSC Dredge, LLC in LA, USA on email: dredge@dscdredge.com
Energy efficient lighting
Solar powered illuminated bollards, installed by Solispost to enhance safety at a popular quayside in Devon, UK, are ideal for use at marina sites especially in areas where electricity supply is unavailable.
Solispost bollards are designed to withstand the harshest weather conditions and extremes of temperature, and to give long service life with minimum maintenance. The post is manufactured from high quality aluminium that is etch primed before being powder coated to give a durable finish. It is guaranteed against fading for ten years. The end caps are also powder coated aluminium.
Rubber seals ensure the caps and PV panels remain watertight and the bollard is secured using a galvanised steel base plate, which is guaranteed rust-proof. The IP rating, at 65, provides total protection against dust and water jets from all directions.
First launched in spring 2015 following two years of technical R&D, the Solispost gives bright light even when located in areas with little sunshine. Two levels of illumination are provided; a continuous low level from dusk to dawn that increases when sensors detect that someone is approaching. This not only makes efficient use of the solar energy generated but also minimises light pollution.
Solispost bollards are easily installed (no electrical connection means no trenching and making good) and are of attractive contemporary design. Contact Solispost in the UK on email: sales@solispost.com
Solispost bollards installed at Lympstone Quay on the Exe estuary in the UK are a reliable, low cost option for safety lighting.
Monica de Vast
Monica de Vast has been appointed director at Jachthaven Andijk in the Netherlands. She previously worked for Marina Port Zélande, a marina located in south west Holland.
“I am delighted to be given the opportunity to take overall responsibility of the marina,” she told Marina World. “I look forward to continuing and enhancing the facilities and services offered to boaters.”
Jachthaven Andijk is a 550 berth full service marina located at the IJsselmeer in the north of the Netherlands.
Bill Flohr
Baltimore Marine Centers has appointed Bill Flohr as marina director of HarborView Marina.
Flohr brings more than 39 years of experience to the role and is professionally trained in boating safety, marina management and fire fighting. He was previously marina manager at Harbor East Marina for 22 years, and from 1978 to 1994 was manager of the Inner Harbor Marina in central Baltimore.
HarborView Marina has 278 slips and offers first-class amenities that include floating and gated piers, a boaters’ lounge, on-site restaurants and free access to multiple pools and a workout facility.
Chris Marx CMM
Chris Marx CMM, has been named vice president of marinas for SG Marina, a division of Siegel-Gallagher Management Company (SGMC).
Marx joined SGMC in January 2014 and brings more than 20 years of experience to the organisation.
“Chris has the perfect mix of experience, leadership ability and
enthusiasm to serve as the front line face of the SG Marina team,” said John Matheson, SG Marina president. “His extensive experiences in hospitality and marina management are important components in the growth strategy for SG Marina.”
Prior to joining Siegel-Gallagher, Marx worked at Thardlson Enterprises/ Hospitality Management.
Gregg Pupecki
Gregg Pupecki, an employee of Siegel-Gallagher Management Company (SGCM), is the new general manager for Waukegan Harbor, Illinois. SGCM division SG Marina was awarded the management contract for Waukegan Harbor in February.
Pupecki has over 30 years of boating, sales, marketing and operational experience in the commercial and recreational marine industry.
In his early career, he served as the youngest publications officer with the Coast Guard Auxiliary flotilla and later worked his way up in the hospitality/tourist industry from deckhand to captain, running vessels out of Chicago carrying up to 300 passengers. He subsequently held many senior level management roles in Chicago.
Martin Lucas
Suntex Marinas has promoted Martin Lucas to the role of director of customer service and memberships. In this new position, Lucas will spearhead the development and execution of customer interaction and retention initiatives. He will also be responsible for marina marketing plans, organisation of programmes and events, and production of collateral materials.
Global Yachting and, from 1996 to 2005, developed hands-on experience as a yacht captain for some of the largest and most luxurious sailing yachts in the world.
Carl Jarmaine
Carl Jarmaine has joined the team at Gunwharf Quays Marina in Portsmouth, UK, as its new marina manager. Jarmaine has 15 years of experience in the marine industry and previously held managerial roles at Port Solent Marina and two Chichester marinas.
“This is a great opportunity for me to pool my knowledge of marinas along the south coast of England. I’ll be focusing on delivering world class customer service and building on the success of this premium UK destination,” he commented.
Jarmaine joins Gunwharf Quays from Marina Developments Ltd, where he managed both Chichester Harbour marinas over a seven year period.
Cale Grauer
HydroHoist Marine Group has named Cale Grauer as business development manager. His role includes strategic dealer development, analysing market strategies, building key customer relationships, boat and trade show attendance and maintaining knowledge of current market conditions.
Grauer has a passion for the marine industry, is an avid boater, and has owned and used a HydroHoist for several years.
He graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Oklahoma Baptist University. While in college he was quarterback and cocaptain of the football team.
Prior to the appointment, Lucas served as general manager of York River Yacht Haven in Gloucester Point, Virginia, worked in resort and marina consulting, was director of customer service and quality assurance for Island
“Cale has natural leadership abilities – evidenced through the selection by his team and coaches as a team captain in college, as well as an innate competitive nature which I believe lends itself to a successful business development and sales role,” said HydroHoist CEO Mick Webber.
PEOPLE
Index to Advertisers
Bellingham Marine, USA 6, 7
Best Marine Solutions, USA 63
Boat Lift, Italy 38
Camper & Nicholsons Marinas, UK 16
City of Antibes/
Gallice Marina, France 28 & 29
City of Antibes/ Vauban Marina, France 24 & 25
Conolift by Kropf Industrial, Canada 42
DualDocker, Austria 10 & 11
Dura Composites, UK 40
Eaton Marina Power & Lighting, USA 31
Gigieffe, Italy 44
Golden Boat Lifts, USA 50
Harbour Assist, UK 37
HydroHoist, USA 58
IMCI, Belgium 44
Ingemar, Italy 14
JLD International, Netherlands 60
M-Tech, Australia 54
MDL Marina Consultancy, UK 20
Maricer, UK 34
Marina Master by IRM, Slovenia 44
MarinaWare, USA 50
Marine Travelift, USA 64
Marinetek, Finland 4
Martini Alfredo, Italy 42
Moffatt & Nichol, USA 22
Orsta Breakwater, Netherlands 46
Pacsoft, New Zealand 34
Perma Composites, Australia 46
Pile Ring, New Zealand 57
Plus Marine, Italy 50
Poralu Marine, France 32 & 33
Rolec Services, UK 12
Roodberg - a brand of Frisian Industries, Netherlands 54
SF Marina System, Sweden 2
Seaflex, Sweden 8
Seijsener, Netherlands 60
Scribble Software, USA 38
Star Marina Solutions, UK 40
Strongwell, USA 58
Successful Software, Greece 46
Walcon Marine, UK 22
World Marina Conference/METS
2016, Netherlands 18
Robert D Nichol
Robert D Nichol, chairman and former president and CEO of Moffatt & Nichol has died at the age of 84. He became the company’s second president in 1975 and, until his retirement in 2006, he directed the firm’s steady growth, building a reputation for innovation and integrity while positioning the company as a premier waterfront consulting engineering firm.
Nichol was a Commissioner of the National Commission of the US Section at the Permanent International Association of Navigation Congress (PIANC). He served as a member of the National Research Council Commission on Engineering and Technical Systems and was a Fellow of the Society of American Military Engineers. He was conferred the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Distinguished Member Award (2011), Outstanding Projects and Leaders Award (OPAL) Lifetime Achievement Award for Management (2010), and ASCE California Lifetime Achievement Award (2013). He also received the 2005 Golden Beaver Award for Engineering from The Beavers, a heavy construction organisation.
Robert Nichol’s son, Eric Nichol, assumed the role of Moffatt & Nichol president and CEO in 2006 and continues to lead the company’s dayto-day business activities. He says his father will be deeply missed but will be remembered for his many professional contributions to the industry and will live on in the enduring culture that he established at the company.
Lars Erik Granholm
Lars Erik Granholm, ‘founder’ of the International Marine Certification Institute (IMCI), has died at the age of 81.
Born in Finland in 1934, he emigrated to the USA in 1961 where he joined the Outboard Marine Corporation (OMC). From 1974 to 1981 he authored small boat regulations while serving as the project manager for standards development with the US Coast Guard. In 1981 he then joined the Chicagobased National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), establishing the NMMA certification programmes. During this time, he proposed the establishment of a global organisation to CE-certify recreational craft, their components and engines for and in the EU.
This organisation went on to become IMCI and was registered as an international non-profit organisation in June 1993. Based in Brussels, Belgium, it is the market leader in CE certification for the global boating industry and runs the Blue Star Marina certification programme.
In 2004 Granholm received the prestigious NMMA Charles F Chapman Award for his lifetime achievements in the marine industry.
“Lars was the best teacher and mentor to me,” commented IMCI managing director Ulrich (Uli) Heinemann, who succeeded Granholm in 1999. “He made IMCI more than 20 years ago and we still stick to most of his philosophies. I wish Leena and the Granholm family all the strength they will need in a future without him.” he added.
