2017 January February Marina World

GLOBAL REVIEW 2016
London’s iconic St Katharine Docks marina
as seen in 2016. A new pontoon system was
installed at year end (see World News).
a busy year for acquisitions. Early in
the year, it joined forces with Valiant
Holdings LLC to improve the Ocean
Marine Yacht Center in Portsmouth,
Virginia. Suntex purchased the property
and will operate the newly-named
Ocean Yacht Marina. It has 112 wet
slips, a drystack for 275 boats and can
cater for megayachts. Later in the year,
Suntex acquired Kentucky Dam Marina
and Crosstimbers Marina, boosting
its portfolio of owned or managed
marinas to 31 properties. And, before
the year was out, it had purchased
209-berth Wolf Creek Marina on Lake
Cumberland, Kentucky, bringing the
total to 32.
In the Caribbean, Crane Materials
International progressed a new marina
at Golfito Marina Village & Resort
in Costa Rica and, in Bermuda,
development started on Caroline
Bay Marina in the Caroline Bay
resort development at Morgan’s
Point. The marina is set to be the
hub of a new luxury residential
community designed by SB
Architects, featuring space for 23
visiting megayachts. The resort is
poised to play its part in rebranding
Bermuda as a luxury destination
and will offer essential mooring
during the America’s Cup.
Rampant growth in the
Middle East
As in previous years, growth in the
Middle East seemed unstoppable.
In Dubai, work began on converting
Port Rashid from a commercial port to
a sea-orientated lifestyle destination.
The proposed master plan includes
leisure facilities, cultural venues, hotel
and villas. Its specific focus, however,
is on the superyacht sector, aiming to
set a new benchmark for Dubai and
potentially for the entire Middle East.
The new marina, placed within a vibrant
waterfront development, will include a
club house and sailing club, a sports
centre, an exclusive club for superyacht
owners, captain and crew recreational
facilities and accommodation, drystack
storage and a maintenance facility.
Later in the year, it was announced
that the Dubai Water Canal project
was soon to complete and plans for
Marasi Business Bay were unveiled.
These include five marinas, lined with
palm-trees, to be built along the canal
waterfront. Touted as Dubai’s “major
future landmark”, it is expected to be
the region’s first ever purpose-built
yachting destination. The construction
and opening of the promenade – the
largest in the United Arab Emirates
(UAE) – was expected to open by the
end of the year.
In the UAE, Rak Properties
PJSC signed an agreement with
marina management company
ART Marine Marinas to operate the
newly constructed Lagoon Marina,
which is located at the heart of Mina
Al Arab – an eco-themed coastal
waterfront community. The initial
phase accommodates 56 berths for
all types of boats up to 30m (98ft) in
length and complements the dynamic
neighbourhood of Lagoon Walk, a
1.2km (0.7mi) waterfront promenade
lined with restaurants and cafés that
enjoys unobstructed sea views and
stunning sunsets. Meanwhile, Marina
1, which is home to the first of four
marinas and part of the Al Zorah
project, was expected to open by the
end of the year, featuring 47 berths for
yachts up to 24m (79ft).
Elsewhere in the UAE, work began
on a 110-berth marina at Hidd Al
Saadiyat (Happiness Island) in Abu
Dhabi. With completion scheduled for
April this year, it includes plans for 461
modern villas and a world-class yacht
club accessible to marina visitors.
Plans to rejuvenate Royal Geelong
Yacht Club in Victoria, Australia will
add 120 berths.
www.marinaworld.com - January/February 2017 25