2022 November December Marina World

COMPANY FOCUS
The extension and reconfiguration of
Windermere Quays Marina on Lake
Windermere in England in 2017 was
designed and project managed by Marina
Projects from concept through to delivery.
taught us that you never know what
is coming next and where it will come
from. Activity in new regions has often
come by reputation (project experience)
or referral via either a client or a
member of a professional team we
have worked with in the past. The old
cliché, “you are only as good as your
last job”, is very true for Marina Projects
and something that every team member
takes into account.
Q: How does your experience in marina
management influence the way you
design marinas?
A: Our background in marina and
boatyard operations absolutely
underpins all of our consultancy
services and the advice that we
provide. The understanding of the
demands and requirements of the end
user is critical, even at the very earliest
feasibility stage, not just during marina
operations. And we have to remember
that the end user is not just the boat
owning customer but also the marina
operator. We have four internationally
accredited CMMs as part of the wider
consultancy team but the rest have
all spent the majority of their working
lives dedicated to different aspects of
the industry. I firmly believe that it is
the collective experience and breadth
of expertise across the team that has
been critical to our success.
Q: Over the past 20 years has it become
easier or more difficult to develop
marinas in terms of environment,
planning and legislation? Does this vary
greatly depending on geography? Has
there been increased focus or difficulty
in any particular area(s)?
A: It has undoubtedly become more
challenging to design and develop
marinas and I would say that is the
case globally. Certainly, there are
different regulatory regimes in place but
in every location where we have been
active there is a permitting and approval
process that weighs the influence of
development on the environment. The
geographical differences are not as
great as one might expect. Of course,
some jurisdictions are tighter than
others but an increasing awareness
of environmental habitats and impact
of both development and operation of
marinas and associated activities is
consistently present.
Q: Is there a specific project of which
you are particularly proud?
A: There are several that merit a mention
and, of course, Porto Montenegro must
be a project that features high on the
list. The client and investors have really
been responsible for putting Montenegro
on the map and Porto Montenegro has
a profile as a world leading superyacht
marina that has truly made it a flagship
project for us. I think it is a testament
to our relationship (and a very patient
client) that, having been on a journey
from the outset in 2006 pretty much
continuously through to 2016, we are
still working closely together.
Another project highlight on a much
smaller scale would be the Prince
Philip Yacht Haven on the Hamble in
England. It was a tricky and unique site
that was very difficult to unlock and it
was immensely satisfying to see our
plan come together. The privilege of
meeting the late Prince Philip was an
honour for those involved that capped
the successful delivery of a project from
concept through to delivery.
As well as the projects of which we
are proud, I think we can also be proud
of the client relationships that we have
developed. So many of these have
been long term and turned into genuine
friendships. In this sense, it’s not just
the project that we are proud of but it
is a process and relationship we have
thoroughly enjoyed. Marina Projects
has some really great supporters
around the globe and we are very
grateful for their continued work and
collaboration.
Q: What is your longer term plan?
A: At the heart of the future plan is
cementing our place as a world leading
marina consultancy business. But
I should also mention again that a
huge part of our success, and the real
strength of Marina Projects has been
the team that we have built and the way
they work so well together. Naturally,
the team features heavily in our future
plans. By developing and growing our
team, our strategy is to extend the solid
foundation that we have developed and
I expect our global reach will expand
further. A larger team means more
space is required and we are looking to
move premises in the very short term. I
am sure that will be exciting for all of us.
Q: How do you see the marina industry
developing – regionally and/or globally?
Where will the strongest emphases lie?
And the biggest challenges?
A: I am quite sure that the industry
will need to develop differently,
respecting the different conditions we
find regionally across the globe, but it
will also need to respond globally to
issues and new technologies. One thing
our 20 years of consultancy activity
has taught us is that you never know
what is around the corner, where the
next hot spot of activity will occur or
when a particular hot spot might slow
down. What we do see is a trend of
boat owners being more adventurous
and ambitious and looking for new
experiences and I suspect that will take
us to some remote places.
Domestically, and in some more
mature markets, our projects are likely
to be looking to deliver higher levels
of customer service and improved
facilities as the customer becomes
more and more discerning. Challenges
for the industry are likely to come
from embracing new technologies,
addressing environmental obligations
and dealing with climate change.
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www.marinaworld.com – November/December 2022