WIGGINS MARINA BULL CUSTOM DESIGN BUILT TO LAST EASY MAINTENANCE +1 (805) 485-7821 wigginslift@wigginslift.com www.wigginslift.com “Ocean Reef <strong>Marina</strong>”, Panama
DRYSTACK STORAGE <strong>Marina</strong> Arenella is perhaps the largest and most efficient drystack in Italy and is located at the northern end of Sicily’s Gulf of Palermo. Wet versus dry in the western Med The western Mediterranean, although a favourite international boating destination, is not big on drystack. Due to rules, laws, limited land space and customer preference, just a few in fact exist – and these are mostly uncovered or only active in the summer season. Donatella Zucca reports Roberto Perocchio, president of Italian marina association Assomarinas, explains: “Average Italians, and maybe ‘Mediterraneans’ in general, don’t like being restricted by times and rules. The freedom of having a boat on the water tends to outweigh the advantages offered by a traditional drystack.” Exceptions to this trend may be found in urban situations where demand for berths exceeds availability but it is nonetheless difficult to modify urban planning, obtain permits or construct drystacks at existing marinas (where sufficient land is not usually available) or build them from scratch. Variety in Italy Although it enjoys a central Mediterranean position, a long coastline, many islands and a number of well-equipped marinas, drystacks are a rarity in Italy. This is surprising given the excellent health of its marina sector, which according to Confindustria Nautica enjoyed a turnover of around €1 billion in 2022. In the last ten years, the country has been enriched by 40 marinas and 22,000 berths but, in part due to the challenges of finding sites and obeying laws, drystack development has been difficult. “Combining a building with access to the sea is always very complex,” Perocchio says. “If a suitable building exists and you can get permission for change of use, this is easier than trying to build new; a mission that is almost impossible due to laws that protect the coast.” In years past it was easier, as can be found at the Consorzio Cantieristica Minore della Giudecca in Venice, where a state-of-the-art covered drystack storage operation was created years ago in the historic city centre. Venice is, however, on the Adriatic – and the Adriatic veers more to the east than the west. Perocchio continues: “With Confindustria Nautica, we are trying to explore this type of service by appealing to Article 49 of the New Pleasure Boating Code, which favours the issue of concessions for dry storage. However, the problems of slow urban planning, the scrutiny of various superintendents and other delays remains. Many operations have in fact been developed with only partial permissions, gradually establishing themselves and then obtaining an amnesty.” Most Italian drystacks are to be found in the south, especially in Sicily, although they are often variations on the theme. The largest and perhaps most efficient is <strong>Marina</strong> Arenella at the northern end of Sicily’s Gulf of Palermo. Equipped with three forklifts to rapidly lift, launch and store boats up to 13m (43ft) in length, the facility houses around 230 boats, 180 of which are stored on multi-storey racks, 30 in a covered building and the remainder on outdoor dry storage space. In the summer, about 100 wet berths are available. “During our 30 years of experience, we have Assomarinas. revolutionised the concept of the dry port,” says marina manager Massimo Acierno. “Customers can use their boats 24 hours a day, seven days a week because, once launched, the boat can stay in the water as long as the customer wants.” “In recent years, we have developed software that allows you to book a lift or launch, make special requests etc., via a smartphone. The requests arrive via the app on displays located on the forklifts and in the back office. The customer is then told where to find the boat and given details on the services provided by smart pedestals. We have car parking, bar, Roberto Perocchio, Massimo Acierno, <strong>Marina</strong> Arenella. restaurant services, Wi-Fi, fuel, mooring assistance, a mechanical repair shop and shipyard. If we had a quay big enough to host a US-style drystack, we would be truly unbeatable!” Other dry ports in Catania include the Nautica Glem dry rack business and Vento Maestrale opposite the entrance to the port of Trapani. This efficient dry port caters for dinghies and small boats. <strong>Marina</strong> Capo d’Orlando has a beautiful drystack facility at planning stage but is not moving forward with it as it is devoting all its usable yard space to large boat storage. www.marinaworld.com – <strong>May</strong>/<strong>June</strong> <strong>2023</strong> 37
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