2024 January/February Marina World

Marina 

www.marinaworld.com 

World 

January/February 2024 

Issue 141 

Essential reading for marina and waterfront developers, planners and operators

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W W W . S F M A R I N A . C O M



January/February 2024 Vol. 24, No. 3 

24 

CONTENTS 

World News 7 

Global Review 16 

Charlotte Niemiec collates key international news 

stories from 2023 

Talking Shop 24 

Zeke’s Landing Marina in Alabama, USA has been 

regenerated following severe hurricane damage. 

Marina owner, Lynne Swafford, talks shop 

30 

Environmental Products & Projects 

ICOMIA launches Pathway to Propulsion Decarbonisation 27 

Renovating Fisher Island: coral relocation 30 

Fossil Free Marine’s unmanned mobile fuel station 33 

Aqua superPower whitepaper on bi-directional charging 37 

EV charging in the marine sector 39 

Adapting marinas for alternative fuel needs 43 

Events 47 

Metstrade 2023 and marina networking 

50 

Company Update 50 

Paul Illingworth, the new managing director at WISE, 

discusses company strengths and plans for now and 

the future 

Products & Services 55 

On the cover: 

Leading superyacht marina Port 

Vell in Barcelona, Spain has an 

ambitious investment plan. Its most 

recent focus has been on installing 

a pipeline fuel supply service that 

halves the time it takes to fill a 

superyacht fuel tank. The details 

are on p.65 

www.marinaworld.com – January/February 2024 

3



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Fuel for 

thought 

Our Environmental Products & Projects feature is dominated by the topic of fuel: 

the alternative fuel sources we could adopt for recreational craft propulsion; the 

efficiency of its delivery and storage; and how new fuels could impact on marina 

infrastructure, most particularly at dedicated fuel docks. Establishing fair costs 

for fuel energy, and the challenge of delivering it in sufficient quantities exactly 

when and where it is needed, are conundrums facing many governments that 

impact on populations at both business and domestic level. 

As an industry that, by any standards, is a minimal polluter – recreational boating 

accounts for less than 0.1% of global greenhouse gas emissions – we could be 

forgiven for resting on our laurels. But, aside from the fact that regulations will come 

into place to penalise any complacency, the marine industry has long been an, albeit 

unacknowledged, steward of the environment. 

The International Council of Marine Industry’s (ICOMIA’s) newly released 

Pathways to Propulsion Decarbonisation for the Recreational Marine Industry 

highlights the efforts that are being made to explore options to reduce carbon 

emissions from cradle to grave. This is deeply significant as it takes so many 

important factors into consideration – manufacturing processes, projected product 

lifespan, recyclability, level of usage, type of materials, and more – and not just the 

carbon emission of the fuel in use. 

For example, if we take our entire diesel-powered boating fleet and swap the 

diesel for drop-in fuels (biodiesel and hydrogenated vegetable oil), the reduction in 

carbon emissions will be profound. If we were to take that fleet and scrap it as being 

environmentally unfriendly and replace it with an ‘eco-friendly’ fleet, the process of 

scrapping and then rebuilding would quite obviously cause carbon emissions to soar 

beyond imagining. Excellent compromise rather than broad brush knee-jerk reaction 

can thus cut carbon emissions and significantly benefit the environment. 

ICOMIA president, Darren Vaux, described the report as “comprehensive, peerreviewed 

research…giving us the data we need to begin educating policy makers, 

our stakeholder community and boaters on the varied decarbonisation solutions 

unique to our industry,” and he hits the target by stressing that the report isn’t for 

every industry, isn’t for any industry, but for “our industry”. The research throws up 

surprises in its findings that are unique to the use of boats, and promotes the need 

to consider a portfolio of energy options as no universal “one-size-fits-all” approach 

is going to bring success. 

This commendable kind of industry-specific detailed research is in the realm of the 

sceptic in its truest sense. Somewhere along the line, sceptic became a derogatory 

word (e.g. climate change sceptic) but true scepticism is as much about questioning 

as about doubting. When it comes to protecting the environment, we must remain 

sceptical (from the Greek skeptikos: ‘one who reflects upon’, and in philosophy: ‘an 

attitude of doubt’) so as to bring true balance to every solution. 

By probing, questioning, and continuously seeking proof of the effectiveness of our 

environmental measures, we will learn what works and what doesn’t, and that not 

every shade of green is green enough. 

© 2024 Loud & Clear Publishing Ltd 

Views expressed by individual contributors in this issue 

are not necessarily those of Loud & Clear Publishing 

Ltd. Equally, the inclusion of advertisements in this 

magazine does not constitute endorsement of the 

companies, products and services concerned by Loud & 

Clear Publishing Ltd. The publisher reserves the right to 

refuse advertising. 

Carol Fulford 

Editor 

Meet the Marina World team 30 th January-1 st February on booth 821 at AMI 

Conference & Expo, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 


5

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THE MOORING SYSTEM

WORLD NEWS 

Launching Norlana 

superyacht hub 

SAUDI ARABIA: NEOM has unveiled plans for the development of Norlana on 

the Gulf of Aqaba’s coastline. Undeniably exclusive, it will feature a top-level 

120-berth marina that is planned as an international hub for superyachts, with 

water taxi services available for residents and guests. 

The community will feature 711 

residential properties, ranging 

from deluxe mansions to spacious 

apartments and beach villas, all 

integrated with the surrounding dunes 

to bring residents closer to nature. It is 

anticipated that 3,000 people will live 

there. 

A superyacht members club, with 

stunning waterfront views, will offer fine 

dining, and a spectacular 18-hole golf 

course will be nestled among rugged 

mountains. An equestrian and polo 

Ultra luxury on The Spit 

AUSTRALIA: Gordon Corp has appointed globally-renowned construction 

specialist Multiplex to deliver its $300 million ultra-luxury project, The 

Mantaray Marina and Residences. Ground breaking is expected soon, 

which makes it the first development to be delivered under the Queensland 

Government’s Spit Master Plan. 

The Mantaray Marina and 

Residences, the first development on 

The Spit in over 20 years, is the vision 

of project partners Tim Gordon, founder 

and CEO of Gordon Corp, and pub 

baron Bruce Mathieson. 

“A development of this calibre 

requires a Tier 1 contractor and our 

partnership with Multiplex provides 

quality, certainty, and more than 

60 years of local and international 

experience,” Gordon said. “Mantaray 

Marina and Residences has been 

designed as a world-class residential 

experience and our investment in 

this precinct will create one of the 

globe’s most coveted residential and 

superyachting destinations.” 

The Rothelowman-designed 

residences include a collection of 

24 two, three and four-bedroom 

apartments, villas and penthouses 

alongside a 67-berth superyacht 

marina, resort facilities and The 

Mantaray Club – a members-only onwater 

lounge. 

Designed to Platinum Gold Anchor 


centre with world-class facilities, and 

amenities for a diverse range of water 

sports, including sailing and diving, are 

to be available to residents and guests. 

Norlana will be delivered innovatively 

and sustainably, with a focus on 

preserving the surrounding land 

and marine environments. News of 

the development follows the recent 

announcements of Leyja, Epicon, 

Siranna and Utamo, which are also 

sustainable tourist destinations located 

in the Gulf of Aqaba. 

standard, the superyacht marina will 

provide long and short-term berth 

leasing, immediate ocean passage 

through the Gold Coast Seaway and 

year-round deep-water access, top 

level marina operations, on-site security 

and full-service concierge. 

A retail plaza, designed to create a 

strong link between The Broadwater 

and the Pacific Ocean, will connect 

the precinct to its surroundings and 

provide access to leading restaurants 

and cafés. 

Multiplex regional director, Michael 

Sinclair, said construction would 

commence in early 2024 and would 

be delivered by a dedicated team of 

prestige project specialists. “Like many 

Tier 1 builders, we are selective about 

the projects we undertake and The 

Mantaray Marina and Residences is 

without doubt an exceptional addition to 

our workbook,” he said. 

Prices for three and four-bedroom 

residences at The Mantaray start 

at $8.5 million, and the penthouse 

collection starts at $14.4 million. 

7

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Skippers and landlubbers alike are clear about one thing: water is 

precious. Whether due to legal requirements or on their own initiative, 

more and more port operators also feel obliged to offer a professional 

disposal station for waste water and bilge water. With its powerful and 

robust rotary lobe pump the PierPump from Vogelsang comes at just 

the right time for all of them. It is easy to install and can be used by boat 

operators at the touch of a button. Emptying the tank takes just a few 

minutes and the waste water is discharged directly into the port‘s waste 

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WORLD NEWS 

 

 

 

Waikawa 

extension opens 

NEW ZEALAND: Berths are now available for transient and long term berth 

holders at the all-new Waikawa North West Marina extension in Queen 

Charlotte Sound, South Island, part of the Marlborough Sounds Marinas group. 

At planning stage for over ten years, in the breakwater assists water flow 

marina construction finally started just through the marina basin to ensure 

days before restrictions came in place water quality. 

for COVID in March 2020. Design of The integration of manewhenau 

the marina considers climate change, elements at the northern end of the 

with the potential for the reclamation marina and along the breakwater 

and breakwaters to be incrementally walkway are a testament to the 

increased in height should this be historical and cultural significance of 

necessary in response to sea level Waikawa Bay. 

rise. 

The new extension provides an 

The marina design was also 

additional 251 berths at Bellingham 

carefully considered to minimise 

Marine concrete floating pontoons, in 

effects on coastal processes. Extensive sizes ranging from 10 to 30m (33 to 

engineering and physical modelling 98ft), including some berths specifically 

was undertaken to ensure there were designed for multihulls. A notable 

no adverse impacts on the wider bay, addition to the marina is a ‘step jetty’ 

particularly the Waikawa awa outlet and specifically for kayakers, swing mooring 

delta. Use of only partial depth panels users and swimmers. 

Tourist-driven marina 

breaks ground 

BAHRAIN: A groundbreaking ceremony for the BD200 million Bahrain Marina 

project took place in Manama last November. The mixed-use project aims 

to solidify the country’s position as a distinguished tourist destination by 

providing options for both permanent and short-term residence. 

The marina will provide 182 berths 

and a 3,200m² (34,400ft²) clubhouse 

with entertainment activities and 

marine programmes. There will be 192 

retail units, including luxury shops, 


restaurants, cafés and a 33-store 

commercial complex, 274 luxurious 

freehold homes, 304 deluxe hotel 

rooms and 1,769 underground parking 

spaces. 

9

Via Alba-Narzole, 19 

Diano d’Alba (CN) - 12055 

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info@boatlift.it 

+39 (0)173 500357

WORLD NEWS 

 

 

 

Premier buys 

leading drystack 

UK: The Trafalgar Group has sold its Trafalgar Wharf site in Portsmouth 

Harbour, Hampshire to Premier Marinas for an undisclosed sum. The property 

includes Europe’s largest covered drystack storage facility and a significant 

commercial shipyard that provides bespoke maintenance programmes for 

commercial vessels and private yachts. 

The wider Trafalgar Wharf site is a 

hub for a wide range of marine and 

non-marine businesses and will now 

be known as Premier Trafalgar Wharf. 

Other Trafalgar Group businesses, 

including Boat Club Trafalgar and 

Thornham Marina, are not included in 

the sale and will continue to operate as 

usual. 

All of the existing operations team 

at Trafalgar Wharf will be retained and 

transferred to Premier Marinas as part 

of the sale agreement. 

Premier Marinas CEO, Pete 

Bradshaw, said: “We’re delighted to 

add the Trafalgar Wharf site to the 

Premier portfolio and welcome new 

team members into our family. The 

acquisition marks yet another milestone 

for Premier as we continue to invest 

and grow our business. Trafalgar Wharf 

adds new capabilities to our group 

and we’re confident that we will be 

able to combine the knowledge of the 

existing team and our wider operational 

experience to further enhance the site 

and operations.” 

Jonny Boys, managing director of The 

Trafalgar Group, added: “We’re all about 

doing things differently and putting our 

customers first. We’re delighted to be 

handing the reins to Premier Marinas 

who share our vision to create fantastic 

boating and waterside experiences.” 

Coming 

soon… 

The new edition of Marina World 

Suppliers & Services will be 

available in March. If you provide 

products and/or services to marina 

owners and operators, complete 

your free of charge listing now at 

www.marinaworld.com 

 

 


11

Delivering the marinas 

of tomorrow 

Marina Santelena e Diporto Velico, Venezia - Italy 

Hi-tech solutions to connect land and sea 

Pontoons, breakwaters, superyacht piers, floating crossings and 

constructions, off-the-shelf or customised, with robust and 

reliable structures in steel, aluminium or concrete.

WORLD NEWS 

Replacement docks 

double superyacht 

capacity 

COSTA RICA: Enjoy Group has complemented an aluminium dock 

system at Marina Bahia Golfito on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica with 

a floating concrete pontoon solution from SF Marina. The addition 

doubles superyacht capacity at a destination that is becoming 

increasingly attractive to owners and crew of large yachts. 

“Marina Bahia Golfito is a 

secluded tropical gem,” said 

Peter Santesson, SF Marina 

international project manager. 

“During the design phase of the 

project, we worked extensively 

with Enjoy Group to ensure the 

new docks would complement 

the quality and aesthetic of the 

extensive upscaling they were 

undertaking.” 

The new array runs 

perpendicular to a 36ft/11m-wide 

walkway and consists of three piers 

that enable the marina to host two 

300ft (91m) superyachts, two 200ft 

(61m) vessels and two 150ft (46m) 

yachts. 

The docks are equipped 

with 400A/400V power supply, 

potable water and other utilities in 

concealed ducts, and individual 

floating concrete pontoons are 

joined together with SF Marina’s 

innovative connectors that have a 

breaking load of 2 x 99 tons per 

joint. The piers are anchored with 

Seaflex mooring hawsers, which 

can withstand a substantial drag 

force then retract to original size. 

“We chose SF Marina because it 

is a well-recognised dock company 

– one of the best worldwide,” 

said Pedro Abdalla Slon, marina 

director. “The project fulfilled all our 

expectations and looks great.” 

Roughly 325nm from the 

Panama Canal, Marina Bahia 

Golfito is a private marina 

offering a wide range of services, 

including separate crew lounges 

and eateries and a high-capacity 

fuel dock that can service two 

superyachts simultaneously. Enjoy 

Group has also expanded its 

adjacent beachfront hotel and has 

new condominium development 

and a restaurant. 

Partnership 

boosts 

nautical 

tourism 

ALBANIA: Premium marina group D-Marin 

has announced a partnership agreement 

with Vlora Marina, destined to become the 

first world-class marina in Albania. The move 

is believed to mark an important step in 

the development of the country’s nautical 

tourism. 

Vlora Marina joins D-Marin’s existing portfolio 

of 23 marinas across the Mediterranean 

and Gulf regions and marks the operator’s 

continuously expanding presence in another 

new country, its ninth to date. The partnership 

will give customers travelling from D-Marin 

marinas in nearby Croatia and Corfu access to 

premium services in Albania. 

Vlora Marina, currently under construction in 

Vlorë – Albania’s third largest city – will offer 

438 berths for year-round mooring for vessels 

up to 50m (164ft) in length, providing muchanticipated 

marina facilities to the country’s 

426km (265mi) coastline. 

Complementing the marina itself are plans for 

an expansive promenade, weaving along the 

2km (1.2mi) beach that runs beside the marina. 

The promenade will feature restaurants and 

bars, a signature spa, and high-end retail and 

entertainment facilities. Further ahead, plans 

could include apartments and 5-star hotels. 

Gyozo Lantos, D-Marin director of mergers 

and acquisitions, described the strategic 

partnership as an exciting step into a new 

market. “Customers will be able to enjoy the 

premium D-Marin experience at Vlora Marina 

upon completion of the project in early 2027,” he 

said. 


13

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GLOBAL REVIEW 2023 

Lighthouse Point Marina in Florida 

was the first of several US acquisitions 

last year for Port 32 Marinas. 

Renovations, partnership 

and acquisitions 

In 2023, ‘mega projects’ fell down the priority list, with much of the industry 

looking to renovate existing infrastructure. Mergers and acquisitions 

dominated news around the world as marinas sought to expand and improve 

on their current offerings. Charlotte Niemiec picks out some highlights. 

A new basin at Dover Marina in 

Dover, UK opened in April as part 

of the town’s plan to revitalise its 

waterfront. Surrounded by the ‘Marina 

Curve’ – a large outdoor entertainment 

space completed in 2021 – it is ideally 

positioned to attract locals and visitors. 

It offers a total of 160 berths for yachts 

and small leisure boats. Renovations 

to Wellington Dock are expected to 

be complete by April 2024. These will 

bring a further 135 berths to Dover and 

complement the facilities available at 

the town’s Outer Marina. 

In Dartmouth, MDL Marinas sold its 

Dartside Quay boatyard to the owners 

of nearby Dolphin Haven, a boatyard 

with berthing services just across the 

Glampton Creek waters. The purchase 

was followed by substantial site 

investment. With space for over 300 

boats ashore, the seven-acre (2.8ha) 

dry boat storage area is serviced by a 

65-tonne Wise hoist, which operates 

from a purpose-built dock. A 20-tonne 

Wise trailer also operates from the 

slipway. 

James Watt Marina on the River 

Clyde at Greenock, Scotland 

secured its expansion plans by 

leasing around 6ha (14.8 acres) 

of additional land and water. 

The marina, whose masterplan 

was drawn up by UK specialist 

consultancy Marina Projects, will 

use the Great Harbour space to 

develop a marine trade centre. 

Marina Projects was also heavily 

involved in plans to further develop 

the popular 530-berth marina and 

harbour in the City of Bangor, Co 

Down, Northern Ireland. The plans 

aim to reposition Bangor Marina 

and its associated facilities as a 

mixed-use development in a new 

cluster with iconic and high-quality 

architecture. The marina will better 

connect the city centre to the waterfront 

so as to drive tourism and support the 

local economy. 

Developments kept up their 

usual pace in the Mediterranean. In 

Spain, marina group D-Marin added 

three marinas: Puerto Deportivo de 

Estepona, Puerto Marina La Duquesa 

and Puerto Marina del Esta. Each 

is located on the Costa del Sol and 

together they offer a total of 1,000 

berths. The group also partnered 

up with Italian luxury yachting group 

Azimut Benetti to add 1,800 berths 

The National Yacht Club in Toronto, 

Canada invested in a new floating 

aluminium dock system. 

16 www.marinaworld.com – January/February 2024


Marinetek completed a new marina in front 

of the main gate of the medieval walled 

town of Kotor, Montenegro. 

across three marinas in Italy. Under the 

terms of the deal, D-Marin acquired a 

significant stake in Marina di Valetta 

and Porto Mediceo in Livorno, and 

commenced a commercial integration 

with the award-winning Marina di 

Varazze. 

Construction work began on Marina 

Jandía, a new facility in Fuerteventura, 

Canary Islands. Part of Calero Marinas, 

the project has a capacity of 310 berths 

and completion is scheduled for early 

2024. 

In Portugal, the Lisbon Port 

Administration improved infrastructure 

at Alcântara by renovating the floating 

walkways and installing new fingers. 

Lindley Marinas supplied, installed 

and refurbished the floating equipment 

and added 64 new berths. Lindley 

also completed rebuilds in the fishing 

port of Setúbal near Lisbon, where it 

installed concrete pontoons to replace 

the existing infrastructure. The contract 

followed the company’s work at Doca 

des Fontainhas, where it replaced 

270m (890ft) of linear galvanised steel 

floating structures and fingers. 

In Italy, the Tuscany Marine 

Consortium proposed developing 

the Marina Arcipelago Toscano di 

Piombino project – a large marina 

to accommodate 656 boats of 8 to 

20m (26 to 66ft) in length, with piers 

scheduled to be completed by the end 

of 2023 and early 2024. 

Porto Carlo Riva in Rapallo on the 

east coast of Liguria, Italy, was rebuilt 

following the devastation caused by a 

major storm in 2018. A new 7m (23ft) 

high breakwater, comprising 170,000 

tons of natural boulders, was installed. 

More than 190 new berths and new 

fixed piers were added to completely 

rebuild the port at a cost of almost €80 

million. 

Marina di Imperia in Porto Maurizio 

was finally set to be completed after 

a ten-year delay. Berths along Via 

Scarincio will adjoin a reinforced fixed 

quayside while a two-storey yacht club 

will comprise office space, a bar and 

restaurant, and an overhauled car park. 

Plans for the Marina Arcipelago 

Toscano di Piombino were granted the 

green light – a large marina expected to 

open in 2024 in Piombino. The marina 

will accommodate 656 boats of 8 to 

20m (26 to 66ft) in length. 

Across the Mediterranean Sea, 

D-Marin led a partnership with TEMES 

SA to deliver a premium marina 

experience in Pylos on Navarino Bay on 

the southwest coast of Peloponnese, 

Greece. Pylos Marina currently has 

berthing capacity for 129 yachts up 

to 30m (98ft) in length. Meanwhile on 

Crete, Camper & Nicholsons Marinas 

agreed to provide management, 

operational and branding services to 

the boutique marina at Elounda Hills, 

an ultra-luxury sustainable resort on the 

Mediterranean island. 

In Croatia, the second phase of 

pontoon installation was finalised at 

the Port of Novalja on the island of 

Pag. Marinetek Adriatic installed 18 

Premier pontoons and three breakwater 

modules to complete the project, which 

offers 190 permanent and seasonal 

berths. A 60m (197ft) long breakwater 

was built as the site experiences 

challenging weather conditions and 

relatively high waves. 

D-Marin installed a visually 

impressive €1.7 million solar power 

network to increase its current 

investment in renewable sources 

at Borik, Mandalina and Dalmacija 

marinas in Croatia, and works are 

ongoing at two of the company’s 

Turkish marinas, Didim and Turgutreis. 

Combined, the panels produce 4.9GWh 

of energy per year – the equivalent 

annual energy consumption of 1,345 

households – which equates to 71% of 

the energy used by D-Marin across the 

five marinas. 

A new marina was completed 

Family-owned Ross Marine opened a 160- 

slip drystack at newly built Clark Island 

Marina in South Carolina, USA. 


17


Plans for Sindalah, the first luxury island 

destination in Saudi Arabia’s ‘Neom’ 

project, were announced. Opening is 

scheduled for this year. 

directly in front of the main gate of the 

stunning medieval walled town of Kotor 

in Montenegro. The investment offers 

mooring for 142 boats from 8-50m (26- 

164ft) in length at a Marinetek floating 

marina system. 

North America and the 

Caribbean 

Acquisitions dominated the year’s 

activities in North America, with multiple 

purchases for marina group Port 32 

Marinas. Its first – Lighthouse Point 

Marina on the Intracoastal Waterway 

– added 102 wet slips for boats of 25 

to 80ft (8 to 24m) and a large popular 

restaurant with six visitor slips. The 

marina had been family-owned and 

operated for over 50 years and had 

never been up for sale. The group also 

celebrated the grand opening of Port 

32 Fort Lauderdale, Florida in June. 

The modern and versatile full-service 

facility was built from the ground up to 

accommodate vessels of all sizes up to 

180ft (55m). The wet slips are designed 

for vessels up to 150ft (46m) for inwater 

repairs and refits. 

Meanwhile, Suntex Marina 

Investors acquired Roosevelt 

Lake Marina in Arizona, 

Fair Haven Yacht Works and 

Green Cove Marina, both in 

New Jersey. Green Cove is a 

full-service marina along the 

coastline with around 250 slips 

ranging from 14-46ft (4-14m). 

It has a full range of amenities 

and is situated on 8.5 acres 

(3.4ha) within a fully protected 

natural breakwater. 

World-famous Rivergate Marina & 

Shipyard on the Brisbane River in 

Queensland, Australia 

went up for sale. 

Integra Marinas – a leading owner, 

developer and operator of marinas in 

major coastal growth markets along the 

east coast – acquired The Perry Marina 

on Stock Island in Florida’s Key West. 

It is the largest deep-water marina in 

the Florida Keys, offering 288 wet slips 

on Bellingham Marine floating concrete 

docks and can berth superyachts 

up to 350ft (107m) in length. It also 

purchased Williams Island Marina in 

Aventura, Florida. The marina spans 14 

acres (5.7ha) and offers 106 wet slips 

at a combination of fixed and floating 

docks. Vessels of up to 160ft (49m) can 

be accommodated with unobstructed 

access from the Intracoastal Waterway. 

Full-service marina and yacht repair 

facility Bradford Marine’s purchase 

of the neighbouring Roscioli Yachting 

Center created South Florida’s ‘biggest’ 

marina. Key elements of the merged 

sites include expanded lift capacity via 

the addition of a 320-ton machine; an 

additional 5,000ft (1,520m) of covered 

dockage bringing the total on site to 

over 19,000ft (5,800m) for yachts up to 

180ft (55m); and an additional 1,000ft 

(300m) of covered drystack that brings 

Bradford Marine’s total dry dockage to 

3,500ft (1,070m). 

Investment firm Monarch Alternative 

Capital formed Go Outdoors, a platform 

to acquire, develop and operate 

marinas and RV resorts across the 

USA. The platform will initially comprise 

11 marinas and four RV resorts 

offering over 5,500 marina slips in 

Georgia, New York, Pennsylvania and 

Tennessee. 

Family-owned company Ross Marine 

opened a 160-slip drystack at the 

newly-built Clark Island Marina in South 

Carolina, with a second phase planned 

to double the number of drystack 

spaces available. 

In Canada, the National Yacht Club in 

Toronto invested nearly $5 million in a 

new aluminium floating marina system 

to replace its ageing infrastructure. 

In the Bahamas, a megayacht marina 

was announced as part of the $250 

million Calypso Cove cruise port project 

at Long Island. A 200-room hotel, 

casino, waterpark, 18-hole golf course 

and retail outlets are part of the plan. 

Construction was expected to start by 

the end of 2023 or early 2024. 

Also in the Bahamas, an agreement 

was signed to develop Bluewater Cay 

Marina in the Yamacraw area on the 

southeast side of Nassau. Leading 

hospitality and property developer, 

Legendary Marina, is on an ambitious 

multimillion dollar mission to create a 

resort that will transform the yachting 


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Legendary Marina struck up an 

agreement to develop Bluewater Cay 

Marina in Nassau, Bahamas into a key 

resort. 

Conceptual rendering 

landscape. The centrepiece of the 

marina plan is a 120-slip dock capable 

of accommodating boats up to at least 

200ft (61m) and a dry storage facility 

for 750 boats of up to 55ft (16.7m) in 

length. The drystack will be rated for a 

Category 5 hurricane. The marina will 

also boast excellent accommodation, 

restaurant spaces, a tiki bar with a 

pool, a general store and onsite fuelling 

facilities. 

With the conceptual design and 

marina site plan now completed, work 

on the innovative Porto Habacoa 

superyacht marina and ultra-luxury 

resort in South Abaco was poised to 

begin. Designed from the ground up 

to provide flexible berth sizes and give 

large yachts generous manoeuvring 

space, the marina will offer 152 wet 

slips of 60 to 700ft (12 to 213m) 

and drystack storage for 200 boats. 

All docks will have fuel and pumpout 

points. The marina basin will be 

surrounded by a range of different 

residential offerings, a yacht club, a 

small casino, and a marina village with 

shops and restaurants. 

St George’s Marina and Superyacht 

Dock on Ordnanace Island in Bermuda 

officially opened for superyachts in May. 

The facility is able to accommodate 

up to ten superyachts and has a 170ft 

(52m) fixed concrete pier and an 

additional 140ft (43m) floating dock. 

Marina Technologies Inc (MTI) 

replaced the dock system at Blue 

D-Marin signed a partnership deal with 

Azimut Benetti whereby it acquired a 

large stake in Marina di Valetta and Porto 

Mediceo and commenced commercial 

integration with Marina di Varazze (right). 

Haven Resort on Leeward Channel 

in Providenciales Island, which was 

destroyed by Hurricane Irma in 

2019. The marina, long-renowned 

for its boutique-style charm and 

idyllic location, now offers 71 slips 

for megayachts up to 220ft (67m) 

at a heavy-duty aluminium dock 

arrangement manufactured at MTI’s 

factory in Montreal, Canada. Special 

features of the rebuilt marina include inslip 

pump-out, ample electricity supply 

and in-slip high-speed fuelling using 

built-in hydrants and mobile fuel carts. 

This eliminates large and unsightly 

dockside fuel dispensers and pumps. 

Wide-ranging services and amenities 

are offered to marina guests including a 

crew lounge. 

Australia and 

New Zealand 

In Australia, Melbourne City 

completed a $1.97 million upgrade 

of the city’s marina in Victoria 

Harbour, enabling it to better 

welcome larger vessels. 

Sydney’s Heritage-listed Jones 

Bay Marina received council 

approval for an upgrade to address 

the shortage of marina berths for 

large vessels in Sydney Harbour 

and see significant capital poured 

into the harbourside marina over the 

course of the year. 

The world-renowned Rivergate 

Marina & Shipyard on the Brisbane 

River in Queensland went up for sale, 

as it announced plans for a major 

expansion to support the fast-growing 

superyacht industry. Yard facilities 

include 300-tonne and 75-tonne 

mobile hoists, a 55m (180ft) refit shed, 

hardstand, berthing for vessels up to 

90m (295ft), a 24-hour fuel wharf and 

over 20 on-site marine trades. The 105- 

berth marina has all-tide deepwater 

access. Rivergate’s expansion 

plans include a 3,000 tonne ship lift, 

additional open hardstand space, refit 

sheds and support building, and inwater 

service berths suitable for a wide 

range of superyachts, commercial and 

defence vessels. 


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Integra Investments purchased Williams Island Marina in Aventura, Florida to boost its US 

portfolio to six marinas. 

The McGowan Government delivered 

a major funding boost for the coastal 

pool at Perth’s Ocean Reef Marina 

waterfront precinct. The marina’s 

new project budget of $223 million 

will see the coastal pool become an 

iconic new destination, with the pool 

deck extended and the addition of an 

architecturally-designed hospitality 

building. It is expected to be a 

significant tourism draw for Ocean Reef 

and Western Australia. Once complete, 

Ocean Reef Marina will provide 

recreational, tourism, residential and 

boating facilities for local residents and 

visitors. The new marina will have up 

to 550 wet berths and a drystack for 

200 boats, new boat ramps, more than 

double the existing trailer parking 

and a family beach. 

In New Zealand, Whitianga 

Marina in Mercury Bay completed 

an ambitious 16-month renovation 

and expansion project with new 

pontoons and walkways, and a 

unique curved sea wall. The new 

highlight sea wall is both durable 

and efficient to protect the marina 

basin from heavy ferry and yacht 

wakes and wind-generated 

waves. Whitianga Marina can 

accommodate 231 vessels ranging 

in length from 10 to 24m (33 to 79ft) 

and is a Certified Clean Marina. 

Middle East and Africa 

In Egypt, Marinetek designed, 

manufactured and installed the floating 

pontoon elements at Ismailia Yacht 

Marina on Al Temsah Lake, the first 

marina on the Suez Canal, which will 

have 96 berths for vessels of 10-40m 

(33-131ft) in length. The Suez Canal 

Authority, the project investor, planned 

to open the first phase of the marina by 

the end of June and will build a modern 

service centre and other related facilities 

in subsequent phases. The marina will 

encourage smaller yachts to stop and 

rest in the Canal on their way between 

the Mediterranean and the Red Sea and 

is a significant step in the country’s aim 

to further develop its nautical tourism. 

Saudi Arabia announced plans 

to develop Sindalah, the first luxury 

island destination in the ‘Neom’ smart 

city project and one of the most 

important projects supporting the 

country’s national tourism strategy. 

Scheduled to open in 2024, Sindalah 

is expected to reshape the luxury 

international yachting calendar by 

offering a new season for visitors and 

guests to enjoy. Perfectly positioned as 

a glamorous gateway to the Red Sea, 

Sindalah will be the closest ultra-prime 

superyacht marina to Europe and the 

Mediterranean. Expected to become 

an iconic destination for the world’s 

yachting community, the maritime 

facility will offer 86 berths for yachts up 

to 50m (164ft) and additional serviced 

offshore buoys for superyachts up to 

180m (590ft). Superyacht maintenance 

company MB92 Group entered into 

a partnership with Neom to establish 

a 10,000m² (107,600ft²) yacht repair 

facility at Sindalah. 

Finally, Dubai-based master 

developer Nakheel launched a new 

marina along the northern coastline 

at Dubai Islands. The marina, which 

will accommodate 13 superyachts up 

to 47m (154ft) in length amid its 248 

berths, will have easy entry to the 

sea and 40 dry berths for trailers up 

to 20m (66ft). Features include 24/7 

dock assistance, complimentary club 

car transfer, utilities and ice supply, 

waste collection, pump-out, free Wi-Fi, 

showers, washrooms and a laundrette. 

Security systems in place include 24/7 

CCTV surveillance and gated access. 

The newly opened Dubai Islands Beach 

is within walking distance of the marina, 

hotels just steps away. 

Porto Carlo Riva in Rapallo, Liguria, 

Italy was rebuilt following devastation 

caused by a major storm in 2018. 


23

TALKING SHOP 

Left & below: Hurricane Sally ripped 

through Zeke’s Landing Marina in Alabama 

leaving a trail of destruction. 

A resilient rebirth at 

Zeke’s Landing 

When Hurricane Sally hit the US Gulf Coast in September 2020, Zeke’s Landing 

Marina in Orange Beach, Alabama lay directly in its path. While it incurred 

substantial damage, a dedicated team armed with ambitious plans saw the 

marina reopen just eight months later. Charlotte Niemiec invites marina owner, 

Lynne Swafford, to talk shop. 

Orange Beach, Alabama is well 

known as a water sports hub, with yearround 

warm weather, soft white sand, 

seafood galore and plenty of activities, 

such as sailing and dolphin spotting, to 

explore. A hub of maritime activity in the 

area for more than three decades, the 

marina offers the largest charter fleet in 

the Gulf of Mexico, along with its sister 

sites Sportsman Marina and San Roc 

Cay Marina. The marina, which was 

established in 1988 to build upon its 

premier restaurant that opened three 

years earlier, has always focused on 

charter fishing boats, reserving its wet 

slips for private boats. 

When Hurricane Sally battered 

Orange Beach with 110mph (177kph) 

winds, it devastated the region and 

obliterated many parts of the marina. 

Only the category 5 hurricane-rated, 

220 slip dry storage building stood 

firm against the storm as the team 

helplessly watched Sally sweep away 

all the docks and the dock store. 

Undeterred, the team began to 

rebuild and successfully reopened 

the dock store in April – just 

seven months later. The docks 

reopened a month after that 

and a redesigned restaurant in 

September 2022. The marina’s 

revamped facilities now boast a 

reconstructed office, a dockside 

gift and apparel shop, and an event 

centre, all fortified with state-of-theart 

infrastructure designed to hold 

up against the strongest storm. 

With its new lease of life, 

the team envisions the marina 

becoming a year-round business 

rather than a seasonal one, as it 

seeks to expand its operations, 

introduce more activities to 

foster stronger relationships 

with customers and extend its 

conservation efforts beyond the 

marina’s immediate environs. “The 

focus will be on fish conservation, reef 

restoration programmes and making 

conservation a lifestyle rather than an 

effort,” Lynne Swafford explains. 

Lessons learned 

The speed and quality of the 

reconstruction effort stands as a 

testament to the team’s collective 

dedication 

as it rallied to 

bring supplies 

together 

against all 

odds. Learning 

valuable 

lessons from 

the rebuilding 

process, 

Zeke’s Landing 

Lynne Swafford 

prioritised strategies that would “futureproof” 

the marina in the event of further 

hurricanes. 

“Predicting storm strength is 

challenging, so we went beyond current 

codes,” Swafford says. “We introduced 

breakaway pilings to minimise the 

impact on infrastructure if a boat breaks 

a piling. We revised our hurricane 

plan to make it mandatory for boats to 

leave Orange Beach if it is in the cone 

of a named storm. We installed larger 

pilings, relocated our dock store and 

improved our drainage systems. We 

enhanced our fuel system with triple- 


TALKING SHOP 

Completely restored in a surprisingly 

short time frame, Zeke’s Landing has been 

‘future-proofed’. The reconstruction also 

reinforced the marina team’s commitment 

to expanding the facility. 

walled tanks and reduced the fuel lines 

by 400ft [122m]. We brought the entire 

property up to code and exceeded code 

in most aspects.” 

Additionally, the marina doubled 

its parking capacity by obtaining 

city approval to rezone the adjacent 

property. “This reconstruction not only 

restored our physical infrastructure 

but also reinforced our commitment 

to growth and to provide a resilient 

and high-quality experience at Zeke’s 

Landing,” Swafford says. 

Staying afloat throughout 

Despite the challenges – and without 

any grants or financial assistance 

– Zeke’s Landing managed to keep 

its customers satisfied during the 

reconstruction phase. It brought in 

temporary facilities such as floating 

docks, portable fuel stations, power 

sources, restrooms and offices. It did 

so even as the reconstruction effort 

overlapped with COVID, causing 

disruptions in the supply chain and 

construction delays resulting from 

labour shortages. 

Today, the full-service marina 

once again offers 220 drystack 

storage spaces and 57 wet slips 

Hurricane Sally 

heads directly for Zeke’s Landing 

accommodating a wide range of sizes 

from 24-65ft (7-20m), on two 300ft 

(91m) floating docks and two fixed pier 

systems. “We offer fuel at each slip and 

for dry storage at the launch, including 

premium fuel. However, we do not 

provide pump-out services,” Swafford 

confirms. 

Although it is not equipped 

for superyachts, the marina can 

comfortably accommodate boats up 

to 67ft (20m) and it has two Wiggins 

Marina Bull boat hoists and a 1994 

Taylor 90 Forklift. The marina is now 

operating at full capacity with an 

extensive waiting list since 2019, 

reflecting its enduring popularity. 

Zeke’s Landing takes pride in its 

comprehensive amenities and services, 

featuring outdoor bars, a full-service 

restaurant, a dock store, charter fishing, 

bait and ice delivery, fuel services, 

fish cleaning stations, an event venue, 

dolphin cruises, haul-out service, 

showers, on-site boat maintenance, 

cleaning and detailing. Its revamped 

restaurant – now adorned with 

paraphernalia from the storm, such as 

fishing rods – reopened last September, 

along with a new event venue. 

The marina’s commitment to security 

is evident through 24/7 personnel, an IP 

security system, padlocked access and 

video surveillance. 

In terms of environmental 

responsibility, Zeke’s Landing has 

implemented advanced initiatives, 

including an underground drainage 

system for the entire property and plans 

to add a triple stack storage to increase 

its dry rack slips by 100. Staff members 

are trained to identify and respond to 

oil or fuel releases, with spill kits readily 

available on the dock. The marina 

participates in regular trash pickups 

and disposal services, emphasising its 

conscientious approach to day-to-day 

operations. 

Zeke’s Landing’s story stands as a 

testament to its resilience, innovation, 

and commitment to providing an 

unparalleled maritime experience in 

the face of both natural disasters and 

global challenges. 


25

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ENVIRONMENTAL PRODUCTS & PROJECTS 

New research 

outlines pathways to 

decarbonisation 

The International Council of Marine Industry Associations (ICOMIA) took 

to the stage at Metstrade in Amsterdam last November to announce new 

peer-reviewed research outlining a multi-path approach to decarbonising 

recreational boating. 

The research, which specifically 

looks at marine propulsion in boats 

under 24m (79ft) in length, reveals 

that due to the unique on-water 

environment for recreational boating, 

and the varied interests of boaters and 

the experiences they seek, a variety 

of solutions must be considered to 

continue reducing carbon emissions 

from recreational boats. 

The research report, titled Pathways 

to Propulsion Decarbonisation for the 

Recreational Marine Industry, provides 

guidance to global governments and 

boating industry stakeholders as they 

work together to shape investments in 

technology and policy. 

Decarbonisation is defined as the 

process of gradual reduction and/or 

neutralisation of the footprint from fossil 

fuel carbon. Recreational boats account 

for less than 0.1% of global greenhouse 

Darren Vaux (left), president of ICOMIA, 

and Frank Hugelmeyer, president and CEO 

of the US National Marine Manufacturers 

Association announcing the new 

research at Metstrade 2023. 

gas (GHG) emissions, specifically 

0.7% of transportation carbon dioxide 

(CO2) emissions in the United States 

and 0.4% of transportation CO2 

emissions in Europe. For context, 

46% of emissions are generated by 

powering homes and industry, and 14% 

of emissions are generated by global 

transportation. In the last two decades, 

the US recreational marine industry 

alone has decreased marine engine 

emissions by more than 90% and 

increased fuel efficiency by more than 

40% - and it isn’t slowing down. Beyond 

this progress, the global recreational 

marine industry remains committed to 

leading conservation efforts that protect 

the natural marine environment and 

identifying ways to expand its collective 

efforts. 

“Our love for boating is fundamentally 

reliant on a healthy and sustainable 

marine environment, and we must take 

care of it to ensure the experiences 

boating provides can be enjoyed for 

generations to come,” said Darren 

Vaux, president of ICOMIA. “For the 

first time, we’ve united the global 

recreational marine industry around our 

most comprehensive, peer-reviewed 

research to explore opportunities that 

could reduce recreational boats’ carbon 

emissions, giving us the data we need 

to begin educating policy makers, 

our stakeholder community and 

boaters on the varied decarbonisation 

solutions unique to our industry. This 

new research provides guidance on 

the focus for the innovations we can 

begin exploring today to create a better 

boating experience that reduces our 

environmental footprint.” 

The Pathways to Decarbonisation 

for the Recreational Marine Industry 

report, commissioned by ICOMIA with 

leading global engineering consulting 

firm, Ricardo plc, investigated 

propulsion technologies across nine 

common recreational watercraft to 

compare the impact of lifetime GHG 

emissions, financial costs, usability, 

performance, range and infrastructure 

implications. The propulsion 

technologies investigated included: 


27


• Battery electric (electric-powered 

boats and watercraft) 

• Hybrid electric (internal combustion 

engines using liquid fuel and electric) 

• Hydrogen (internal combustion 

engines or fuel cell) 

• Internal combustion engines with 

sustainable marine fuels (sustainably 

produced liquid substitute for 

conventional fossil fuel) 

• Internal combustion engines with 

gasoline or diesel 

Unique demands 

Recreational boats are considerably 

different to most other forms of 

transport, including automotive 

(on-road vehicles). Unlike 

automobiles, which are relied 

on to get from point A to B, 

recreational boats are used for 

leisure and vary significantly 

in not only how, but how often, 

they are used (e.g. many 

petrol-powered recreational 

boats are operated an 

average of 35 to 48 hours 

per year). The research also 

looked at the impact on 

cost of ownership based on 

propulsion technology and, 

compared to boats on the 

water today, increases in cost 

of ownership ranging from 5% 

to 250% are expected until 

alternatives achieve market scale. 

Due to the diversity of the types of 

boats in use and the varied experiences 

sought by boating consumers, from 

fishing to watersports to cruising, 

the research shows there is no 

universal, “one-size-fits-all” approach 

to decarbonise recreational boats. As 

a result, in addition to current internal 

combustion and fossil fuel-powered 

boats, the industry must consider a 

portfolio of technologies, including: 

• Sustainable liquid marine 

fuels, such as renewable dropin 

fuels, are expected to be the 

most suitable source of energy to 

decarbonise recreational boats 

by 2035 – by as much as 90% – 

without compromising the distance 

a boat can travel or its performance. 

Of the approximately 30 million 

recreational boats in use worldwide, 

with an average total lifecycle of 

40 to 50 years and global annual 

sales making up approximately 2% 

of the size of the current market, 

there is great potential for increased 

decarbonisation of recreational boats 

with immediate, widespread adoption 

of sustainable marine fuels. 

• Hydrogen is an emerging technology 

and another potential source for 

reducing carbon emissions from 

boats, as long as its production 

process is optimised. Hydrogen, if 

produced via electrolysis with zero 

fossil fuel electricity, can reduce 

carbon emissions for certain craft 

categories. 

• Electric propulsion is part of the 

strategy to decarbonise. However, 

it is not universally suitable for all 

types of recreational craft and use 

cases. Electric-only propulsion may 

have a higher GHG contribution from 

raw materials and manufacturing 

than conventional propulsion 

systems. Watercraft types with 

lower utilisation are unlikely to find 

that battery electric systems yield 

a reduction in GHG compared to 

the baseline internal combustion 

engine. It is important to note that 

this study considers both battery 

lifetime in years and recharging 

cycles as battery performance is 

expected to degrade over time 

regardless of utilisation. This could 

impact watercraft that have a long life 

span but are not frequently utilised 

as it may require several battery 

replacements throughout its lifetime. 

• Hybrid boats that use both electric 

and internal combustion engines 

powered by liquid fuels offer the 

potential for reducing carbon 

emissions from boats in certain 

scenarios—namely boats used 

for longer periods of time and for 

greater distances. As a result, 

hybrid technology provides the most 

potential for emissions reductions for 

boats that are used for rentals and 

other high-use environments. 

The path forward 

The new research paves the way for 

the recreational boating industry to 

begin educating global governments 

and boating industry stakeholders on 

the technologies and policies needed to 

further reduce carbon emissions. 

Key next steps the industry is seeking 

include: 

• The adoption of a technology neutral 

decarbonisation approach for marine 

environments. 

• An acceleration of the development 

and distribution of sustainable marine 

fuels and consumer education 

campaigns that support the adoption 

of these new fuels. 

• Consumer safety and government 

entities partnering with the 

recreational marine industry to 

establish marine electric technology 

standards and consumer safety 

protocols. 

• An expansion of R&D tax credits 

and investments to improve electric 

battery density and hydrogen 

research that can be applied to the 

marine environment. 

• Continued research to evaluate 

existing and emerging technologies 

and how to best apply them to the 

unique marine environment. 

“Despite our progress over the past 

two decades, our industry recognises 

and embraces the challenges and 

opportunities to create a sustainable 

future for recreational boating. We are 

excited to support and encourage the 

latest innovations to create a better 

boating experience,” Vaux continued. 

“Sustainable marine fuels allow boaters 

to act now while the industry continues 

innovating and investing in new 

technologies that push the boundaries 

of what’s possible. Through this research 

and a global education campaign, 

we’re uniting the recreational marine 

industry around a portfolio of solutions 

that creates positive change through 

multiple pathways and a framework to 

collectively move our industry forward.” 

To support the report findings, 

ICOMIA, on behalf of the global 

recreational marine industry, has 

launched Propelling Our Future, an 

international campaign to educate and 

advance the industry on research-driven 

technology solutions. To learn more 

and to download a summary of the full 

report, visit propellingourfuture.com 



Fisher Island Club’s fixed slip marina 

system has now been reconfigured and 

replaced with Bellingham Marine floating 

docks to help mitigate problems with 

projected sea level rise. 

Resilient marina 

renovations lead to 

coral relocation 

by Marie Guyer and Anne Shoffner 

Fisher Island, a private barrier island community south of Miami Beach, 

Florida, is renovating its 1980s resident marina with sea level rise resilience 

and the modern boater in mind. Remarkably, the artificial and highly active 

marina basin supported a thriving stony coral community, creating an 

environmental obstacle when upgrading from a fixed to floating dock system. 

Outgrowing the existing 86-slip 

marina and approaching the end 

of the useful life of the timber fixed 

docks, an overhaul was due at Fisher 

Island Club’s resident marina. With this 

renovation, Fisher Island Club seized 

the opportunity to safeguard its marina 

investment by incorporating resilient 

docking features. 

In South Florida, the estimated 

service life for a marina is 30 to 40 

years, during which time water levels 

are projected to change significantly 

due to sea level rise. For fixed dock 

configurations, water level increases 

trigger premature replacement or 

repairs, creating an additional expense 

and an unwelcome interruption in 

marina operations. To circumvent 

these future water level challenges, 

Fisher Island Club chose a floating 

dock system. Floating docks inherently 

adapt to changes in water levels, as 

well as storm surge, offering a level 

of resilience to the projected sea level 

rise. Bellingham Marine was selected 

as the general contractor and floating 

dock manufacturer for the project. 

Optimising berth 

configuration 

The original marina satisfied the market 

when built in the 1980s, with most 

slips under 60ft (18m) 

in length, but the new 

configuration has been 

designed for the modern 

boater, with 80% of slips 

in the 60 to 70ft (18 to 

21m) range and 20% 

in the 90 to 120ft (27 to 

37m) range. Efficient use 

of the existing basin also 

Divers investigated the 

health of the coral colonies 

and how best to 

transplant them. 

allowed for 13 new slips, for a total of 

99-slips. 

Basin modifications 

The change from fixed docks to floating 

docks, the increase in vessel draft, and 

the creation of new slips necessitated 

dredging and removal of previously 

placed rock riprap. The existing rock 

riprap, approximately 1 cubic yard per 

linear foot of seawall, was directly in 

the proposed footprint of the 8ft (2.4m) 

wide marginal floating dock and lined 

the 2,200ft (671m) perimeter of the 

basin seawall. The riprap consisted 

of rock boulders approximately 2 to 

6ft (0.6 to 1.8m) in diameter and was 

installed with the original marina. 

Through discussions with 

environmental agencies and review of 

historical information, it was determined 

the rock riprap was originally required 

by the County as a means of 

creating nearshore habitat as well as 

providing toe scour protection for the 

seawall. Fortunately, the State and 

Federal government allowed for its 

replacement under a permit exemption 

without mitigation requirements. The 

replacement toe scour protection 

measures have a lower profile to 

accommodate the rise and fall of 

the floating docks with the tide. The 

engineering design and permitting 

for the marina basin renovations was 

provided by Cummins Cederberg. 

Thriving coral colonies 

As part of applying for environmental 

permits for marina construction 

in Florida, in-water surveys were 

performed by the Cummins Cederberg 

marine science team to document any 

protected marine organisms, such as 



stony coral colonies or seagrass in the 

construction area. Within the Fisher 

Island Club marina, marine scientists 

identified several hundred healthy ‘urban’ 

stony coral colonies, ranging from 6in to 

3ft (15cm to 1m), growing on the rock 

riprap below the fixed docks. 

These ‘urban’ corals are the focus 

of many researchers, who are trying 

to determine how and why the corals, 

growing in marina basins, large ports 

and industrial areas, are doing so well. 

The stony corals found in the resident 

marina were particularly hardy and 

well-adapted to their environment, 

which was remarkable considering 

the existing fixed docks decrease light 

penetration and the vessel activity 

increases water turbidity, both of which 

can be harmful to coral colonies. 

Coral relocation 

To allow for rock riprap removal, the 

local permits required all stony corals 

greater than 6in (15cm) be detached 

from the rock riprap and transplanted to 

a suitable off-site location. To relocate 

the corals, it was first necessary to find 

a nearby recipient site with appropriate 

water depth, clarity and substrate 

with enough available open space 

to reattach the stony corals from the 

marina basin. A site with relatively 

shallow water, located east of the island 

and immediately south of the entrance 

to Port of Miami, was selected as the 

most suitable location to transplant the 

colonies. 

Following acquisition of the 

appropriate authorisations and permits, 

stony corals were harvested from the 

riprap substrate and relocated to the 

preferred coral recipient site. Coral 

colonies were assessed for size, overall 

health and growth form. Stony corals 

presenting signs of disease, overgrowth 

by an invasive boring sponge species 

or heavy algae, or with low potential for 

survival (e.g. breaking apart into very 

small fragments) were not removed. 

Boulder relocation 

obstacles 

Several large colonies of stony corals 

ranging from 2 to 3ft (0.6 to 1m) in width 

were unable to be successfully removed 

from the rock riprap due to their 

growth form (vertically on the riprap) 

and fragility. For those specimens, 

it was determined the entire “coral 

boulder” would need to be moved. This 

unexpected setback was overcome 

through coordination between the 

Cummins Cederberg environmental 

science team and the marine contractor 

selected for the dredging and riprap, 

Kearn’s Construction Company, 

who faced the challenge of carefully 

relocating massively sized boulders 

using heavy equipment and support 

divers without damaging the coral. 

With each coral boulder tagged and 

identified by marine scientists, the 

Kearns Construction team carefully 

lifted the entire coral boulder out of the 

marina basin with heavy duty slings 

secured by commercial divers and a 

long-arm excavator. 

“Working hand in hand to coordinate 

the coral boulder relocation was 

crucial for the success of the corals,” 

says Kearns Construction operations 

director, Brock Sullivan. “The engineer, 

environmental science team, and 

us (the contractor) had to be in sync 

to make sure there was no delay to 

the marina renovation schedule, and 

more importantly no harm to the coral 

colonies.” 

The coral boulders were placed on 

a construction barge and transported 

within a short period of time to a 

designated area on a breakwater 

outside the marina basin containing 

existing riprap and naturally occurring 

corals. The time on barge for these 

coral boulders was minimised to reduce 

long-term exposure to ambient air and 

the potential for the living coral colonies 

to dessicate or be exposed to harmful 

direct UV radiation. 

Final marina construction 

Over 450 coral colonies were relocated 

from boulders below the fixed docks 

in the marina basin. Results from a 

The remarkably resilient ‘urban’ corals, 

which have been successfully relocated, 

grew on the rock riprap below the fixed 

docks. 

six-month coral monitoring programme 

required by the County permit 

documented a success rate of over 

95%, meaning almost all the relocated 

stony corals remained firmly attached 

to the seabed, were free from coral 

disease and were doing well in their 

new environment. 

Notably, record high water 

temperatures during summer 2023 led 

to coral bleaching events throughout 

South Florida, and the relocated ‘urban’ 

corals appeared to fare better than 

neighbouring natural corals, as they 

were likely conditioned to unfavourable 

environments from living in an active 

marina basin. 

When moving from a fixed to a 

floating dock system, challenges are 

to be expected. Through coordinated 

efforts with the environmental, 

regulatory, engineer and contractor 

team, we were able to resolve the 

basin renovations including coral 

relocation and permitting tasks related 

to the rock removal and dredging. To 

complement the engineering team 

and contractor, having an experienced 

team of environmental scientists and 

regulatory experts played a crucial role 

in providing Fisher Island Club with its 

resilient marina updates. 

Vessels have started to move back 

into the completed sections of the new 

marina, offering partial marina access 

to residents. Construction is expected 

to conclude in early 2024. 


31

Since 1963 Walcon has proven itself to be a 

worldwide leader in the design, construction and 

installation of marinas and berthing facilities, 

 

182x132mm_Walcon_Anniversary_Final.indd 1 23/06/2023 11:18


Marking the installation of the first Fossil 

Free Marine unmanned fuel station 

operated by leading Swedish fuel retailer 

OKQ8. 

rigorous scrutiny, with its design and 

construction verified by DNV according 

to ship classification standards. This 

verification adds a layer of credibility, 

aligning with industry-wide recognition 

of the need for sustainable practices. 

Future-proofing for fuels 

What sets this unmanned marine fuel 

station apart is its forward-thinking 

approach. Designed to adapt to the 

ever-changing fuel landscape, it has 

the capacity to handle a spectrum 

of liquid fuels. From modern dropin 

biofuels to the promise of future 

e-fuels like methanol, the concept has 

been created to remain relevant and 

efficient in an industry characterised by 

innovation. 

Mobile fuel station 

pioneers sustainability 

and efficiency 

Swedish company Fossil Free Marine has unveiled a groundbreaking solution 

that promises to reshape the landscape of marine fuelling. Its recently 

introduced unmanned mobile marine fuel station, featuring a patent-pending 

design and EU protection, takes strides towards sustainability and efficiency. 

Constructed from vacuum-injected 

composite materials, the 24 x 

4.3m (79 x 14ft) unmanned station 

prioritises eco-friendly engineering. Its 

advanced materials not only enhance 

durability but also align with the 

industry’s commitment to minimising 

environmental impact. Recent findings 

on sustainable drop-in fuels emphasise 

the importance of such eco-conscious 

practices in the maritime sector. 

The station’s ability to refuel up to 

four 40ft (12m) boats simultaneously 

introduces a new level of efficiency. 

Adherence to the same safety 

standards as unmanned land-based 

stations and fuel cisterns in EU water 

catchment areas ensures a high 

and consistent level of fuel safety, 

reinforcing the industry’s commitment to 

sustainable solutions. 

In the realm of maritime ventures, 

safety and reliability are non-negotiable 

and the station has undergone 

Recent findings from ICOMIA’s study, 

”Propelling our Future” (see p.27) 

further underline the significance of 

sustainable drop-in fuels. The study 

identifies these fuels as the optimal 

solution for decarbonisation in most 

pleasure boat applications and use 

cases, emphasising their superior 

”cradle to grave” life cycle assessment. 

Fossil Free Marine’s commitment to 

sustainability aligns with the industry’s 

acknowledgment of sustainable drop-in 

fuels as a crucial element in the journey 

towards environmental responsibility. 

Measuring up at an impressive 60m³ 

(2,120ft³), the unmanned station boasts 

six tanks, providing a versatile solution 

for various liquid fuels. This capacity not 

only caters to current fuelling needs but 

also anticipates the evolving landscape 


33


of alternative fuels. Approved for 

delivery by leading sustainable fuel 

producers like Neste and Preem, the 

station positions itself at the forefront 

of the industry’s shift towards cleaner 

energy sources. 

For marina operators seeking a 

reliable, sustainable and future-ready 

solution, the station emerges as a 

strategic investment. Its compatibility 

with a range of fuels positions marinas 

at the forefront of environmental 

responsibility, meeting the demands of 

a market increasingly inclined towards 

sustainable practices. As an option, 

also available as a retrofit, the marine 

fuel station can be equipped with up 

to two modern odour-free grey/black 

water pump-out stations and a 7.5 m 

(25ft) extension kit for electric boat 

charging, enabling two electric boats 

to fast charge simultaneously without 

disrupting traffic to the fuel pumps. 

Built-to-order, stations are 

constructed at a leading Swedish 

composite shipyard, which also 

supplies the Swedish Navy – thus 

meeting military standards for 

quality and construction. Down the 

line, Fossil Free Marine stations will 

be shipped as ready to assemble 

kits, “IKEA style”, for local assembly 

in key global markets, such as the 

USA. 

The unmanned 

advantage 

Beyond its eco-friendly credentials 

and adaptability, the unmanned nature 

of the station introduces a new era 

of efficiency. Automated processes 

streamline fuelling operations, reducing 

the need for manpower and potential 

human error. This not only enhances 

safety but also contributes to costeffectiveness 

and operational efficiency 

for marina operators. 

Designed with a user-friendly 

experience in mind, the station’s 

modern fuel dispensers with card 

readers and app control and short 

convenient hoses aim to streamline 

the refuelling process for vessel 

operators. The automated systems 

not only ensure efficiency but also 

make fuelling a seamless process for 

boaters, emphasising practicality and 

convenience in maritime operations. 

Beyond its environmental and 

operational advantages, the station 

also presents economic benefits for 

marina operators. The reduced need for 

manpower and streamlined processes 

contribute to cost savings, together with 

a low Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) 

due to a service life of up to 50 years, 

making it an economically viable choice 

for those looking to invest in sustainable 

solutions without compromising on 

efficiency. 

The first Fossil Free Marine 

unmanned mobile marine station has 

now been in operation for well over 

a year in a busy marina just outside 

Stockholm. Operated by leading 

Swedish fuel retailer OKQ8 (part owned 

by Kuwait Petroleum), it has quickly 

become an iconic installation and 

talking point among local boaters. 

Looking ahead 

The Fossil Free Marine solution reflects 

advancements in technology and 

materials and aligns with the maritime 

sector’s broader goals. As the industry 

navigates the complexities of alternative 

fuels and environmental responsibility, 

the unmanned station stands as a 

tangible example of progress. As such, 

it is not just a product but a symbol of 

collaborative progress. Approved for 

delivery by key players in the sustainable 

fuel market, it exemplifies a shared 

vision for a cleaner, more sustainable 

maritime industry. As the industry 

navigates towards a low-carbon future, 

such collaborations become crucial for 

achieving collective environmental goals. 

www.fossilfreemarine.com 

Now a talking point in and around the 

busy marina in Islinge, Lidingö (right), 

the new fuel station has been open for 

over a year. 


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Whitepaper illuminates key 

role of bi-directional charging 

UK-based Aqua superPower has released an important whitepaper shedding 

light on the immense potential of Vessel-to-Everything (V2X) technology for 

the maritime industry. The landmark report rounds off the Virtual Bunkering 

of Electric Vessels (VBEV) project, which was funded by the UK Government 

to assess the financial, technical and operational feasibility of bi-directional 

charging infrastructure in the maritime sector. 

V2X is the overarching term for using 

bi-directional charging technology to 

transfer the energy stored by electric 

vessel batteries to the grid, buildings or 

load. With a sharp focus on the value 

of V2X technology for electric vessels, 

the VBEV project seeks to drive the 

sector’s decarbonisation and foster 

the development of a robust marine 

V2X ecosystem, enabling widespread 

adoption. 

Battery electric vessels have been 

identified as a cornerstone in the UK 

Government’s Clean Maritime Plan, 

particularly for short to medium range 

vessels like ferries, workboats and 

recreational boats. Furthermore, these 

batteries can also be seamlessly 

integrated with alternative fuels to 

create hybrid systems for vessels with 

longer range requirements. 

Upgrades at marinas, harbours 

and ports are anticipated to include 

charging infrastructure and shore 

power, dramatically increasing power 

demand and grid capacity, and 

reshaping dynamic between the energy 

and maritime sectors. As the adoption 

of battery electric vessels surges, 

substantial investments in enabling 

infrastructure at both system and site 

levels are indispensable. 

The paper, titled ‘The Opportunity for 

Bi-directional Charging in the Maritime 

Sector’, offers crucial insights into the 

cross-sector maritime V2X possibilities, 

including: 

• Enhancing energy flexibility and 

energy arbitrage services to support the 

power grid, thus promoting renewable 

energy generation, grid resilience and 

energy security. 

• Seamlessly integrating battery 

electric vessels into marina energy 

management, optimising onsite 

renewables, managing grid constraints 

and reducing energy costs. 

• Revolutionising the financial model 

for electric vessels by generating 

consistent revenue from V2X services, 

ultimately reducing the lifetime costs of 

vessel ownership. 

• Capitalising on the projected 

growth of battery electric vehicles, 

advancements in V2X technologies, 

escalating demand for renewables 

and the maturation of energy markets 

to drive the maritime sector towards 

net-zero emissions and economic 

opportunities. 

The paper aims to underscore 

the pivotal role V2X can play in the 

maritime sector and the wealth of 

opportunities it presents. It also outlines 

the key steps necessary to make 

marine V2X a reality, emphasising 

the critical need for universal 

communication standards among 

OEMs, utilities and charging companies 

to accelerate adoption. 

In conjunction with the paper, Cenex 

(UK Centre of Excellence for Low 

Carbon and Fuel Cell technologies) has 

also published a report titled ‘Vessel-to- 

Grid: An Analysis of Revenue Streams 

and Vessel Archetypes for Bi-Directional 

Charging of Electric Vessels.’ As part of 

the VBEV project, this report zeros in 

on the value of V2G for electric vessels, 

providing a comprehensive perspective 

on the immense potential of V2X 

technology in the maritime sector. 

“Aqua superPower is proud to 

lead the exploration of the future of 

maritime technology,” notes Adam 

Marshall, chief technology officer. “This 

whitepaper illuminates the potential of 

technology as a transformative force in 

the maritime sector. It underscores how 

bi-directional charging infrastructure 

can empower electric vessels as not 

only consumers, but as contributors 

to the grid, enhancing sustainability 

goals, reducing operational costs 

and catalysing an industry-wide shift 

towards clean energy solutions.” 

Aqua superPower CEO, Alex 

Bamberg, explains that V2X is not 

only a relatively novel concept in the 

maritime sector but is also in its infancy 

in the automotive industry, where it is in 

early stages of commercialisation with 

significant research and development 

projects ongoing. “The VBEV project 

sets the stage for a groundbreaking 

UK demonstrator of bi-directional 

boat charging, poised to unlock the 

substantial opportunities and benefits 

that this transformative technology 

offers to the maritime sector. We are 

proud to play a leading role in making 

V2X a reality for the benefit of all 

stakeholders,” he says. 


37

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Operators who put their marinas 

on the EV map, attract new guests 

who are eager to access convenient 

charging. 

EV charging in 

the marina industry 

Rolec has been a trusted supplier of electrical facilities to marinas around the 

world for over three decades and, in recent years, has also developed a fastpaced 

EV (electric vehicle) charging business for the UK market. 

Over the past ten years, emissions 

have been the biggest discussion 

point in the UK, leading to increased 

investment in renewable energy. Over 

800,000 people are now driving electric 

cars and a larger conversation is 

opening up about how much waste we 

produce as a nation. 

As the UK prepares for a net-zero 

future, demand for greener modes of 

transport and charging infrastructure 

increases. The transition to fully electric 

vehicles means that EV remains one 

of the largest green tech industries, 

with the most potential for growth over 

the next decade. In fact, according to 

the International Energy Agency, the 

number of electric cars on the road 

globally surpassed 10 million in 2020, 

despite the COVID-19 pandemic. This 

trend is expected to continue as more 

manufacturers invest in electric vehicle 

technology. 

Zero-emission transport is not 

purely a car issue. If we expand our 

perspective to include other forms 

of transport, we might be surprised 

to find out that the most significant 

thing that we can do to reduce our 

individual environmental footprint is 

to stop flying. Travelling abroad is 

responsible for around 1 billion tonnes 

of CO2 emissions globally each year 

– which is more than the emissions 

produced by entire countries – making 

it the next on the chopping block for 

the environmentally conscious people 

among us. 

With this in mind, the marina industry 

has the potential to become the saving 

grace for Britons looking to get away 

from it all without sacrificing the planet 

in the process. 

Charging away from home 

Infrastructure needed to support the 

transition to fully electric in the UK 

is not currently meeting demand. 

This factor was identified as the main 

concern for EV drivers in Zenith’s 

EVXperience report, with range anxiety 

and the struggle of finding somewhere 

to charge-up on journeys seen as a 

roadblock to enjoying an EV staycation. 

Having the option of charging at your 

destination will, for many, make the 

difference between a relaxing family 

vacation and a weekend trawling the 

countryside trying to get charged up. 

It is, therefore, no surprise that, 

according to new research by the UK 

Department for Transport (DfT), almost 

half (47%) of the available public 

charging network, or 19,044 

charge points, can be found in 

destination locations. Adding 

charge points at marina facilities, 

gives EV drivers the security of 

knowing that they won’t have to 

plan their trip around charging, 

which will encourage them to 

favour the marina for their next 

short-break or summer holiday. 

Put your marina on the 

EV map 

Around 90% of EV drivers 

seek out destinations that have 

charge points over those that do not. 

If operators put their marinas on the 

EV map, they attract new guests by 

providing convenient charging. Another 

thing to consider is the number of EV 

drivers who will travel that bit further 

in search of charging. If you know 

your area is lacking public charging 

infrastructure, and most areas are, 

offering charge points increases the 

likelihood that EV owners will choose 

your marina over others than don’t 

offer charging. Depending on your 

location, EV charge points can be 

available to guests for the duration of 

their stay, as well as being offered to 

motorists passing through the area. 

And charge points visible on charging 

apps, like ZapMap, attract drivers to the 

marina for a top-up en route to another 

destination. 

Vehicle downtime, although a source 

of irritation for EV drivers, also opens 

up an additional business opportunity. 

A café, mini golf, or even just a vending 

machine will be much appreciated 

by families looking to pass the time 

as their car gets juiced up, and these 

have the potential to become additional 

revenue streams. 

However, when taking the UK’s 

high energy prices into account, the 

thought of giving away more electricity 

to visitors might seem like a daunting 

proposition. But with the right backoffice 

software, charge points can pay 

for themselves over time. Charging 

tariffs can be completely customised 

with segment pricing for different 

groups, like staff and public; tariffs 

raised during peak hours; and reserve 

charge points set up for certain visitors 


39


Rolec’s partnership with Wattif provides 

marina owners with different funding 

options. 

at certain times. This means that the 

marina can guarantee that visitors 

will have charging available to them. 

Wattif funding 

Thanks to its strategic partnership 

with Wattif, Rolec is in the unique 

position of being able to offer 

fully funded, part funded, and 

subscription options to marina 

owners, enabling them to install EV 

charging infrastructure with less risk 

to business. 

Wattif’s 100% fully funded 

turnkey solution covers the cost of 

charge point installation, purchase, 

maintenance and software. 

Charging infrastructure can be 

installed without any risk of investment 

for the business. Alternatively, 

marinas can take advantage of a 

50% partially funded option. If opting 

for this, Wattif takes responsibility for 

the cost of installing, maintaining and 

operating the charge point and also 

shares the initial upfront cost. The 

third, subscription, option provides 

an all-inclusive EV infrastructure 

solution without initial costs. Wattif 

handles everything from set-up to site 

management, and marina owners 

can still access OZEV (Office for Zero 

Emission Vehicles) grants. 

Whichever Wattif model is selected, 

all operating costs are included. Wattif 

EV will always operate and maintain the 

charge points, meaning operators can 

spend less time looking at EV charge 

point management and more time with 

visitors. 

www.rolecserv.com 

“Ocean Reef Marina”, Panamá 


To be seen in the world of marinas, 

you need to be seen in Marina World … 

Contact Julia Hallam +44 (0)1621 855 890 

juliahallam@marinaworld.co.uk

MARINAS


Adapting marinas 

to alternative fuel 

propulsion systems 

by Ian Dobson and Esteban Biondi 

Climate change mitigation requires widespread changes to reduce green 

house gas (GHG) emissions, including changes to recreational navigation 

energy sources. Some of the questions being asked across the sector include: 

What does the future look like? How do marinas need to respond? When do I 

need to act? PIANC RecCom working group 217 is drafting technical guidance 

for the adaptation of marina infrastructure to support the energy transition of 

the recreational navigation industry. 

The fuel puzzle 

Front and centre to the question of 

adaptation is the need to understand 

which fuel propulsion systems will 

be used by recreational watercraft in 

a decarbonised future. The range of 

theoretical alternative fuels available for 

recreational boating activities is varied, 

but very few are being implemented 

at scale. Potential fuel sources include 

electric engines, synthetic liquid fuels 

(for internal combustion engines), 

hydrogen (fuel cell and combustion), 

methanol, and hybrid combinations 

thereof. 

Whilst electrical supply systems 

are already commonplace in marinas, 

significant changes are required to 

address the needs for battery charging 

for primary propulsion systems. For 

each type of solution, the supply chain 

of the energy source and the availability 

of vessels will determine the marina 

requirements. 

Which fuel will win? 

The sustainable propulsion system of 

choice for recreational vessels will drive 

the demand for marina adaptation. 

Recreational navigation propulsion 

systems continue to evolve as powertrains 

and fuel technology provide more 

advanced solutions. The automotive 

industry was thought to be a reference 

for technology development, but boats 

significantly 

differ from 

cars. The increased 

mass 

of fuel systems 

in vessels 

creates a 

disproportionate 

amount of 

drag increasing 

fuel consumption, 

the Ian Dobson 

impacts of autonomy changes are more 

significant in marine environments, 

and the use patterns of private vessels 

are very different from private cars. 

ICOMIA evaluated the GHG life cycle 

emissions of alternative propulsion 

systems in its recent report on Pathways 

to Propulsion Decarbonisation for 

the Recreational Marine Industry (see 

p.27), concluding that “the diversity of 

the recreational marine industry means 

environmental sustainability and decarbonisation 

initiatives 

cannot take 

a one-size-fits-all 

approach related 

to propulsion 

technologies.” 

Electric 

vessels are 

presently the 

most visible Esteban Biondi 

introduction to 

alternative fuels. There are a growing 

number of fully electric and hybrid 

propulsion vessels available to buy on 

the market today, ranging from RIBs to 

90ft (27m) catamarans. Multiple small 

boat designs are available with full 

electric propulsion systems, with some 

manufacturers having a long waiting list. 

Due to energy density, cost of battery 

energy solutions and desired range, 

hybrid energy systems are predominant 

for yachts and catamarans. 

Next to the market, and in early rollout, 

are the hydrogen-electric hybrids, 

most of which will utilise a hydrogen 

fuel cell to provide electric power. There 

is also much development in the world 

of commercial shipping, with solutions 

under development that include 

hydrogen, ammonia and methanol. 

These types of solutions are presently 

considered the alternative pathways to 

providing non-fossil fuel propulsion to 

superyachts, even if the 37th America’s 

Cup will showcase the introduction of 

hydrogen fuel cell chase boats. 

Synthetic liquid “drop-in” fuels, 

such as biodiesel and hydrogenated 


43


vegetable oil (HVO), 

can be used in 

internal combustion 

engines, with 

relatively minor 

modifications, to 

lower emissions of 

carbon and other 

pollutants. However, 

their emission 

performance 

varies widely due 

to production 

methods and source 

materials. Other 

fuels for internal 

combustion engines 

include methanol 

and hydrogen-based 

diesel substitutes. 

Since there 

is a vast fleet of 

recreational vessels with internal 

combustion engines that cannot easily 

be replaced, synthetic drop-in fuels 

(often labelled ‘transition fuels’ as they 

are unlikely to be carbon zero) are likely 

to provide a valuable interim solution 

to the wider market in the near term. 

However, the ICOMIA report highlights 

that the life cycle emissions of the 

most carbon-efficient drop-in fuels can 

be lower than alternative propulsion 

systems with low usage, due to the 

emissions embodied in the mining and 

fabrication of the propulsion system 

itself. 

If you think that it is ‘too early to say’ 

or it ‘remains unclear’ which fuel will 

win the race to replace fossil fuels, you 

might be providing the right answer to 

the wrong question. There is already 

consensus that the industry will require 

an array of solutions to meet the wideranging 

needs of the customer and the 

medium-term landscape will require 

infrastructure to support an array of 

fuelling systems. 

Future-proofing 

infrastructure 

The challenge for the marina owner 

and operator is digesting this 

changing landscape and coming to 

informed business decisions on how 

to invest in assets whilst meeting 

customer expectations and achieving 

carbon emission targets (internal or 

regulatory). From an institutional and 

industry perspective, PIANC RecCom 

intends to create the conditions for 

marina adaptation so that marina 

facilities do not become a bottleneck 

in the decarbonisation process of the 

recreational navigation industry. 

The traditional fuel berth is the most 

obvious piece of infrastructure to 

review. It is highly likely that the berth 

will need to cater for the dispensing 

of an increased number of liquid fuel 

types. Synthetic drop-in liquid fuels, 

which can be stored in traditional tanks, 

are the most straightforward to adapt to, 

but a wider variety of fuel storage and 

dispensing systems may need to be 

available. 

Electric hook-ups at berths are 

commonplace to enable powering 

of vessels for ancillary purposes. In 

general, these power systems need to 

be upgraded for increased amperage 

in order to be used for slow charging of 

batteries (‘drip feed’ charging stations). 

Marinas may need to invest in new 

pedestals, wiring and transformers to 

provide slow-charging berths for some 

full electric and hybrid vessels across the 

marina. However, the challenge comes 

when significant numbers of boats are 

being charged at the same time, causing 

increased simultaneity requirements 

during peak charging demand periods 

or exceeding the total power demand on 

the marina electrical system. 

This problem of available electrical 

energy supply becomes increasingly 

more problematic where super-fast 

chargers are provided (anywhere 

between 7kW and 22kW) for electric 

boats, in addition to car chargers in the 

car park. The mix of super-fast chargers 

to drip charges should be assessed 

based on the customer mix, but also in 

the context of what the local power grid 

can support. 

The storage and delivery of hydrogen 

will require more complex systems for 

pressurised storage and dispensing. 

However, aside from capital investment 

in specialist equipment, operators 

also face a huge impact on space 

requirements. Larger fuel berths 

will be required, with associated 

landside storage and access space 

that will absorb commercial space. 

Infrastructure requirements for 

methanol may be less demanding than 

hydrogen, but there are still details to 

be worked out. 

New propulsion systems in the 

recreational navigation industry 

will require a mix of infrastructure 

adaptations in marinas. Different 

marinas will have to respond to different 

emerging demands, depending 

on vessel sizes, user profiles and 

environmental conditions. Significant 

investments will be required over 

time, so careful analysis and planning 

will be required. Whilst there are 

many questions to be answered, 

PIANC RecCom intends to lay out 

the fundamental principles with the 

working group 217 upcoming report 

and develop more detailed guidance as 

needed in the future. 

Ian Dobson, managing director of TILT 

Engineering Design, is a member of 

the PIANC Recreational Commission 

and is chair of the Working Group 

titled – The impact of Alternative 

Fuel Vessels on Marina Design 

and Management. Esteban Biondi, 

principal at Applied Technology & 

Management, is chair of the PIANC 

Recreational Commission. 


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EVENTS 

The Marina & Yard Pavilion (left) formed 

part of a busy Metstrade show (below). 

Metstrade remains 

essential anchor point 

The 35 th Metstrade in Amsterdam, the Netherlands (15 th -17 th November 2023) 

continued to uphold its pole position as the leisure marine industry’s essential 

anchor point event. Busy networking in the Marina & Yard Pavilion (MYP), and 

two well-attended vibrant Marina World sessions in the theatre, reinforced the 

value of the show for all associated with the marina and yard sector. 

Metstrade 2023 comprised 1,540 

exhibitors from 53 countries across 11 

halls at RAI Amsterdam. There were 

240 first-time exhibitors, and 18,630 

visitors spanning 130 nationalities. 

Croatia was the latest nation to 

launch a pavilion, bringing the total to 

29, and the sector-specific pavilions 

also increased, with the Foiling 

Technology Pavilion and Start-Up 

Pavilion joining the well-established 

Superyacht Pavilion, Construction 

Materials Pavilion and Marina & Yard 

Pavilion. 

Speaking after the show closed, 

Metstrade director Niels Klarenbeek 

emphasised: “It is an absolute privilege 

to have the heritage and strong bow 

wave of positive sentiment from 34 

editions behind us, but we take nothing 

for granted. Our team is committed to 

ensuring that Metstrade facilitates the 

connections and business required for 

a successful year ahead.” 

“Without the underpinning creativity 

and enterprise of the supply chain, 

we have no marine industry. Our 2023 

numbers are impressive but they don’t 

tell the whole story. We are particularly 

grateful to have received so much 

positive feedback about the quality of 

the interactions between our audience 

and exhibitors over an extremely busy 

three days,” he added. 

Pavilion networking 

Most Marina & Yard Pavilion 

exhibitors reported a steady 

level of visitors and good 

interest for the wide variety 

of products on display. David 

Bayé of Spanish power 

pedestal manufacturer Viltec, 

a first-time exhibitor, described 

the event as very productive. 

“Compared to other shows we 

usually attend, we think it was 

very well organised in many 

aspects and there was a large 

representation of the most 

important companies in the 

marina sector. The business 

contacts we made were 

numerous and of high quality.” 

Mark Coy of US-based 

dock float manufacturer 

Den Hartog, was equally 

satisfied. “Metstrade 2023 was another 

great success,” he said. “This is our 

eleventh year of exhibiting and the 

event provides us the opportunity to 

meet with new client prospects, existing 

clients, colleagues and friends. This 

year we were also able to meet our 

Japanese distributor Yachting World.” 

Marina World was delighted to host 

a Waterfront Drinks reception, which 

was well attended by marina owners, 

operators and MYP exhibitors. 

Looking to the future 

In the first of two Marina World 

discussion sessions in the Metstrade 

theatre, both expertly chaired by marina 

consultant Oscar Siches, attention was 

focused on ‘Marinas of the Future’. 

Siches was joined by Melanie Symes 

of marina consultancy Innovamarina 

and Patrick Lindley, CEO of Portuguese 

marina builder Grupo Lindley. The key 

issues of operational stumbling blocks, 

sustainability, and best use of data 

were amongst topics discussed. 

Siches on operations: “We should 

spend time teaching Government how 

to deal with marinas. Government 

has never understood marinas. There 

are exceptions but boating is still 

considered a sport for people with 

money. And we are probably the least 

polluting sport in the world, especially 

sailing.” 

Symes on sustainability: “I think 

we need to look outdoors – outside 


47

Marinas24 International 

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Monday 27 – Wednesday 29 May 2024 

60+ exhibitors 350+ delegates 

180+ businesses 

100+ marinas 

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EVENTS 

Oscar Siches (standing) with Patrick 

Lindley and Melanie Symes discuss 

marinas of the future. 

our comfort zone. We need to be 

proactive and we don’t have the innate 

knowledge so we are going to have to 

ask.” 

Lindley on building sustainably: 

“Part of our role is to help marina 

owners manage infrastructure more 

efficiently. We’ve been looking at 

materials and starting to measure 

carbon footprint and we are surprised 

by some new findings. The carbon 

footprint of concrete and aluminium, 

for example, are very similar and I’m 

getting data that tells me that tropical 

hardwood has the same carbon 

footprint as composites.” 

In terms of data usage, Symes 

pointed out the value of using data from 

diverse sources, e.g. oceanographic 

data, and Lindley emphasised that 

“data is measuring the path, not 

predicting the future.” 

The future of marinas in many 

parts of the world is also affected by 

concession terms – another reason 

for tightening up good relations with 

local councils and Government. Lindley 

emphasised that a path needs to be 

found that encourages investment in 

Franco Ceroici (left) and Oscar Siches 

fully engage the audience in highlighting 

blinkered views on diversity that rob us 

of the chance to enhance our lives and 

businesses. 

infrastructure in the end stages of a 

concession. 

Discussing diversity 

Franco Ceroici of Italian dockside 

equipment manufacturer Plus 

International joined Oscar Siches to 

discuss the merits of diversity within 

the marina workforce. Idan Cohen of 

Pick-a-Pier, scheduled as the third 

presenter, was unfortunately unable to 

travel from Israel due to the ongoing 

Middle East conflict. 

Siches, a well-travelled Argentine 

who has lived in Mallorca, Spain for 

many years, gave a fascinating slide 

presentation explaining the diversity 

issue: 

“It is estimated that 80-85% of our 

perception and learning are facilitated 

through our visual sense. Vision is 

important for many different skills 

including interacting with others, 

spotting danger or opportunities to 

play, eat, sleep, finding things we 

need, reading, writing etc.” But what 

we ‘see’ doesn’t give us the full picture. 

“A minority position [in society] often 

makes you ‘racialised’ before you’re 

allowed access to your ethnic identity. 

While in their home countries they were 

Moroccan or Jordanian or Algerian, 

they come to the EU – and they’re 

Arabs.” 

“Diversity recognises that people 

are unique and that each person is 

different in a visible and non-visible way. 

The qualifiers include race, nationality, 

religion, gender, sexual orientation, age 

and disability.” 

How can we embrace diversity? 

Current staff shortage might actually 

help. Ceroici, a Slovenian brought up 

in Italy, noted: “Diversity is very small 

in the European workforce, but now 

it’s harder to get staff, employees are 

coming in from other parts of the world.” 

But we need to ‘individualise’ rather 

than ‘generalise’ these new recruits. “It’s 

important to greet and acknowledge 

people; make them visible,” Siches 

emphasised. “We have a duty to reeducate 

– the cleaner and the CEO 

both go to the barbecue.” 

The problem with diversity is within 

companies. “Your marina is a mini 

America – different people and different 

cultures. We are permanently being 

judged by the community and they have 

more power than us. Gender, religion 

– everything enhances your marina,” 

Siches concluded. 


49

COMPANY UPDATE 

Keeping it in the family 

UK-based WISE Handling looks to the future with new managing director, Paul 

Illingworth, at the helm. Officially engaged in August 2023, he spent his first six 

months meeting customers, reviewing service policy and overseeing work on 

a variety of new orders. 

A retired colonel, 

Illingworth served for 35 

years in the British Army, 

graduating as an explosives 

engineer with the Royal 

Logistics Corps, and 

ending his army career in 

the General Staff as head 

of the Ministry of Defence 

department responsible for 

all procurement, training 

and safety for the UK’s 

Explosive Ordnance 

Disposal (EOD) and Search 

community. 

Paul Illingworth 

As an ‘Illingworth’ he was, however, 

perhaps destined to have a second 

challenging career. WISE, established 

in 1972, is an acronym of Watson, 

Illingworth & Sutcliffe Engineering 

and has always been owned and 

operated by this triumvirate ‘family’. 

Peter Illingworth, Paul’s father, used 

his schoolboy son for free labour to 

clean out the company van, Paul recalls 

whimsically, and whilst still at school 

he completed a project to design a 

boat cradle that WISE 

then put into production. 

He worked during school 

holidays in the drawing 

office supporting chief 

engineer Keith Tubman – 

but adventure in the army 

beckoned. 

As part of WISE 

succession planning, 

Illingworth was invited for 

interview in December 

2022 to replace Barrie 

Sutcliffe as managing 

director. He passed the 

test, but sadly was unable to benefit 

from the intended extended handover 

due to Sutcliffe’s untimely death last 

year. 

Looking back 

WISE started out manufacturing 

cantilever racks for the steel industry 

but, after just a year of operation, built 

and delivered its first marine hoist to 

Ridge Wharf Yachting. In 1977, the 

company clinched its first overseas 

order, for Vilamoura Marina in Portugal. 

A Wise hoist is integral to operations at 

Phuket Boat Lagoon in Thailand. 

In the 1970s and 80s, the marine 

business raced ahead of the racking 

business and became the company’s 

primary division, and over the next 

two decades the company expanded 

its manufacturing facilities in West 

Yorkshire where machining, shot 

blasting, fabrication, hydraulic 

assembly, painting and product testing 

are conducted. 

The portfolio 

WISE products cover a complete 

range of marine hoists, amphibious 

marine hoists, self-powered slipway 

hoists, tractor-towed trailer hoists, boat 

transporters and industrial hoists. Lift 

capacity varies by product from 10 to 

800 tonnes, with variable width and 

bespoke frame sizes available to order. 

Across the powered range it offers the 

latest Tier 5 diesel engines and battery 

power as a further option. Remote 

operation is via a Scanreco handset, 

linked into the hoist electronics pack to 

give remote diagnostic monitoring of 

functions. 

All designs incorporate durable 

components that are suited to harsh 

marine environments. Selected use 

is made of galvanising, bronze, 316 

stainless steel and other maintenancefree 

components. 



HMS Raleigh’s new SP25 self-powered 

slipway hoist delivered in December 2023. 

Talking to Paul 

Illingworth 

On company strengths: 

As a family owned and run 

organisation, there are distinct 

advantages regarding the governance 

of the business and the freedoms at 

the disposal of the directors and I have 

been amazed by the passion of the 

staff to support our customers. There is 

a huge amount of loyalty to the brand 

and that is borne out in examples of 

length of service of key members of 

staff, such as Malcolm Chapman who 

recently celebrated 50 years with WISE. 

The company is also fortunate to 

have some new young talent and this is 

a key focus area we are continuing to 

invest in, a recent example of which has 

been the appointment of a new service 

manager and a design apprentice. 

During the first month of my tenure, 

it was great to meet several of our 

customers during a tour of the south 

coast of England and northern Europe 

and gain operational feedback from the 

A W50 hoist for Vlaamse Yachthaven 

Nieuwpoort in Belgium undergoing 

function and factory load testing before 

despatch this month (January). 

coal face. My primary focus as the new 

WISE managing director is to ensure 

we continue to meet our customer 

requirements and deliver the highest 

standards of support. The technology 

employed in our new machines gives 

us the ability to remotely monitor 

performance and adjust settings, 

and we also have a wealth of data 

that we are beginning to exploit in 

support of effects based/preventative 

maintenance. 

We will, of course, be judged by our 

performance, but I am acutely aware of 

the impact to operational output when 

a key piece of machinery 

is off the road and am 

keen to work closely with 

our customers to mitigate 

such impacts. 

On export: 

As a UK manufacturer 

our home base is our 

strongest market, 

followed by Europe, 

the Middle East and 

Asia. China offers an 

interesting prospect 

upon which to build 

existing sales, and 

South America and 

Africa are new markets 

worth exploring. We 

have recently seen an 

increasing demand in 

the industrial sector 

with orders from Rolls 

Royce, Siemens and 

Urenco amongst others. 

This gives us a unique 

opportunity to reverse 

engineer technology 

Rear Admiral Asquith CB takes command 

of HMS Raleigh’s SP25 controls as VIP 

guest for the hoist commissioning day. 

employed in our bespoke industrial 

products into the marine range. 

On hybrid and electric: 

Personally, I have not witnessed a 

seismic shift from diesel power to 

hybrid/electric. The vast majority of 

enquiries in 2023 were for diesel and 

those who expressed an interest in 

hybrid/electric are nervous about the 

ability to sustain duty cycles in busy 

yards and the life/cost of a replacement 

battery. There is no doubt an underlying 

intent to transition to green energy. 

However, whereas the balance has 

tipped in the car industry, the boat 

handling market is still in the very early 

stages of transition. 


51

Suppliers & Services 

March 2024 – February 2025 

Add your company entry now at www.marinaworld.com 

Deadline for editorial entries 26th January 2024 

For advertising options: 

The Americas: pcritot@marinaworld.com 

Italy: nauta@ediconsult.com 

France: catherinemetais@marinaworld.com 

Rest of World: juliahallam@marinaworld.co.uk


On hoist trends: 

There is definitely a trend for larger 

capacity hoists. In analysing WISE 

repeat orders over the past 50 years, 

we have seen a 20% growth in capacity. 

This trend is also recognised in broader 

beams in particular market areas as 

boat owners switch to catamarans and 

demand grows in the crew transfer 

vessel market. The WISE variable width 

range offers customers the flexibility 

to cater for a broad span of boats and, 

coupled with an ability to operate on 

slipways, has the potential to reduce 

the infrastructure costs of building a 

wider dock. 

On materials and quality: 

As a UK manufacturer and member 

of Made in Britain we have a drive to 

source UK products where possible. 

Our experience of working with 

customers in the nuclear, aviation and 

defence sectors has given us a deep 

understanding of exacting quality 

control measures and traceability of 

steel and component parts. Steel is 

sourced from UK or EU mills and is 

subject to routine independent quality 

testing to assure certification. All WISE 

products come fully CE certified in 

accordance with BS EN 15011:2020 

‘Crane, bridge and gantry crane’ 

standards and the company 

operates to ISO 9000 Quality 

Management standards. 

Ongoing success 

Last year was a busy year for 

WISE, with the final quarter 

seeing deliveries of a trailer hoist 

to Emsworth Marina (UK), and 

three self-powered slipway hoists 

to Castlepoint Boatyard and FM 

Marina in the Republic of Ireland, 

and HMS Raleigh in Cornwall, 

UK. Factory load testing was 

successfully completed for a W50 

marine hoist due for dispatch to 

Vlaamse Yachthaven Nieuwpoort in 

Belgium this month (January) and a 

new BT25 boat transporter design is 

nearing completion for Lymington Yacht 

Haven, UK. 

Two further machines are also 

due for delivery early this year. First 

Left: A W320 hoist working at integrated 

marine services company Base Marine in 

Exmouth, Western Australia. Below: A 25 

tonne industrial hoist specifically built for 

Rolls Royce. 

is a W60 marine hoist for Premier 

Marina’s Chichester Marina in the 

south of England, and the second a 

W300 marine hoist for a Saudi Arabian 

customer. 

When asked what practical advice 

Illingworth would give to a yard 

manager looking to purchase a new 

piece of yard machinery, he says: 

“Talk to us. The process of buying a 

hoist can be a complicated one, and a 

large capital investment that needs to 

deliver to expectations. Getting the right 

specifications to meet the operational 

demands of the marina is vitally 

important and cannot be decided on 

without the right level of consultation.” 

If your chosen hoist proves to be 

the right choice, it’s a solid investment. 

Dickies Marine Services in the UK has 

recently bought a second WISE hoist 

to replace a WISE machine purchased 

in the early 1970s. Forty years of solid 

service represent the level of quality 

that Paul Illingworth values – “and we 

are looking forward to the next repeat 

order in 2064!” he smiles. 


53

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New transporter – 

fit for a Princess 

A brand new heavy-duty self-propelled HBC45M HF recently rolled out of the 

Roodberg factory in the Netherlands. 

The customised transporter, with a 

capacity of 45 tons, was built for Benny 

and Jessica Martinsson, owners of four 

Rental service 

boost in 

South Florida 

Port 32 Marinas, a leading owner, operator, 

developer and acquirer of a growing collection 

of marinas in Florida, has expanded boat rental 

services at its facilities in Tierra Verde, Naples, 

Cape Coral and Marco Island. 

The company’s fleet of newer and larger boats 

from trusted brand names is designed to suit busy 

families, frequent travellers and avid boaters. Each 

boat is outfitted with top-of-the-line technology and 

comfort amenities and is kept in optimal performing 

condition. Boaters can choose between half or full 

day rates. Pricing for a half day ranges from $275 to 

$399 and a full day from $350 to $525 depending on 

locations and boat type. 

“We are thrilled to expand our boat rental amenities 

at our southwest Florida marinas,” says CEO Austin 

Schell. “From beginners to seasoned boaters, we 

aim to create world-class boating experiences for the 

waterfront communities we serve.” 

Additionally, through its partnership with 

Gulfstream Boat Club, Port 32 offers boat rentals 

at its other Florida locations including Lighthouse 

Point Marina, Tierra Verde, Tampa and Palm Beach 

Gardens. 

Princess dealerships in Scandinavia 

and thus the third largest distributor for 

Princess Yachts. The couple already 

PRODUCTS & SERVICES 

owned around seven Roodberg 

products due to company take-overs 

and were thus familiar with the quality 

of the brand. 

The Martinssons discussed their 

need for a transporter with higher 

capacity, self-drive and remote control 

functions at Metstrade 2022. With the 

yachts getting ever bigger, adjustments 

were required in the way they are 

handled and, despite having sufficient 

manpower available, they both liked 

the idea of Benny being able to singlehandedly 

transport and stow a boat 

safely and in optimal condition from the 

boat crane to the storage hall. 

All work, from concept drawings, 

welding, coating, motorisation to 

automation took place in-house in a few 

months and the Princess dealers flew 

to the Netherlands to personally receive 

the new machine. A smiling Benny, 

with his hands-on mentality, was able 

to check and try out all the technical 

aspects and, after some last-minute 

adjustments, the HBC45M was on its 

way to Sweden by special transport in 

October 2023. 

www.roodberg.com 

Freedom adds two 

Sydney clubs 

Freedom Boat Club has opened two new locations on Australia’s 

Sydney Harbour: Freedom Boat Club Mosman Bay at Mosman Bay 

Marina and Freedom Boat Club Manly at North Harbour Marina. 

Both locations will be corporate-owned and add to Freedom’s 

growing Asia-Pacific business, which now has nine locations. 

“We are thrilled to be expanding 

our presence on Sydney Harbour 

by opening at these two iconic 

and unique marinas set within 

the heart of the local community,” 

said David Kurczewski, general 

manager shared services 

Asia-Pacific. “Both locations are 

highly sought-after and give our 

members additional opportunities 

to explore Sydney’s Waterways 

and provide truly local boating 

opportunities for more of the 

broader Sydney region.” 

“We’re inspired by the support 

from our marina partners as we 

expand the Freedom brand on 

Sydney Harbour and throughout 

Australia. We look forward to 

continuing to deliver remarkable 

member experiences and seeing 

our members create incredible 

memories on the water this 

season and beyond.” 

The new clubs, which opened 

in December 2023 for the 

peak of the Australian boating 

season, grant unique access to 

Sydney Harbour. Mosman Bay 

Marina is highly regarded as 

one of Sydney’s most desirable 

marinas enabling Freedom to 

offer its innovative boating model 

in the heart of Lower North 

Shore neighbourhoods. North 

Harbour Marina serves as the 

boating hub of Sydney’s famous 

Northern Beaches. 


55


Lithium battery fires on boats are now 

a frequent occurrence and can spread 

alarmingly quickly. 

Safe storage for 

lithium batteries 

Lithium battery fires on boats are not just a risk, they are a reality. Incidents 

causing the destruction of multiple yachts are now a weekly occurrence, 

according to iAqua Ocean Safety, manufacturers of the iAqua Lithium Safety 

Store, a product engineered to prevent these disasters. 

If marinas mandate the use of the 

Lithium Safety Store for all boats, this 

policy not only enhances the protection 

of individual vessels but safeguards 

the entire marina from the domino 

effect of spreading fires, setting a new 

benchmark in maritime safety. They 

can also tap into a profitable venture by 

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As lithium batteries age, they become 

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can form in their casings, allowing 

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creating a high risk of spontaneous 

and uncontrollable fires. Even new 

batteries aren’t immune, especially 

when charged with high-capacity, quick 

chargers provided by manufacturers to 

The Lithium Safety Store, available in different, stackable sizes, contains vulnerable batteries 

and any ensuing fire, and has early warning alarms and fire-suppression. 

shorten charging times. 

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Each store is built with a 1in 

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adds strength and enhances the 

appearance of the box. Thanks to its 

heat-blocking construction, the unit can 

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be relocated to an open area or, if 

necessary, discarded overboard. 

The stores are also equipped 

with early warning systems and 

fire-suppression and have a built-in 

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can thus be monitored from a distance 

to enhance safety. 

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Marconn pedestals installed at Port d’Aro 

in Spain (left) and at Horizon Marina in 

France (below). 

Eco pedestals 

promoted for export 

Spanish company Viltec further promoted its Marconn power pedestal range at 

Metstrade last November. Launched in 2018, and the recent recipient of some 

first prize awards for sustainability, innovation and emerging technology, the 

product is marketed as 100% sustainable – for a variety of reasons. 

Marconn is ‘eco intelligent’; improving 

efficiency and control of power 

and water consumption to promote 

environmental awareness among 

users. Key features 

include: centralised 

access control and 

connection from 

the marina office; 

easy maintenance 

with 360° technical 

access; grounddirected 

perimeter 

LED lighting; 

individual water 

and electricity 

meters and antitheft 

system; 

warning to the 

user of excessive 

consumption and 

disconnections; 

and monthly bill 

payment or pre-pay 

bill via an app. 

Each pedestal 

can service up to 

ten users and the 

Marconn platform 

has app and web 

for multiple customers. A remote control 

and management system is also 

offered. Wi-Fi connection points are 

incorporated in all units. 

But perhaps the most striking 

feature is the sustainable and reusable 

pedestal housing (two pedestals in 

each of two categories – Urban and 

Oceanic). The Oceanic pedestals 

either incorporate recycled fishing nets 

or bottle caps reclaimed from land 

and sea. Over 580,000 of the latter, 

equivalent to 1.5 tons of recycled 

materials have been used to date. The 

shells are made of polyethylene, which 

is non-toxic, does not chip, crack or 

absorb water, and resists impact and 

solar rays. Mass colour guarantees that 

the pedestal colour will not fade. 

Thanks to their design, supply intakes 

can be positioned to suit customer 

requirements and operators can also 

select the type of socket used. Logos 

or images can be incorporated in the 

casing and the top door, as well as the 

registration doors, which offer ample 

space for lettering or advertising. Any 

other functional information, such 

as mooring numbers, can also be 

incorporated. 

Real-time management comes 

via a cloud-based intuitive, multiplatform 

web application and users 

can download the Marconn app for full 

control of their utilities’ usage. 

Pedestals can be customised to suit 

any environment. In the 

BeCharter Cambrils 

project in Tarragona, 

for example, a pedestal 

was manufactured for 

wall-mounting. 

Viltec looks after 

customers by offering 

regular maintenance 

and swift spare parts 

supply, and looks 

after the environment 

by planting a tree 

for every pedestal 

it installs. Marconn 

pedestals, fully 

available for export, 

have been tried and 

tested in several 

Spanish marinas 

including Port d’Aro 

(Girona); Port Ginesta 

(Castelldefels); 

and Port Forum 

(Barcelona). 

www.viltec.net 


BOOK YOUR 

STAND AT EARLY 

BIRD RATES 

BEFORE 

1 MARCH! 

FIRST PORT OF 

CALL FOR MARINA 

PROFESSIONALS 

The Marina & Yard Pavilion is a specialised pavilion at the METSTRADE Show; 

the world’s largest marine equipment trade show. The MYP has been showcasing 

marina specific equipment for over a decade, ranging from pontoon and boat 

mooring systems to safety equipment and dock fenders. As the marina industry 

hot spot at the METSTRADE Show, this is where you meet marina professionals 

from around the world. 

19 20 21 

NOVEMBER 2024 

RAI AMSTERDAM 

MARINA & YARD 

PAVILION 

METSTRADE 

Marina World official media partner 

METSTRADE FEATURES 

ORGANISED BY 

POWERED BY 

MEMBER OF 

OFFICIAL 

CATALOGUE 

PARTNER


Installing the Man Overboard alarm on 

its orange pole (left) and the completed 

project (below). 

Man Overboard alarm 

readies for export 

The Man Overboard Marina Alarm System, designed by Melbourne-based Paul 

Williams, was developed in prototype form in 2018. 

In 2019, Williams partnered with fellow Australian 

manufacturer, DEK Technologies, to deliver a high 

tech alarm system with an intuitive user interface. 

Now, having 

undergone 18 month 

tests at Royal Melbourne 

Yacht Squadron 

(Australia) – where it 

has already saved a 

life – and Westhaven 

Marina (Auckland, New 

Zealand), the system 

is ready to go into full 

commercial production. 

The concept is a 

deceptively simple 

solution for marina 

owners and operators to 

mitigate risk if someone 

falls into the water from 

the dock or a berthed 

boat. The person in 

distress pulls on a rope 

(pull switch) that runs 

underneath the whole 

length of the dock edge. 

This activates an audible 

alarm and strobe light 

that alerts anyone 

nearby, and sends a signal to the base 

station. 

Immediate texts and emails are then 

sent out to up to six people that the 

marina has pre-programmed into the 

system, along with cascading phone 

calls. If no one is available, emergency 

services are contacted. 

The system is completely wireless 

and powered by renewable energy, and 

has a ‘heartbeat’ that signals every hour 

to reassure the monitors that the alarm 

is live. 

Williams, who was actively 

discussing the concept at Metstrade 

last November, cautiously eyes 

export opportunities. “I believe we are 

ready to go global,” he tells Marina 

World. “[However], this is a technical 

system that requires a fair amount of 

installation work and pre-programming 

from a technical end. As our technology 

evolves, hopefully so will the ease of 

installation.” 

www.manoverboard.net.au 

The Superior Jet Ski Dock - Stylish & Practical 

Container friendly for worldwide shipping 

+61 7 5594 8200 | info@superiorjetties.com 

www.superiorjetties.com 



Smart Marinas guide… 

The International Council of Marine Industry Associations (ICOMIA) Marinas 

Group (IMG) has produced a Smart Marinas Guide. Produced by IMG members 

to assist marinas in navigating digital transformation, it looks at the future of 

marinas, why the move to digital matters, why everyone is talking about it, and 

what marinas can start doing now to prepare. 

Martinho Fortunato of IMG said: 

The Smart Marinas Programme was 

first introduced to IMG in October 

2019 in light of a pressing need for 

the marina industry to respond to 

technological developments, such as 

digital transformation processes that 

enhance efficiency and seamless user 

experiences across the transportation 

and hospitality industries.” 

“We realised that there is clearly 

…and 2022 

industry statistics 

considerable scope for ICOMIA to 

assume a global role in developing 

programmes on crucial marina-related 

issues, such as interconnection, data 

collection and sustainability.” 

The document aims to kick off the 

process for future work needed in 

terms of regulation, policy making and 

development of best practices, outlining 

the vision and defining some basic 

terms. 

ICOMIA has also released the latest edition of its Recreational Boating 

Industry Statistics, a much-valued reference document that offers a wealth of 

industry intelligence. 

The report indicates that throughout 

2022 boat sales were still elevated 

despite fiscal pressure from inflationary 

increases. Demand for new boats 

continued to outweigh supply. 

Recruitment and retention of staff 

in all areas of the industry remained 

sluggish, with both large and small 

companies considering workforce 

challenges to be a significant concern. 

A wider emergence of alternative 

boat propulsion technologies was 

reported, as was an increased shift 

towards charter, boat rental and boat 

sharing opportunities, particularly 

among younger boaters. 

Highlights include: 

• 2023 global data snapshot and a 

comprehensive market overview 

• Detailed national reports from 25 

countries 

• Global summaries of key product 

segments 

• Import/export data for the 

international boat trade 

• Marine engine statistics from 

ICOMIA’s Marine Engine Committee 

• International boat show statistics 

• The Superyacht Group’s annual 

report 

• Industry articles selected by IBI 

magazine 

• Raw-data spreadsheets 

The IMG Smart Marinas Guide can 

be downloaded free of charge, and the 

Statistics Report is priced at €880 (50% 

discount to ICOMIA members). 

www.icomia.org 

Dura adds 

smaller size 

mesh 

UK-based GRP marine products 

supplier Dura Composites has 

added a new 30mm Mini Mesh 

product to its d² GRP grating range. 

Available in popular and efficient 

panel sizes of 3007 x 1027 and 4027 x 

1267mm, the 30mm product comes in 

green, grey, dark grey and sand colours 

to suit a wide range of environments. 

As with the entire Mini Mesh range, 

the 13mm open hole size meets 

requirements of the European Ball Fall 

tests, and it still maintains a 900mm 

span on 1.5Kn point load at L/100. 

d², a patented GRP grating series 

designed, developed and available 

exclusively from Dura Composites, is 

known for safety, strength and swift 

installation. It has advanced anti-slip 

properties and is anti-corrosive making 

it ideally suited to harsh maritime 

conditions. Its composition has been 

safety tested to over one million 

footfalls. 

Dura Composites claims that, as well 

as its small hole size, safety features 

and impressive strength-to-weight 

ratio, 30mm Mini Mesh uses 17.33% 

less embodied carbon than the 30mm 

grating available elsewhere in the 

industry, making it a sustainable choice. 

A 30mm Mini Mesh product was 

available as part of an earlier grating 

range several years ago but now, as 

part of the d² range, it has been designengineered 

for maximum performance 

and efficiency. 

www.duracomposites.com 



Storm protection in Quincy Bay 

Safe Harbor Marina Bay in Quincy 

Bay, seven miles south of Boston, 

Massachusetts, now benefits from 

an SF Marina floating concrete 

breakwater system. 

Marina Bay’s west basin has a long 

history of recurring storm damage and 

the new breakwater is engineered to 

overcome extreme weather events. It 

not only protects the marina’s floating 

timber docks and fingers from the area’s 

numerous seasonal storms, but also 

reduces costly repairs. 

Steel-reinforced and virtually 

unsinkable, each of the 14 Type-400 

SF Marina pontoons used in the project 

has a buoyancy rating of approximately 

102.4 psf yet offers exceptional stability. 

An exclusive coupling system absorbs 

and distributes stress loads. The 

pontoons are anchored on 30in (76cm) 

steel piles. 

Designed in an L shape, the 

attenuator is 722ft (220m) long x 

13ft (4m) wide on the west basin. 

Doubling as docking space for transient 

megayachts, it has electric and water 

supplies routed through integrated 

utility ducts. A second smaller section 

extends from the marina’s rubble mound 

breakwater to overlap the larger portion 

and protect the harbour mouth. Each of 

the 21 pontoons is secured with a pair of 

30in (76cm) steel piles. 

Whether cruising the Boston skyline, 

fishing for flounder or exploring the 

many small islands in the area, both 

local and visiting boat owners find Safe 

Harbor Marina Bay ideally situated. It 

can accommodate vessels with drafts up 

to 12ft (3.6m) and up to 150ft (46m) long 

without beam restrictions. The marina 

hosts four restaurants and a short stroll 

along the Nantucket-style boardwalk 

provides access to an extensive range 

of shoreside amenities and communitycentric 

activities. 

www.sfmarinausa.com 

The choice of professionals 

www.roodberg.com 

The Original 


63


Extra berths at 

The Boat Works 

A Stage 5 expansion of additional sheds and hardstand at The Boat 

Works on the Australian Gold Coast has been completed in time for the 

new season. 

The next phase will comprise work 

on the waterfront, which includes 

new marina berths at a Super 

Elite concrete pontoon system 

manufactured and installed by 

Superior Jetties. 

Andy Vollmer, Superior Jetties 

project manager, outlined the work: 

“We have added nearly 300 linear 

metres [980ft] of new berthing, and 

we have given the rest of the marina 

a subtle facelift with new pile caps 

for a refresh and to help incoming 

captains and owners identify marina 

arms by colour as they approach,” 

he explained. 

All in-water service berths are 

reinforced with ProFender premium 

dock protection for the safety of 

every vessel. 

The Boat Works’ owner, Tony 

Longhurst, said the new sheds 

and hardstand, teamed with the 

18 new berths, will be immediately 

snapped up by visiting boats. “There 

is a huge demand to accommodate 

more boats undercover and our 70 

sheds have reached capacity,” he 

confirmed. “We are proud to offer 

new opportunities for growth for 

all our marine service providers 

and partners within our two worldclass 

yards. Their success in turn 

enhances our operational efficiency.” 

The Boat Works marina boasts 

full-service berths for vessels of 

all sizes, including wide-bodied 

multihulls of any beam. It welcomes 

up to 30 superyachts to 65m (213ft) 

in length, with the benefit of extra 

wide pontoons for in-water service 

works and provisioning. Superior 

Jetties also installed 50 superyacht 

berths in the superyacht basin just 

three years ago. 

Gold Coast Waterways Authority 

(GCWA) has committed to continual 

dredging works within the Coomera 

River to ensure a 3.5m (11ft 6in) 

depth at low tide. 

The Longhurst family is investing 

heavily in infrastructure ahead of a 

predicted influx of yachts in the lead 

up to the 2032 Olympic Games and 

the rising demand for berths 20m 

(66ft) and above. 

“The Boat Works is an accredited 

Superyacht Ready marina and holds 

5 Gold Anchor certification,” stated 

general manager, Shane Subichin. 

“We have evolved to provide two 

world class boatyards – marina and 

superyacht yards, with high-end 

facilities and new lifting equipment, 

while maintaining our focus on 

customer service,” he added. 

www.superiorjetties.com 

Pacsoft 

launches 

MarinaPay 

Marine software provider Pacsoft has 

launched a new payments platform for 

marina and boatyard operators that takes 

the pain out of managing credit card 

transactions for berth rentals, fuel and 

the myriad of other products and services 

most operators sell on site. 

Pacsoft general manager, Sean Cocks, 

says the new MarinaPay platform is 

seamlessly integrated with PacsoftNG marina 

management software and its online customer 

portal, making it easy for businesses to make 

the shift. 

“We wanted to create a bespoke payment 

solution for the marina and boatyard industry 

that solved some of the issues often thrown 

up by more generalist payment offerings,” he 

notes. “MarinaPay is an end-to-end payment 

service, so you’re 

only dealing with 

one company, and 

it includes timesaving 

features 

like bulk invoicing 

to automate 

recurring 

payments, such 

as monthly berth 

rental invoices and 

integrated token 

generation.” 

MarinaPay offers competitive rates and can 

be set up to process both online payments 

and those made via on-site payment terminals. 

It is currently available in New Zealand and 

Australia and will be offered in Canada, the 

USA and the UK in coming months. 

“We’ve had some fantastic feedback from 

users of our software who have taken the leap 

and come on board with MarinaPay. They can 

now take payments from customers using our 

mobile-friendly customer portal, which comes 

complimentary with MarinaPay subscription,” 

Cocks continues. 

The customer portal is a PacsoftNG add-on 

that makes it simple for marina customers 

to log in from anywhere, via any device, to 

update their personal and vessel information, 

upload documentation, make payments 

online, and digitally sign agreements. 

www.pacsoftmms.com 



Port Vell launches bunkering service 

Marina Port Vell in Barcelona has launched a new pipeline fuel supply service that allows for a more efficient and flexible 

service to clients moored at the marina. 

The fuel system, part of the 

marina’s ongoing investment plan, 

aims to reduce environmental 

contamination risks while 

enhancing safety, allowing 

refuelling without the need to 

move to a loading dock or petrol 

station. 

A 510m (1,670ft) pipeline 

distribution network has been 

installed to supply fuel directly 

at mooring points via a pumping 

system. Between 400 and 450 

litres can be loaded per minute, 

meaning that a 1,000 litre 

capacity tank onboard a 60m 

(197ft) superyacht can be filled 

in four hours as opposed to the 

eight hours expected via a conventional 

pump. 

Breaking ground 

on the future 

US-based Brownell Boat Stands & Equipment celebrates its 70 th year in 2024. 

In a timely nod to recent growth, the company has broken ground on a new US 

manufacturing facility and signed a new, exciting partnership with P&D Marine 

Services in the UK. 

At almost 50,000ft² (4,645m²), the 

new manufacturing facility, located in 

Dartmouth, Massachusetts is 10% 

larger than Brownell’s current factory, 

which has served the company for all 

of its seven decades of business. Not 

too far from the current facility, the site 

will provide for an easy transition for 

existing, experienced staff. 

Set for a January 2025 opening, 

the new facility is designed for a 

more natural flow in the production 

process allowing Brownell to expedite 

workflow, improve efficiency, maintain 

the company’s high quality standards, 

and provide even better value to its 

customers. With these improvements, 

the new facility is planned to serve 

Brownell well for the next 70 years. 

Signing a deal with its first-ever 

distributor in the UK represents an 

exciting expansion into a new market. 

P&D Marine Services will give Brownell 

The marina reached an agreement 

with Termopetroli, a leading company 

its first significant presence in the UK, 

and reflects the ever-increasing global 

footprint of the company. P&D has 

a storied past almost as long as the 

Brownell brand, with over 50 years in 

the industry. 

“These are some huge steps that 

we’ve been taking recently and we 

couldn’t be more excited for the future 

growth that awaits us here at Brownell,” 

said Peter Hughes, vice president 

sales and marketing. “Throughout our 

history as a company, we’ve maintained 

the highest quality standards – we’ve 

never had a recall, never had a failure, 

not once in seven decades in the 

industry. These thrilling new ventures 

will simply serve to boost our companywide 

commitment to be and produce 

the absolute best of the best that our 

industry has to offer.” 

www.boatstands.com 

in the supply of fuels and lubricants for 

superyachts to provide the service. 

New agent 

for Capria 

Argentina-based stacker machinery 

expert Capria has expanded its 

operations in North America by 

appointing Simone Structures as its 

newest sales and technical service 

representative. 

Simone Structures recently completed 

the installation of an eight ton Capria 

top-running stacker crane at Aqua 

Waterfront Village, a lakeside community 

in Kelowna, BC, Canada (see Marina 

World November/December 2023). 

“Working with Jamie Sheaff and his 

team went exceptionally smoothly,” said 

Monica Capria, marketing and business 

development. “Their supportive project 

management was great, but they also 

had the technical knowledge to get the 

crane up and running smoothly without 

issue. This resulting partnership just 

makes sense.” 

Covering the Canadian Pacific 

northwest, Simone Structures has 

extensive experience with cranes and 

heavy industrial equipment. The company 

comprises a team of highly qualified 

engineers, technicians, operations and 

sales personnel. 

www.thestackermachinery.com 


65


Index to Advertisers 

AMI Conference & 

Expo, USA 20 

ASAR, USA 45 

Aqua superPower, UK 54 

Bellingham Marine, USA 7, 9 & 11 

Bluewater Marine 

& Dock, USA 54 

Boat Lift, Italy 10 

Capria, Argentina 26 

Conolift by Kropf Industrial, 

Canada 22 

D-Marin, Greece 29 

Den Hartog Industries, USA 46 

Eagle Floats by 

Hendren Plastics, USA 61 

Flovac, Spain 67 

GH Cranes 

& Components, Spain 20 

Gigieffe, Italy 46 

Golden Manufacturing, 

USA 14 & 15 

Ingemar, Italy 12 

Inmare, Italy 53 

Lindley, Portugal 36 

Livart, China 48 

Marex, Croatia 26 

Marina Master by IRM, 

Slovenia 54 

Marina Projects, UK 68 

MARINAGo by 

Scribble Software, USA 18 

Marinas24, Australia 48 

Marine Travelift, USA 57 

Marinetek, Finland 4 

Martini Marinas, Italy 42 

METSTRADE, Netherlands 59 

Molo, USA 38 

PierPump by Vogelsang, 

Germany 8 

Plus International, Italy 32 

Poralu Marine, France 35 

Ronautica, Spain 40 

Roodberg - a brand of Frisian 

Industries, Netherlands 63 

SF Marina System, Sweden 2 

Seaflex, Sweden 6 

Seijsener, Netherlands 36 

Sunwalk Docks, USA 42 

Superior Group, Australia 60 

Twinwood by Soprefa, Portugal 38 

Walcon Marine, UK 32 

Water Witch, UK 26 

Waterfront innovations 

in Canada 

Poralu Marine has created a natural swimming pool within a protected 

environment in Ottawa, Canada (below). A world-first project for the company, 

the pool offers 1,000m² (10,800ft²) of aquatic space for local residents. 

Located on a riverbank, the pool 

has no energy or water treatment 

requirements and is 

very cost-effective 

to run. It offers all 

the comforts of 

a traditional pool 

(swimming lanes, 

underwater steps, 

ladders, floating 

islands etc) and is 

formed of platforms 

along the bank and 

projecting into the 

river. 

The project 

is one of two 

recently completed 

examples of the 

company’s innovative design approach 

to sustainable waterfront development 

in Canada. The second project, a 300m 

(980ft) long promenade (top), connects 

land and water at Bondar Marina in 

Sault-Sainte-Marie. It links the marina 

directly with the city hall and was a real 

technical challenge, with anchoring 

onto riprap. 

“Our aim is to help cities think 

about urban design in a different 

and innovative way. The new leisure 

infrastructures we’ve created in 

Canada protect the environment. 

They also allow local governments to 

enhance their appeal and give their 

residents unique spaces where they 

can enjoy nature to the fullest,” said 

Quentin Bresson, manager of Poralu 

Marine’s waterfront development 

business unit. 

www.poralu.com 


THE SMART 

GREEN 

FUTURE OF 

SEWAGE 

COLLECTION 

Vacuum sewerage systems are ideal for use 

in marinas and ports of any size. 

The Flovac system can capture sewage and 

bilge water from boats and all facilities 

around the marina complex. 

No electrical power required at dockside 

Discreet, small diameter pipework 

No risk of water contamination 

Validates MARPOL certification 

Eco-sustainable system 

Ease of installation 

No odour, no spills 

www.flovac.es

SETTING THE WORLD 

STANDARD IN MARINA DESIGN 

CONCEPT DESIGN & MARINA MASTER PLANNING 

FEASIBILITY STUDIES & MARKET RESEARCH 

BUSINESS PLANNING 

MARINA & WATERFRONT DESIGN 

TENDER AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT 

MARINA OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT 

ENVIRONMENTAL & LEGISLATIVE ADVICE 

PROPERTY CONSULTANCY SERVICES 

GLOBAL WATERFRONT & MARINA DEVELOPMENT 

CONSULTANCY AT ITS BEST 

www.marinaprojects.com

2024 January/February Marina World

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