2024 March/April Marina World

SUPERYACHT FACILITIES
and maintain their vessels while in
the region. “The goal is to reduce the
need for yachts to have to relocate to
Europe or the US to go to traditional
shipyards,” Deher explains. “Over the
next ten years, we see growth in the
entire yachting industry and we believe
St Maarten is well suited to continue to
be a leader in the yachting industry in
the Caribbean.”
Current facilities
Today, the marina boasts 12 megayacht
slips – eight of which are capable
of accommodating yachts in excess
of 100m (328ft) – and can also
accommodate more than 20 boats
under 25m (82ft). Dock Maarten’s
robust structure enables it to offer
extensive shipyard services to its
clients, including the accommodation
of 100-ton cranes or larger on either
side of a newly built cofferdam that
allows two 100m+ vessels to moor
up alongside.
“The cofferdam is wide enough
to accommodate cranes and
scaffolding on both sides and
still leave enough room for fuel
trucks and other service vehicles
to access the yachts,” Deher says.
“This represents a significant
enhancement in the marina’s
(and the region’s) capabilities and
offerings.” Additional side-to and
med-moor slips will be added in the
next two years, doubling the available
capacity.
The entire property is reclaimed
land, with the dredged sand used to
backfill behind the sheet pile bulkhead
and between the cofferdam, creating
over four acres of property that will
be dedicated to providing additional
megayacht services and amenities for
guests and crew.
Its location in an
open bay means the
marina is affected
by hurricanes, and
vessels are required
to leave in the
event of inclement
weather even
though the marina
infrastructure is
specifically designed
Brian Deher: “We see tremendous growth
year over year in the yachting industry in
general and we believe that the northeast
Caribbean will continue to be a hub for
charter activity in the winter months.”
for hurricanes. For example, the marina
opted not to install floating docks and
instead custom built its docks from
concrete, on steel pipe piles filled
with fortified concrete and rebar. The
bulkhead is built on top of 12m (39ft)
long sheet piles driven to refusal and
tied back to 6m (20ft) tieback walls.
“In the case of the cofferdam, the 12m
sheet piles are tied to each other with
threaded tie rods. We designed our
own concrete pedestals that have
meters, switchgear and transformers
in a transformer room that is well
protected from any potential swells, so
only the breakers and connection points
are located out on the docks,” Deher
explains.
Crew amenities
Dock Maarten is a full service facility
that also serves as a destination,
complementing other world-class
marinas on the island.
It is located along the boardwalk
between St Maarten’s cruise facility
and the town of Philipsburg – the
capital of Dutch St Maarten and one
The impressive cofferdam significantly
enhances megayacht mooring
opportunities in the region.
www.marinaworld.com – March/April 2024
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