Marina World January February 2025
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World
January/February 2025
Issue 147
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
Marina
World
January/Febuary 2025 Vol. 25, No. 3
16
34
37
CONTENTS
World News 7
Global Review 2024 16
Charlotte Niemiec collates news highlights from
the 2024 editions of Marina World and Mooring
Post
Marina Groups 25
Mel Symes talks to Dominic Zammit about the
rationale behind boatfolk
Events 31
The Metstrade 2024 team put together the
best-attended event to date and now plans
expansion for 2025
Marina Developments 34
The new Porto Carlo Riva Marina in Rapallo,
Italy offers five-star luxury. Donatella Zucca
reports
Market Update 37
Vladislav Vorotnikov assesses marina industry
development in Poland
Environmental Products & Initiatives 43
Launching Wearth Group; real-time spill
detection; restoring seagrass meadows; and
sustainability at Coral Sea Marina
Buying & Selling Marinas 57
Products, Services & People 62
On the cover: Surrounded by
cafés, restaurants and plenty of
urban bustle in a historic Victorian
setting, Portishead Marina in Bristol,
England is one of 11 marinas around
the UK in the boatfolk portfolio. Read
more on p. 25
www.marinaworld.com – January/February 2025
3
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Views expressed by individual contributors in this issue
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Plastic peril
FROM THE EDITOR
Projects and equipment explored in the
Environmental Products & Initiatives feature in this
issue naturally point to preservation and protection
of water quality. Our planet is nothing without its
oceans, and there is no question that human activity
is seriously threatening our seas.
Ocean pollution is caused by many things, including plastic waste; 80% of which
likely enters the ocean via rivers and coastlines and comprises, most particularly,
plastic food wrappings, bags, bottles and disposable razors. The effect on the ocean
ecosystem is devastating.
It is estimated that there are 77 to 199 million tons of plastic waste in our oceans,
and nearly 15 million tons of plastic enters the marine environment every year. By
2050, plastic will likely outweigh all fish in the sea (1) .
Almost 1,000 species of marine animals are impacted by ocean pollution (17% of
which are already under threat), and over 500 locations are recorded as dead zones
where marine life cannot even exist. The total area covered by these zones is around
245,000km² (95,000mi²); the approximate surface area of the United Kingdom. If the
current trend continues, ocean plastic pollution will triple over 40 years (1) .
One of the most alarming statistics, however, is that only 1% of marine litter
floats; everything else sinks to the seabed. Hold this thought in your head when
you envisage the world’s five floating garbage sites (known as plastic accumulation
zones) where you can contemplate seemingly endless islands of very visible floating
plastic, all of which forms part of just 1%...
The best known site, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP) – located between
Hawaii and California, holds the largest accumulation of ocean plastic in the world.
The GPGP covers an estimated surface area of 1,600,000km² (618,000mi²) – twice
the size of Texas or three times the size of France (2) .
The vast majority of plastic in the GPGP is rigid or hard polyethylene or
polypropylene or derelict fishing gear, especially nets and ropes. But findings of a
study, reported in Environmental Research Letter (3) November 2024 and based on
The Ocean Cleanup’s systematic surveys of the GPGP between 2015 and 2022,
have revealed that the number of centimetre sized plastic fragments is increasing
faster than larger floating plastics, with a five-fold increase measured over seven
years. Researchers hypothesise that these fragments are likely new to the region.
Laurent Lebreton, lead author of the paper, said: “The exponential rise in plastic
fragments…is a direct consequence of decades of inadequate plastic waste
management. Our findings should serve as an urgent call to action for lawmakers
engaged in negotiating a global treaty to end plastic pollution. Now, more than ever,
decisive and unified global intervention is essential.”
The researchers emphasise that, while countries are prioritising upstream plastic
pollution prevention, the interception and removal of already present plastics from
the global marine environment is essential to urgently mitigate the generation of
increasingly smaller plastic fragments in the ocean for decades to come.
Plastic is a very valuable material that has transformed and safeguarded our lives
in many ways. But it is time to look at this at source; buying wisely, reusing when
possible, and opting for true recyclables.
Carol Fulford
Editor
Sources: 1. Our World in Data 2. theoceancleanup.org 3. iopscience.iop.org
Meet the Marina World team
28th-30th January on booth 821
at AMI Conference & Expo,
Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
www.marinaworld.com – January/February 2025
5
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THE MOORING SYSTEM
WORLD NEWS
Jeddah Marina
receives operator licence
SAUDI ARABIA: Jeddah Yacht Club and Marina, owned by Public Investment
Fund company Sela, has become the first international marina in the country
to be issued with a marina operator licence by The Saudi Red Sea Authority
(SRSA).
The move followed the award of two
licences in the cities of Yanbu and Al-
Lith to Al-Ahlam Marine.
The licensing programme is part of
SRSA’s mission to advance the coastal
tourism sector by creating an attractive
environment for tourists, investors and
marina operators in the Red Sea region.
Licences and permits establish specific
guidelines, rules and standards for
marinas, including their development,
management and operation.
Poralu Marine
launches Wearth Group
FRANCE: The diverse activities and brands that fall within the Poralu Marine
umbrella have been consolidated under the new name Wearth Group. A
contraction of water and earth but also ‘we are earth’, the new entity unifies
all business activities and brands, which will continue to operate in their
respective markets.
With 40 years of experience, 15,000
projects worldwide, two production
sites (France and Canada) and
13 companies, Poralu Marine has
undergone strong and continuous
growth since it was founded in 1984.
The company has diversified its
expertise as its historic market of
harbours and marinas has changed all
over the world.
Mooring Post
Highlights from
December/January:
• UK: MDL Marinas plans £13.6
million investment
• USA: Major Broadwater Marina
investment on Mississippi Gulf
Coast
• AUSTRALIA: Sydney Super Yacht
Marina celebrates 25 years
• USA: Marine Group Boat Works
secures Foreign Trade Zone status
Don’t miss the
Mooring Post
newsfeed and
early access to
Marina World
online:
www.marinaworld.com/signup
“We’ve grown to the point of
becoming a group. We’ve now made
that group a reality,” explains Group
CEO Laurent Gasiglia. “Our market
presence is reflected in a new identity,
driven by a pledge that will expand its
impact far beyond its current horizons.”
Wearth Group comprises:
internationally renowned marina builder
Poralu Marine; dedicated harbour and
marina management specialist MM&C;
marine product marketplace All Nautica;
rotomoulded components specialist
Rotax Marine; aluminium bridge expert
Poralu Bridge; The Searial Cleaners
marina waste specialists; Waterfront
Development, designer and provider
of floating infrastructure, buildings and
homes; and the autonomous planter
manufacturer BioPratic.
The group is structured into three
divisions: Wearth Marine, Wearth Land
and Wearth Energy.
“Wearth Group reflects a vision
in which industry doesn’t just act
as a driver of economic growth but
also as a tool for positive social and
environmental change,” says Gasiglia.
“Our ambition is clear: to embark on a
wonderful human and entrepreneurial
adventure to help our regions develop,
wherever they may be, from the water
to the land.”
www.marinaworld.com – January/February 2025
7
QUICK AND
CLEAN
WASTEWATER
DISPOSAL
PierPump - hassle-free disposal of waste water and bilge water
from boats and yachts
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
water system.
More information at:
vogelsang.info/int/pierpump-2024
VOGELSANG LEADING IN TECHNOLOGY
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WORLD NEWS
Half Moon Bay Marina
Half Moon Bay Marina, winner of the NZMOA Awards for 2024 and (inset) Chris Galbraith,
chair of NZMOA.
Survey reveals vital
economic contribution
NEW ZEALAND: The first-ever Health of the New Zealand Marina Industry
Survey has revealed an annual revenue of $153 million, supporting more than
470 people in jobs – and a contribution of around half a billion dollars to the
nation’s economy.
Forty marinas took part in the
survey, which was conducted in
2023 for the New Zealand Marina
Operator’s Association (NZMOA) by a
specialist department at Michigan State
University in the USA.
Value to the wider economy is,
however, seen as much further
reaching. “Marinas and boatyards are
hubs of employment and industry,” says
NZMOA chair Chris Galbraith, who
is general manager of Bay of Islands
Marina. “Boat owners need a wide
range of maintenance services, and in
some cases, we attract large amounts
of international boats that come to New
Zealand for pleasure, maintenance and
refit – also making it part of our export
economy.”
By way of example, Bay of Islands
Marina with 420 berths has 28 tenant
businesses, including marine trades,
cafés, retail outlets and boat sales.
The precinct around Westhaven
Marina alone, which is the largest in
the Southern Hemisphere, has 2,000
contractors, including boat builders,
yacht brokers and marine electricians
registered on its database, and Nelson
Marina’s masterplan predicts it will be
home to 40 businesses by 2027. In
total, the industry’s marinas support
more than 300 small businesses.
Individual marinas each engage more
than 63 contractors annually for a wide
range of services.
The industry is also responding to
the global desire for environmental
sustainability and 17 marinas have
now joined the New Zealand Clean
Marinas programme. Older marinas
are making substantial investments to
improve their impact on water quality,
and new marinas – like Waiheke
Marina – are designed to meet
the stringent requirements of their
Resource Consents, with environmental
sensitivity as a priority. The average
capital investment in environmental
protection and facilities is $3.1 million.
At the time of completing the survey
in 2023, marinas were well supported
by customers with the average
operation sitting at 86% occupancy.
LAMDA Marinas
signs to build and
operate megayacht
marina
GREECE: LAMDA Marinas, part of
the LAMDA Development Group, has
signed a sub-concession agreement
with the Greek State, the Hellenic
Republic Asset Development Fund
(HRADF) and the Corfu Port Authority
for the right to build, develop, manage
and operate a megayacht marina on
the island of Corfu.
At the signing ceremony, LAMDA
Marinas Investments managing director
Stavros Katsikadis said: “Today marks
an important day for Greek maritime
tourism and in particular for the Greek
marinas sector. With the signing of the
sub-concession agreement for the Corfu
Mega Yacht Marina, we are beginning
L to r: Odisseas Athanasiou, CEO LAMDA
Development; Stavros Katsikadis, managing
director LAMDA Marinas Investments; and
Theodoros A Gavriilidis, chief investment
officer LAMDA Development.
the development of a significant new
Greek marina, approximately 20 years
after the last marina agreement of this
scale in Greece.”
“It is also a milestone for LAMDA
Marinas. Following the success of
the Mega Yacht Flisvos Marina and
Agios Kosmas Marina in The Ellinikon
project, our company is now investing
in Corfu, one of the premier megayacht
destinations across the Mediterranean,”
he added.
Katsikadis outlined that the goal
is to create and sustainably develop
a modern marina with water and
land-based infrastructure suitable for
year-round berthing. LAMDA Marinas
Investments will invest over €50 million
in the construction and development of
the marina, while the total cost of the
acquisition will exceed €89 million.
With the development of the marina
in Corfu, LAMDA Marinas will control
approximately 40% of the total revenue
from Greek marinas.
www.marinaworld.com – January/February 2025
9
Delivering the marinas
of tomorrow
Sea City Marina - Kuwait
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
Outstanding
sweep at marina
awards
UAE: Three Turkish marinas in the D-Marin portfolio won five
prestigious awards for excellence at the Abu Dhabi Maritime
Awards in November 2024.
In the ‘Outstanding Marina’
category, Turgutreis secured
the gold award for the second
consecutive year, while D-Marin
Göcek received silver and
D-Marin Didim earned the bronze
award.
The Outstanding Marina
Award recognises exceptional
performance and continuous
improvement through new ideas
and technology to enhance
operations and customer
experience. The judges
particularly praised D-Marin for
its ability to deliver outstanding
customer interactions, understand
customer needs, and foster
loyalty through feedback. They
also commended D-Marin for
its exemplary health and safety
practices alongside its effective
staff development initiatives.
Additionally, D-Marin Göcek
won gold in the ‘Customer
Experience’ category, while
D-Marin Didim secured gold for
‘Sustainability’ in recognition of its
strong environmental efforts and
state-of-the-art facilities.
Each of the marinas underwent
a rigorous evaluation process,
with representatives undergoing
over three hours of questioning
from a panel of nine jurors and
16 assessors, all from prestigious
organisations and regulatory
bodies.
Vilamoura marks
50 years with Nova
Marina launch
PORTUGAL: Marina de Vilamoura celebrated
a historic 50-year milestone in November
2024 with a special ceremony attended by
government officials and distinguished national
and international guests. The occasion also
marked the official launch of its new superyacht
facility Nova Marina.
Nova Marina features three new pontoons
and offers 68 berths for vessels of 20-40m (66-
131ft). All have individual pump-out points, remote
management services for water and electricity
consumption and dedicated charging points for
electric boats. The marina also features stateof-the-art
desalination systems and photovoltaic
energy generation for sustainability.
“We have transformed a visionary concept into
an attractive destination that represents innovation,
sophistication and a profound commitment to
nautical excellence,” says Isolete Correia, CEO
of Marina de Vilamoura and CEO of the master
planner *Vilamoura. “From the beginning, we
understood that a marina is not just about
boats and berths, but also about an experience
that connects people with the sea, fostering
relationships and offering a broader vision of
nautical culture.”
Developed in 1974 as the ambitious vision of
Artur Cupertino de Miranda, Marina de Vilamoura
has become Portugal’s largest and most prestigious
marina, recognised with numerous international
awards, including a rare 5 Gold Anchor Platinum
certificate.
Marina de Vilamoura has evolved alongside
the nautical market, growing from its original
612 berths to 1,000 at its peak. Today, it has
825 berths, catering to the demand for larger
vessels and establishing itself as a renowned
global tourist destination. “Over these 50 years,
our journey symbolises much more than mere
nautical infrastructure. Above all, we are creating a
legacy that will define nautical excellence for future
generations,” Correia adds.
www.marinaworld.com – January/February 2025
11
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WORLD NEWS
Yachting hub features in Airport City plans
HONG KONG: The Airport City at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), being developed as a new world-leading
landmark under an expanded blueprint spearheaded by Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK), will feature Hong Kong’s
biggest marina.
AAHK will fully utilise the water
resources adjacent to the airport island
to create a 600-berth facility that will
enable Airport City to become an
unparalleled yacht tourism destination
in Asia, especially in the Greater Bay
Area. A diverse range of water-based
leisure and recreation facilities will also
be developed.
First unveiled in 2019, the
blueprint combines the airport’s core
functions with a variety of projects
including an ecosystem for the art
industry, AsiaWorld-Expo phase two
development, a fresh food market
supplying high-end products from
around the world, a ‘sportainment’
complex, and more. The new projects
will promote high-end commercial,
tourism and leisure activities, and are
expected to be complete from 2026 to
2031.
Different kinds of indoor and outdoor
leisure, cultural and entertainment
facilities will be developed along the
coastlines of the airport island and
the Hong Kong Port Island, with hotel
development and promenades of
distinct characteristics. Public spaces
will be interconnected for various kinds
of festive celebrations that draw visitors.
Fred Lam, chairman of AAHK,
said: “HKIA is a leading international
aviation hub in Asia. With the threerunway
system fully operating, we are
in a position to press full steam ahead
with innovative projects in different
market segments. The expansion of
the development blueprint will focus
on leveraging Hong Kong’s unique
advantages and creating synergy
among various projects to transform
the Airport City into a new landmark of
Asia.”
TANDEM+/V GASPARD
Marina expansion to be hub of new harbour district
FRANCE: Major plans have been announced by the municipality of Dunkerque in northern France to double the
capacity of Dunkerque Grand Large marina as part of ambitious plans for a new and more welcoming harbour district.
Berth numbers will be increased
from 220 to 450 and improvements in
the boatyard will enable vessels to be
hoisted at all tides. The waterfront will be
developed with a range of new hospitality
options for visitors and residents to eat
and drink while enjoying great views of
the marina. The canal to the north will be
reinforced, landscaped and
lined with new residential
buildings, and a new terraced
walkway will connect the
marina to the beach.
The marina, which is
part of the TransEurope
Marinas network, is a popular
destination with plenty of
historic charm and modern
facilities. It is ideal for
boaters travelling from the
Netherlands, Belgium and the
UK.
Initial work was set to begin
late last year, with the required
dredging due to be carried
out by November 2025. The
boatyard project is scheduled
to take place January 2026 –
April 2027.
Story source: TransEurope
Marinas
www.marinaworld.com – January/February 2025
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WORLD NEWS
First urban marina in Huelva
SPAIN: A new 400-berth facility has opened in Huelva in south-west Spain. The first urban marina in the port city, it
enjoys easy access to the natural beauty of the Marismas del Odiel Nature Reserve while being close to the action of the
city centre.
While offering full-service
berths for vessels of 6-40m
(20-131ft), the marina also
offers temporary/transit
berths for superyachts (up to
60m/197ft).
Environmental considerations
have been uppermost in all
planning and building works,
and the operators, who hold the
marina concession until 2059,
have wasted no time in teaming
up with TransEurope Marinas
so as to garner network
expertise and assistance
in boosting visibility and promoting
nautical tourism.
“Marina del Odiel is set to become
a cornerstone of Huelva’s economic
and social development,” managing
director Manuel Jiménez Marquéz
told TransEurope Marinas. “Its
strategic location on the Odiel River,
coupled with modern facilities and a
commitment to sustainability, holds a
great potential to attract both domestic
and international visitors.”
“By prioritising eco-friendly practices,
including waste management, renewable
energy, and ecosystem conservation,
we aim to create a model of balanced
coastal development. This
approach will not only
minimise environmental
impact but also attract
investment, generate jobs,
and foster collaboration with
local industries like fishing
and tourism.”
Maarten Desloovere
CMM, chair of TransEurope
Marinas, welcomed the
marina to the group. “We
are very lucky to have
Spanish members in
such a fantastic range
of locations – from Galicia through
the Straits to the Mediterranean and
down to the Canary islands,” he said.
“TransEurope Marinas’ expanding
network, now including Marina del
Odiel, offers our berth holders a wider
range of destinations and enhanced
boating experiences.”
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www.marinaworld.com – January/February 2025
15
Global Review 2024
Focus on future proofing
Last year saw large investments around the world with no one region dominating. Key projects focused on building
superyacht capacity, modernising infrastructure and installing luxury waterfront amenities to support growing demand.
Charlotte Niemiec picks out some highlights
Aquellum, part of the Saudi Arabian NEOM
project, is a futuristic development with a
floating marina at its core.
Alabama, designed to accommodate
different sized boats and offer ultimate
flexibility. The company is set to repeat
its efforts at Legendary’s Bluewater
Cay Marina in the Bahamas, aiming to
complete by mid-2025.
Saylorville Lake Marina in Polk
City, Iowa, improved marina access
and now plans a new dry storage
building, improved fuel dock, upgraded
bathrooms and new courtesy slips.
In Oklahoma, Nine Marina in Eufaula
added 34 covered slips and built a ship
store and fuel dock.
In the US, Florida enjoyed its usual
flurry of developments, particularly in
Fort Myers, following the devastation
caused by Hurricane Ian in 2022.
Snook Bight Marina was rebuilt after
the storm completely tore away the
marina’s wet slips, fuel docks and piles.
The new system provides 70 slips and
a 160-boat drystack operation. Gulf
Harbour Yacht and Country Club also
reopened with 101 slips for boats up
to 80ft (24m) in length, finished in just
18 months. Work also progressed to
replace docks at Salty Sam’s Marina.
The City of Clearwater
approved a $43.5 million
complete rebuild of
Clearwater Beach Marina.
Project goals include
replacing all aging docks
and utility pedestals, with
completion scheduled for
April 2026.
Suntex Marina Investors
opened the 70-slip Las Olas
megayacht marina in Fort
Lauderdale, after more than
two years of build work that
included installing 7,000ft
(610m) of seawall. It is now
one of the largest megayacht
D-Marin partnered with Vlora
Marina to create Albania’s first
world-class marina.
marinas in the US, accommodating
yachts ranging from 65-315ft (20-96m).
One River Marina was planned
on the Delaware River in northeast
Philadelphia – the city’s first new
marina development project in decades.
Upon completion, expected by spring
2026, the marina will have more than
200 wet slips and drystack storage
within a six acre (2.4ha) waterfront site.
Dry storage company Mack David
completed work on a hurricane-proof
507-slot drystack storage facility in
Major work began to improve
infrastructure at Broadwater Marina
on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, with
upgrades to stabilise the property’s
outer structures, alongside repairs to
the perimeter and marina bulkheads.
Safe Harbor Marina Bay in Quincy
Bay, Massachusetts, installed a floating
concrete breakwater system for better
storm protection. The new breakwater
doubles as docking space for transient
megayachts, with electricity and water
supplies routed through integrated
utility ducts.
Island Global Yachting announced a
16 www.marinaworld.com – January/February 2025
Global Review 2024
Work began on Nova Marina, the new basin
at Vilamoura Marina on the Algarve coast,
Portugal.
new marina in the heart of Savannah,
Georgia. Upon completion in spring
2025, the marina will feature 100
berths for vessels of all sizes, including
over 1,000ft (300m) of dockage to
accommodate deep draft superyachts.
Oasis Marinas was contracted to
manage its first marina in Texas – JMK5
in Kemah, a full service marina with
immediate access to Galveston Bay,
featuring 331 wet slips and a range of
amenities.
Caribbean upgrades
Marina Bahia Golfito in Costa Rica
doubled its superyacht capacity by
installing an aluminium dock system
with a floating concrete pontoon
solution. The destination, which is
becoming increasingly attractive to
large yacht owners and crew, can now
host two 300ft (91m) superyachts,
two 200ft (61m) vessels and two 150ft
(46m) yachts.
A consulting group endorsed plans to
expand Nanny Cay Marina and Resort
in the British Virgin Islands, including
introducing a third marina facility that
would add over 6,600ft (2,000m) of
dockage.
Plans were revealed to build a fully
automated drystack marina in North
Bimini, Bahamas. Targeting the high
end of the boating market, F3 Marina
Bimini will offer covered storage for
around 128 vessels up to 56ft (17m).
Europe enjoys major
investments
In northern Europe, Skänors Hamn,
a marina just south of Malmö in
Sweden, was rebuilt and reconfigured
to increase mooring capacity and
better shelter its infrastructure. Four
newly installed main jetties can now
accommodate around 120 boats.
In the UK, Premier Marinas
purchased the Trafalgar Wharf site in
Portsmouth Harbour, a property that
includes Europe’s largest drystack
facility. MDL Marinas invested £7 million
across its network of UK marinas,
allocating around £1.3 million to
Torquay Marina in Devon for dredging
and upgrades to its pontoons, quay
walls and berth holder facilities. It
also spent £2.2 million on its flagship
362-berth Ocean Village Marina in
Southampton, covering the complete
replacement of pontoons on the south
side and installing new smart electric
technology.
The Windermere Marina project was
completed in England’s Lake District
National Park, with all traditional fixed
timber jetty structures replaced with
modern floating pontoon equipment;
plans for a new 135-berth marina on
the Isle of Wight were announced;
and two piers were replaced at the
Queen Elizabeth II Marina in Guernsey,
the Channel Islands. This forms part
of a wider £10 million investment
programme to update the marina’s 40-
year-plus design.
A master plan was drawn up to
develop Banagher Marina in the
Republic of Ireland and create a
pedestrian-friendly, vibrant community
with 250 berths and improved mooring
facilities.
In Italy, Sardinia’s port authority
invited bids for a new 17.4ha (43.2
acre) port area with pontoons
dedicated to vessel construction,
repair, refit, maintenance, storage and
complementary activities. Construction
also began on the long-awaited Livorno
Marina, which is expected to complete
in June 2026 and boast 815 berths.
An Italian-British collaboration,
Natpower H, announced the world’s
first network for green hydrogen
refuelling of recreational boats. The first
25 installations will be made in Italian
marinas as part of a goal to reach 100
The largest luxury community planned for
NEOM, Jaumur is designed around a marina
protected from the sun by an aerofoil-shaped
sculptural structure.
www.marinaworld.com – January/February 2025
17
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in the Mediterranean before expanding
globally. The company’s circular building
technologies reflect its commitment to
an ecologically responsible future.
In the eastern Mediterranean,
D-Marin announced a partnership
agreement with Vlora Marina in
Albania. Currently under construction,
the world-class marina will offer 438
berths for year-round mooring for
vessels up to 50m (164ft) in length,
providing much-anticipated marina
facilities to the country’s coastline.
D-Marin also became the new operator
of the Camille Rayon marina in the
heart of the Côte d’Azur, France. The
marina has 841 berths and caters
for all boats sizes up to 75m (246ft).
The company plans a significant €52
million investment in the marina and its
facilities over the next 25 years.
A1 Yacht Trade Consortium
was selected to develop Argostoli
Marina in Kefalonia, Greece.
It plans to spend more than
€30 million on upgrading and
maintaining existing infrastructure.
Ninety berths are planned, with
some for superyachts up to 100m
(330ft) in the mix. Greece’s Hellenic
Republic Asset Development Fund
(HRADF) also signed a 40-year
agreement, at a fee of at least €1.5
million, for Pylos Marina SA to
develop Pylos Marina in Messenia.
Spain’s Marina Port Vell completed
a €20 million transformation project
ahead of its involvement in the
America’s Cup to enhance its capacity
and services for large yachts, adding
23 new berths for vessels up to 70m
(230ft), reorganising the mooring area
and installing a new fuel supply.
The Valencia Port Authority moved
operations forward to reshape Marina
de Valencia, building three marinas
equipped to host vessels of 8-130m
(26-430ft), a refit and repair yard with
first-class specialist companies and a
leisure, dining and entertainment area.
STP Shipyard Palma in Mallorca,
Spain also invested nearly €8 million in
expanding its technical area, including
the construction of five new berths
capable of welcoming yachts up to
110m (360ft) in length. The first phase
focused on preparing a new docking
area and installing the infrastructure
to guarantee end-to-end service for
superyachts.
Portugal’s Vilamoura Marina on the
Algarve coast began construction of its
new associated marina. Three pontoons
with a total of 68 berths to cater to
large boats of 20-40m (66-131ft) were
installed, equipped with individual
waste water pump-out systems,
charging points for electric boats and
systems for remote monitoring and
management of water and electricity
consumption. Construction was
finalised by the end of the year.
The Ports of Madeira also sought an
operator for Funchal Marina in Madeira,
Portugal, to create a modern, attractive
and competitive marina.
Middle Eastern ambition
More projects were announced under
Saudi Arabia’s NEOM master plan.
‘Norlana’, on the Gulf of Aqaba’s
coastline, will feature a top-level
120-berth marina planned as an
international hub for superyachts
with members club, while ‘Aquellum’,
is styled as a futuristic ecosystem
harmoniously integrated into
natural surroundings. Hidden within
a breathtaking 450m (1,480ft)
mountain range, visitors begin at a
floating marina before boarding a
specially designed vessel to enter
via a concealed underground canal.
Once inside, visitors will be treated
to an exhilarating 100m (330ft) high
vertical experience with an impressive
Al Khuwair Muscat Downtown and
Waterfront Development is planned to
revitalise central Muscat, Oman.
www.marinaworld.com – January/February 2025
19
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A third marina planned for Nanny Cay in
the BVI will add over 2,000m (6,600ft) of
dockage.
courtyard space stretching from the
water to the sky.
‘Jaumur’ is a master plan to build
an iconic marina with more than 500
marina apartments and 700 luxury
villas, boasting waterfront access and
private mooring. A monumental 1.5km
(1mi) long aerofoil-shaped sculptural
structure will rise above the largest
yacht berths, providing year-round
protection for yacht owners and a
haven for residents and guests. The
aerofoil incorporates a gravity defying
cantilever to form a stunning entrance
to the marina, welcoming the world’s
largest superyachts.
IGY Marinas was appointed to
manage Sindalah Yacht Club, NEOM’s
inaugural island destination. The club
is designed to seamlessly integrate
with Sindalah Marina’s world-class
berthing facilities, which accommodate
superyachts up to 180m (590ft).
Construction work continued on
Amaala, the ultra-luxury Saudi Arabian
destination on the northwestern coast
of the Red Sea. Flooding of the marina
basin was complete by the start of the
year and work began on the floating
pontoons and fixed docks.
The Saudi Red Sea Authority
(SRSA) also issued the first licences to
operators of Al-Ahlam Marina in Jeddah
and Jazan, and Red Sea Marina in
Jeddah.
A quarter of the construction work
on the prestigious 182-berth cutting
edge Bahrain Marina in Manama
was completed, and announcements
were made regarding plans for the
$1.3 billion Al Khuwair waterfront
development in central Muscat, Oman.
This will span 330ha (815 acres) and is
set to include a marina and recreational
waterfront.
D-Marin signed an agreement to
operate Port De La Mer in Dubai, a
new Mediterranean-inspired marina at
the tip of the northern peninsula of La
Mer. Phase one opened in October with
32 berths for yachts up to 40m (131ft)
in length, with plans to extend to 160
berths for yachts up to 80m (262ft) in
coming years.
An important deal between Egyptian
and UAE parties to build Ras Al-
Hekma, a massive new city on Egypt’s
north coast, was signed. Considered
to be the largest investment deal in
Egypt’s history, with potentially $150
billion involved, it will position the city
not only as an urban business and
residential centre but also as a tourist
hub. A large marina is planned amid
hotels, resorts and entertainment
venues.
Expansions in Asia
An international standard leisure
marina adjacent to a popular mall is
planned in Taiwan. It will be built in two
phases, starting with the installation
of breakwater facilities and berths
for around 30 boats, a temporary
clubhouse and boatyard. Phase two will
add 50 further berths as well as a hotel
and family-friendly amusement facility.
A 220-berth marina for vessels up
to 24m (79ft) in Jamsil Hangang Park,
Seoul, South Korea is also planned.
When complete, it will be the largest
marina in the city. The developers aim
to make the river a “growth hub” via the
marina and additional mooring spaces
for a total of 1,000 berths. Construction
of Jamsil Marina was scheduled to
begin in early 2025 with a view to
opening in 2026.
Developers in Indonesia announced
the groundbreaking of the first full
service international standard marina in
Indonesia, located in the Bali Maritime
Tourism Hub in Benoa. The marina will
be able to accommodate 180 boats,
with over 50 berths available for yachts
up to 90m (295ft). It will have a hoist
of up to 200 tonne capacity and a
high quality fuel station. The marina is
scheduled to welcome yachts to the
first dock in July 2025. Full capacity is
planned for the middle of 2026. There
is currently a buoy mooring system in
place for accommodating 30 yachts up
to 17m (56ft).
An MoU to develop a yacht marina
in Uligan in the Maldives was signed.
Work started in Bali on Indonesia’s first
full-service international marina. It will offer
mooring for 180 boats.
www.marinaworld.com – January/February 2025
21
Global Review 2024
Waiheke Island Marina in New Zealand
became operational, winning an Outstanding
Initiative Award for its build.
This will encompass top of class vessel
docking and berthing facilities to serve
as an entry gateway to the country.
A marine tourism plan was
announced in Sri Lanka, seeking to
position the country as a premier
destination for boaters. It includes plans
to develop small boat launch facilities,
promote marina development and host
boat exhibitions.
Superyacht focus in
Australasia
The Queensland Government appointed
a construction company to deliver the
A$300 million ultra-luxury Mantaray
Marina and Residences on The Spit
– the first development in the area for
more than 20 years. The project will
create a 67-berth superyacht marina,
resort facilities and club, designed to
Platinum Gold Anchor standard. The
government also invited bids for another
mixed-use development on a parcel of
state-owned land on The Spit, with the
aim of increasing the number of marina
berths in the area.
Sanctuary Cove Marina started the
next stage of its expansion work to
build 25 new berths to cater for local
and international demand for berths,
particularly for superyachts. The Boat
Works finished work expanding its
hardstand area and will now begin
Marina Port Valencia in Spain underwent
major redesign to emerge with three
individual marinas.
work on the waterfront, including new
marina berths at a concrete pontoon
system. MA Financial purchased the
privately owned, 330-berth East Coast
Marina in Manly Harbour, while Alder
Developments purchased the 22-berth
Bowen Marina in the Whitsundays,
North Queensland.
Plans were announced for a 42-
berth marina on the Brisbane River for
Raptis Seafoods, Morningside near the
Gateway Bridge, aiming to complete
by April 2025. Other projects include
a fixed 50m (164ft) jetty at Lindeman
Island Resort, and a marine tourism
hub at Flinders Street Wharves,
Townsville, featuring marina berths and
a floating bar/restaurant.
Superior Jetties and The Jetty
Specialist merged to become Marine
Structures, a company now looking to
play a large role in the international
superyacht marina sector. The two
companies have dominated the design
and construction of state-of-the-art
superyacht berthing and pontoons
systems throughout Australian marinas
for many years. Marine Structures is
now positioned as the country’s largest
pontoon manufacturer.
In New Zealand, Waiheke Island,
the country’s newest marina,
became fully operational and earned
acknowledgements for the innovative
thinking behind its build. Set within
excellent cruising waters and with
stunning panoramic views, developers
had to determine how best to shelter
180 marina berths from wave fetch
and ferry wakes without disturbing a
colony of ‘Little Penguins’. Waiheke
Island Marina received an Outstanding
Initiative Award from the New Zealand
Marina Operators Association for
building the marina without causing
permanent damage to the seabed or
coastal currents.
Berths became available at the
all-new Waikawa North West Marina
extension in Queen Charlotte Sound,
South Island. The new extension
provides an additional 251 berths on
floating pontoons in sizes ranging
from 10-30m (33-98ft), including
some berths specifically designed for
multihulls.
Hopper Developments submitted an
application to the government in May
to fast-track the approval process for
a potential marina at Hobbs Bay near
Auckland, as its research indicates a
shortfall in boating facilities in the area
to complement recent residential builds.
www.marinaworld.com – January/February 2025
23
Design, Manufacture and Installation of Floating Pontoons, Marinas and Fishing Ports.
(+34) 986 607 235
MARINA GROUPS
Penarth Marina in Wales is
the most sheltered and secure
location in Cardiff Bay.
Dominic Zammit: “Our
current end goal is being the
very best boating company in
the UK.”
Pioneering inclusion: boatfolk’s
accessible boating vision
boatfolk, a private equity-backed UK marina group created from the 2019 merger between established marina chains
Quay Marinas and Dean & Reddyhoff, offers a network of facilities throughout the British Isles. Group commercial
director, Dominic Zammit, challenges the industry to rethink marina management by prioritising people. He talks to Mel
Symes.
With legal training and experience in
digital strategy and brand management,
Zammit was brought in to oversee the
merger and craft the new brand identity.
As group commercial director, he is
responsible for the strategic direction
of the group of boatfolk companies,
including setting out long-term vision
from both a commercial and growth
perspective. The challenge of his role
was compounded by a complete lack
of knowledge about boats and boating
culture.
“I came to the industry completely
new to it and couldn’t really see what
the purpose of a marina really was
beyond a parking facility for boats.
What was glaringly obvious as a nonboater,
however, was that this was a
surprisingly inward-looking industry
that talked more to itself than to anyone
outside of it. At the time, Southampton
Boat Show, the UK’s hero platform for
broadcasting boating to the nation,
seemed to prioritise providing an
opportunity for industry members to
sell products, as opposed to creating
energy and enthusiasm around the
consumer base. This echoed a large
gap in the strategic vision for UK
marina groups and fuelled our mission
to make it easy for anyone to get on the
water.”
Q: Can you describe how you’ve
worked to address this gap?
A: We’ve worked hard to position
ourselves as the accessible marina
group that does
everything for the benefit
of the boater. This has
been a natural build
on the Quay Marinas
and Dean & Reddyhoff
legacy of being all about
the people; all about
the boater. This was the
essence of the feedback
Family boating at Haslar
Marina.
from the industry prior to the merger
and has followed on as the vision for
boatfolk, now and for the future.
If someone hasn’t been brought up in
boating, then it’s admittedly not an easy
pastime to get into. But it seems almost
absurd to us that in such a small island
nation, with so much coastline within
two hours’ travel from most parts of the
UK, boating represents such a niche in
terms of leisure pastime.
www.marinaworld.com – January/February 2025
25
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MARINA GROUPS
We run a programme called
#boatgen for young people from
11-21, where we provide awareness
about how to get into boating and
help remove the barriers - providing
kit, training and access, all heavily
subsidised or free of charge. We run
outreach with schools and partner
with charities like the Andrew Simpson
Foundation and the Ellen MacArthur
Cancer Trust, as well as sea schools
around the UK, to give young people
the chance to get out on the water for
the first time – particularly those from
minority groups or disadvantaged
backgrounds. To increase the chances
of long-term engagement, part of our
focus is on creating pathways. We try
to give each young person who comes
through a #boatgen participation
event access to other aspects of the
industry – whether that’s apprenticeship
opportunities or direct hire. The Andrew
Simpson Foundation also offers the
means to obtain diploma qualifications
or take part in training instruction
programmes.
All this, of course, serves our
commercial strategy since, ideally, in
20 years or so, having had their first
taste of boating via boatfolk, we hope
to be their first choice when they look to
purchase their first boat.
Q: What about your other services:
boatpoint, boatcare and Beyonder?
A: The first step for a new boater isn’t
usually to locate a marina, but rather to
find a boat they want to buy. Through
boatpoint, we currently sell more boats
than any other broker in the UK, so
chances are that they’re going to buy
their first boat from us. We launched our
boatpoint brokerage business in 2020
and have been on a growth mission
ever since. We now have eight offices
around the UK, positioned in strategic
points where there are brokerage
opportunities and market potential. The
natural synergy between our marinas
and our brokerage offices has been
very successful.
With everything in-house, we’re able
to leverage unique opportunities for
the boater, such as offering discounted
berthing up until the boat is sold,
etc., providing a clear competitive
advantage. With 70+ boatcare
(maintenance and repair) engineers
across the UK, both sellers and buyers
Left: The Lightship floating restaurant is one
of many attractions at Haslar Marina in
the historic maritime heart of Portsmouth
Harbour. Below (l to r): Royal Quays (North
Shields, England); Conwy (North Wales); and
Rhu Marina (Firth of Clyde, Scotland).
can get all the necessary maintenance
work carried out within the same
company.
Key to our success is the fact that
the boatpoint brand is underpinned
on the same philosophy of the wider
boatfolk family: accessibility and
approachability. The brokerage market
was ripe for innovation when we
introduced boatpoint and we were able
to benefit from the surge of interest in
buying boats fuelled by COVID. Since
then, we’ve endeavoured to reduce any
friction on the boat-buying journey. Our
aim is to create a seamless transition
from the boat purchase to the marina
berth and to deliver a consistently
rounded and relaxing customer
experience.
Beyonder, our boat subscription
service, available in three of our
marinas, is now fully booked, which is
fantastic. This is perhaps another of
the factors that has led to our customer
demographic becoming steadily
younger.
Additionally, we’re very active online;
almost all our marketing is digital.
Within the marinas we bolster the
destination-related attractions with our
own restaurants and hotel rooms, using
them as gateways into the other parts
of the boating site. These various layers
then contribute to extending awareness
of boatfolk and encouraging people to
give boating a go.
Q: No hurdles?
A: Oh goodness, of course!! We’ve
found entering the world of hospitality
a huge challenge, particularly in a
post-COVID, weakened economy,
and are moving towards a process of
re-tenanting our existing restaurants.
Ultimately, whilst restaurants are
www.marinaworld.com – January/February 2025
27
MARINA GROUPS
absolutely central to enhancing the
marina experience, we recognise
that the marina business is not the
hospitality business. We’ve invested
some £7 million in our restaurants over
recent years and that’s really brought
up the standard in each location. But,
fortunately, we’re now in a position
where we can hand them off to
professional operators who can take
them to the next level and return our
focus to our core boating operations.
New boat sales have also been tricky,
but this reflects the status quo globally,
with a softening boat sales market
post-COVID and the economy driving a
reluctance to spend on new boats. On
the other hand, brokerage of secondhand
boats remains stable – so this is
where we’re currently consolidating our
efforts.
Q: How else have you been tackling
social sustainability?
A: Beyond trying to make boating
more accessible to different sectors of
society, we’ve tried to ensure that we’re
recruiting from as diverse a background
as possible. We cast our net as wide as
we can, with multiple people involved in
the recruiting process to avoid a biased
outcome. We’ve spent a lot of time
organising training and education for
our team around diversity and inclusion
and this is reinforced with annual
refresher training. We’ve also hired a
People and Culture manager specifically
to help with this shift in attitudes and
behaviours and to help us move in a
new direction. We’re engaging in the
marine conversation at grassroots
level via our communications strategy
and try to provide good examples and
inspiring leadership. Our
staff demographic could do
with improvement but I’m
happy to say that our first
#boatgen youth sailing team
has an all-female crew!
Q: What about
environmental
sustainability?
A: From individual
environmental stewardship
initiatives in each marina,
to a new five-year
partnership set to start next
year which will map marine
biodiversity in and around
marinas in the UK, we are
tremendously active in this space. We
are a supporting and founding partner
of the Studland Bay Marine Partnership
that involves the RYA, Natural England
and the National Trust, the aim of which
is to help raise awareness of more
sustainable mooring practices and
protection of the seabed. We’re also
a mentor and partner of BrightTide,
which next year will run an accelerator
programme based on sustainability
and AI for land-based agriculture
and aquaculture. These projects
involve local authority or government
representation and are providing a
means to take the conversation to MPs
and policymakers.
All our energy comes from renewable
sources and we’re just getting planning
permission for installation of solar
panels at a couple of marina sites.
We’re continuing discussions with
hydrothermal energy start-ups and
considering water source heat pumps
for shower heating.
Bangor Marina in Belfast Lough, Northern Ireland, is ideally located for access to the town centre
and to excellent cruising and fishing waters.
Services at Portland’s boatyard are examples
of boatfolk’s extensive boatcare service for
maintenance and repair.
Q: Would you say that as a result of
your work, communication within the
industry has changed?
A: I’d like to think that we have
managed to create a shift in
how marinas now promote their
services. Previously marinas would
predominantly showcase their
pontoons, boat capacity and hoist
size, but now the conversation moves
more around sustainability, community
engagement events, and what is being
done to support the next generation
of boaters. There’s been a palpable
transformation, and I believe that
boatfolk’s vision has been a catalyst for
that with other marina chains following
suit.
Does boatfolk have any plans to
expand overseas?
“Well, never say never!” laughs
Zammit. “Our priority for now, however,
is to consolidate the existing marinas
and roll out boatpoint and boatcare in
each one, whilst broadening access to
Beyonder. We want to create absolute
parity within our estate in terms of
what’s on offer and the level of service.
Being private equity backed, there is
invariably an imperative to continue to
grow and develop. We’re always on the
acquisition trail with a healthy pipeline
to keep us busy.”
“Our current end goal is being the
very best boating company in the UK.
Our point of difference is that we’re
the only truly national marina group.
Strengthening that position and making
sure that wherever you are, you can
get to a boatfolk marina - this is what
makes us an accessible brand.”
28 www.marinaworld.com – January/February 2025
THE SMART
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marinas.export@martinialfredo.it
EVENTS
Nearly 20,000 visitors from all around the
world were attracted to the diversity of marine
trade products at Metstrade 2024.
Metstrade recordbreaker
sets ground for
bumper 2025 event
The 36th Metstrade, held 19 th -21 st November 2024 in Amsterdam, recorded its
highest ever attendance figure and hosted close to 1,900 exhibitors across 12
halls at RAI Amsterdam.
The show received 31,824 visits
from 19,779 unique visitors spanning
134 nationalities. The overall increase
in attendance was up 10% and 6%
respectively when compared to 2023,
the previous historic high-water mark.
Attendance records were surpassed on
each of the three days for this strictly
trade-only show.
Metstrade built further on its depth
and breadth of activities for the whole
industry this year. A sell-out Superyacht
Forum, held under Metstrade’s
management for the first time, hosted
700 delegates. The premier appearance
of the co-located Yacht Racing Forum,
run in partnership with World Sailing,
provided an exciting new focal point for
cutting edge sailing.
Speaking at the close of the show,
Metstrade director Niels Klarenbeek
said: “The excellent results of this year’s
show provide a confident foundation on
which to base ambitious plans for 2025.
I’m pleased to announce that Metstrade
will expand into hall 8, which will add
around 10,000m² [107,600ft²] of space.
This will enable us to eliminate the
current waiting list for The Superyacht
Pavilion, provide options for exhibitors
seeking more stand space, and open
a circular route around the Metstrade
halls to improve the visitor experience.
There are further exciting initiatives
in the pipeline that we will unveil in
coming months.”
“Given the significant enhancements
made to Metstrade in recent editions
we are introducing an up-to-date brand
image to reflect where we are today,” he
added. “Metstrade has evolved from a
trade show into a global platform driving
the leisure marine industry forward. Our
rebrand will reflect this growth and our
commitment to fostering innovation,
collaboration and long-term success
across the marine leisure industry.
Our new payoff – ‘Propelling Growth.
Harbouring Innovation’ summarises
exactly what Metstrade is all about.”
In addition to a busy Marina &
Yard Pavilion, with various exhibitorsponsored
gatherings and the annual
Waterfront Drinks on the Marina
World stand, there were educational
opportunities via the Metstrade Theatre.
Marina World sponsored two sessions.
The first, chaired by Roberto Perocchio
of Assomarinas, explored the buildup
to the ICOMIA World Marinas
Busy networking events included Marina
World’s Waterfront Drinks in the Marina &
Yard Pavilion.
www.marinaworld.com – January/February 2025
31
EVENTS
Roberto Perocchio (standing) discussed
IWMC 2025 with Joe Lynch, Mel Symes,
Suzanne Davies and Alberto Sonino.
Conference to be held in Venice in
2025, and the second, chaired by Mike
Ward of Marina Projects, examined
the careful thinking behind upcoming
work to comprehensively revise the
internationally renowned TYHA Code
of Practice for marina design and
operation.
Developing a new
Code
Mike Ward and Simon
Goodhead of Marina Projects (a
first-time exhibitor in the Marina
& Yard Pavilion) along with Jon
White of The Yacht Harbour
Association (TYHA), homed
in on upcoming work to revise
the TYHA Code of Practice,
a globally recognised marina
operations manual that has
not been revised since 2013.
The Code now requires an
extensive rewrite as the industry
has changed and developed
significantly.
Crucial issues, such as
environmental legislation;
health and safety legislation;
sustainability; and modern
design techniques and
initiatives need to be addressed.
Sites are more challenging
than ever; accommodating superyachts
is akin to hosting “small floating
boutique hotels”; energy needs to
be managed as part of infrastructure
design; technology needs to be
transferrable to different climates; and
decarbonising means that no size fits
all criteria can be applied.
In terms of sustainability, the problem
is “designing for uncertainty”, and the
challenge is for the marina designer to
build in the flexibility to accommodate
different solutions. Different fuel options,
a larger global fleet (178% increase
from 2000 to 2023) of often larger
vessels, increasing concerns regarding
L to r: Jon White, Mike Ward and Simon Goodhead explored the
challenges of rewriting the TYHA Code of Practice.
sea-level rise and flooding, and the
application of smart technology must
all in a sense be concrete background
to the primary consideration, as Mike
Ward noted: “Marinas are, and need to
be, more aspirational today than they
have ever been, but we must remember
that they are first and foremost
functional spaces that above all else
must provide a safe haven and a calm
environment.”
Heading for Venice
Roberto Perocchio, owner and
manager of Venetian facility Marina
del Cavallino, expertly moderated
the session exploring the themes
and aims of the next World Marinas
Conference (IWMC), the flagship event
of the International Council of Marine
Industries Association (ICOMIA). IWMC
2025 will be held in Venice 15 th -17 th
October.
ICOMIA CEO, Joe Lynch, introduced
ICOMIA and IWMC, describing
the conference as the “platform for
engaging with members and for
industry professionals to connect, build
relationships and create new business
opportunities.” IWMC 2025 will be
held in a genuine working boatyard
next to a marina; the result of the
Venezia Certosa Marina regeneration
project that has transformed a
neglected munitions site into a
sustainable economic asset for
the local community.
Mel Symes of Innovamarina
explored the conference theme
‘Innovation. Collaboration.
Transformation’, which aims
to address societal relevance
(engaging a wider more
diverse audience); resilience
(aging workforce, climate
adaption, circular economy);
technological advancements
(digitalisation, AI, data analysis
etc); and environmental
monitoring and stewardship.
Symes introduced Suzanne
Davies, CEO of Australia-based
Marine Industries Association,
as a confirmed speaker on
world markets. She shared
findings from a recent market
report and discussed some of
the lessons she had learned
organising events in Australia.
Conference host, Alberto Sonino,
spoke about the unique venue in
Venice, plans for an exceptional gala
dinner and an exciting marina tour.
He extended a warm welcome to all
prospective delegates.
32 www.marinaworld.com – January/February 2025
MARINA DEVELOPMENTS
The all-new Porto Carlo Riva, rebuilt and
re-imagined after being destroyed by a freak
hurricane.
Five-star luxury at all-new
Porto Carlo Riva
The iconic Porto Carlo Riva marina in Rapallo, Italy has undergone radical
change. While remaining close to its roots, it is now open to the evolving
nature of yachting tourism and ready to face future environmental challenges.
Donatella Zucca reports
Founded in 1975, privately-owned
Porto Carlo Riva soon became
established as a high-end tourist port
with a reputation that gained in strength
year on year until a freak hurricane
came knocking in 2018. The ferocious
storm wrecked the Italian coastline
between Rapallo and Portofino and
totally destroyed the marina, tearing
up its breakwaters and ripping through
the marina basin and surrounding port
infrastructure.
Despite a multitude of problems and
expenses, Italian property investment
firm Bizzi & Partners started work to
rebuild the breakwaters and redevelop
infrastructure and property. A public
interest enterprise also set about
making the town of Rapallo safe
and enhanced its tourist appeal.
Architectural design studio Tectoo,
via its founder Susanna Scarabicci,
designed the port architecture and
Savarese Costruzioni e Sales,
commissioned by Bizzi & Partners
via tender, was responsible for the
construction works. In all, the project
cost €70 million, over half of which went
towards rebuilding the breakwater. The
rebuild of all defensive structures for the
marina and the city was completed at
the end of 2022, and in February 2023
the wave bulkhead test certificate was
obtained.
In addition to being imposing and
cutting-edge, the new 400m (1,310ft)
long breakwater greatly exceeds
legal requirements. Comprising 1,600
tetrapods, each weighing 20 tonnes,
and 200,000 tonnes of rocks, its mantle
extends for tens of meters into the sea
and its wave wall rises 7m (23ft) above
sea level.
Smaller than before and even more
exclusive, the new marina has 250
berths instead of its original 400 but
can accommodate vessels up to 60m
(197ft) at nine docks and protected
piers. All berths have direct pump-out
points for bilge water and sewage;
vehicles can be parked in a new
underground car park; and services,
such as nautical brokerage, boat
handling and Customs clearance are
available. Over 200 new jobs have been
created across the site.
In order to respond to the changing
needs of the nautical market, the region
and the consequences of any change
in climate, Bizzi & Partners has created
a service port that is amongst the most
modern in the Mediterranean. Piers and
buildings have been rebuilt in a better
way, and bars, nautical commercial
spaces, two restaurants, on-board
delivery services and high level catering
for guest events and entertainment
added. Safety is paramount, exemplified
by an excellent fire prevention system,
personnel with first aid certificates,
and video surveillance on the docks,
entrances and commercial premises.
Porto Carlo Riva will be the
first tourist port in Liguria to use
purified municipal waste water for
Yachts moored at the pier alongside the
Torretta restaurant (below) and at new
marina piers (left).
34 www.marinaworld.com – January/February 2025
MARINA DEVELOPMENTS
The Torretta hospitality building (left) is now
open and the restaurant fully staffed (below).
approximately 80% of its non-potable
water requirements e.g. boat washing
and watering plants and green spaces.
Thousands of tonnes of inert materials
were reclaimed from the storm surge
and used to rebuild the site, and energy
saving devices and solar panels are
installed. In collaboration with the
Ministry of the Environment, great care
has been taken to protect the local
marine flora and fauna and electric
charge points have been installed for
cars and boats.
To boost tourist appeal, Bizzi &
Partners is leveraging the natural
beauty of the Gulf of Tigullio while
making Porto Carlo Riva attractive
to superyachts with a top-of-therange
clubhouse, retail and food and
beverage outlets.
The key figure involved in the
regeneration of Porto Carlo Riva,
Davide Bizzi, founder and CEO of Bizzi
& Partners, has developed and sold
more than 30 million square metres of
residential and commercial property
in Europe and the Americas. His is
a character animated by a strong
passion for design and architecture, a
quality that is reflected in the design
of his buildings and everything else he
creates. This concept of out-of-the-box
thinking and passion for excellence
mirrors the approach taken by Carlo
Riva himself when he first developed
the marina as one of the first private
tourist ports in Italy and the most iconic
yachting destination.
Looking back in time, Carlo Riva –
an engineer, navigator and pioneer
of pleasure boating – was equally
renowned for his shipyards and, of
course, the luxurious Riva motorboats
favoured by famous people from all
over the world – think Brigitte Bardot!
Fast forward to Davide Bizzi who, while
considering the marina privileged – his
first marina project and conceived as
a five-star hotel – said it will have a
sequel, having obtained an agreement
with the Municipality of Bordighera
to rebuild the port from scratch. The
inauguration of the new Porto Carlo
Marina was unsurprisingly a regional,
national and international event.
Interestingly, after analysis, the
management team decided against
offering hospitality areas exclusively
reserved for the crews and captains of
large yachts, believing that they would
best enjoy the same high-end facilities
as other guests. These include a new
hospitality venue called Torretta, which
boasts a restaurant and American
bar/ice cream parlour, all managed
by the Mussini family under its brand
O’Magazin al Porto. This is seen as
the hospitality flagship of the marina,
offering the best food and beverage
outlet in Rapallo, and captains and
crew enjoy its services from breakfast
through to lunch and dinner.
Concierge services are well covered
with an information point, staffed by
two team members who can assist with
itinerary planning and general requests
(taxis, onboard grocery deliveries,
restaurant bookings etc). Meeting
rooms with Wi-Fi, the latest generation
fibre and an integrated system for
video calls are available, as well as a
private office that can be reserved for
meetings. When the clubhouse opens
next season, wellness and gym facilities
will be available.
An on-site property agency can assist
in finding apartments for crew members
requiring short and medium term
accommodation although this is unlikely
to be greatly utilised as, due to limited
space, there is no refit area for large
yachts. The on-site yard is suitable for
hauling, launching and maintaining
small boats up to 18m (59ft) in length
and is managed by third parties.
The commercial facility features a
merchandising mix that is appreciated
by captains and ship owners and stands
out as a base for Riva, Sanlorenzo and
Nautor’s Swan. Border police, a property
agency, ship chandler, jewellery store,
high fashion and technical clothing
retailer, delicatessen and wine shop will
also open in 2025. The management
team reports that one of the services
most appreciated by captains is 24-hour
mooring assistance, and the marina
team is very proud to offer this.
The new concession agreed with
the municipality includes maintenance
of the public spaces of the public port
and activities related to the Patron
Saint Festival in July. Collaboration with
the events office of the Municipality
of Rapallo is also ongoing. The
concession runs until 2056.
www.marinaworld.com – January/February 2025
35
MARKET UPDATE: POLAND
The need for new berths in the Gdynia area,
the heart of the Polish sailing industry, has
long been evident. Photo: Marina Gdynia
Navigating through
choppy waters
The growth in the number of boats in Poland has failed to catch up with
the development of the marina industry in recent years. Coupled with other
factors, like rising energy costs and taxation, this puts pressure on business
revenue. Vladislav Vorotnikov reports
Official figures indicate a promising
trend in the popularity of sailing in
Poland. As of late 2023, the number
of officially registered boats in the
country stood at 63,000, according
to the government database Reja24,
administered by the Maritime Office
in Szczecin. This number has been
steadily growing by an average of 1,000
per year, reflecting a positive trajectory
for the industry.
The impact of this upward trend
should, however, be treated with
caution. According to Przemysław
Lenard, deputy director for the Maritime
Office, the lion’s share of new vessels
is registered by foreigners and these
boats are never meant to sail in Polish
waters or be moored up in the country.
In 2023, the number of boats registered
by foreigners under the Polish flag
amounted to 26,200, Lenard said, citing
the official figures. This represents a
hike in vessel registration by foreigners
over the past four years.
On 1 st August 2020, the Polish
Government embarked on a reform
measure to dramatically simplify the
registration of yachts and other floating
vessels up to 24m (79ft) in length.
In previous years, Polish boat owners
tended to register their boats in foreign
jurisdictions for different reasons,
commented Patryk Zbroja, a maritime
lawyer and a boat owner. Now, the
entire process has been transferred to
the online portal Reja24.
The reform turned the tables
significantly, as foreigners are now
coming to Poland in large numbers
to register their vessels, Zbroja said.
“The registration procedure is
now simpler, faster and cheaper
than it used to be. Previously, seagoing
and inland yachts had to be
included in as many as six types
of state register, kept by different
maritime chambers and maritime
offices,” Zbroja explained.
However, the reform has had little
impact on the popularity of sailing
inside the country. Poland builds
around 22,000 boats per year, of
which 95% are exported, estimates
Polboat, the Polish Chamber of
Marine Industry and Water Sports.
It is estimated that over half of all
Boat handling at Marina Przelom.
11m (36ft) boats with outboard engines
manufactured in Europe come from
Poland.
Expanding capacities
Recent years have been marked by a
rise in the number of public marinas in
Poland and this trend continues. “An
increased number of marinas have
been developed, thanks to EU funding,
that are owned by and managed by the
state. The number of berths increases
faster than the actual number of
vessels,” commented Ewa Kot, owner
and CEO at Marina Przełom in Górki
Zachodnie, Gdańsk. Marina Przełom
is nonetheless expanding its capacity.
In 2024, it added 3,500m² (37,700ft²)
of space for wintering and summer
maintenance to meet increasing
demand for storing and repairing sailing
and motor yachts, Kot revealed.
Regional authorities across Poland
are also mulling plans to build new or
expand existing marinas. For example,
the regional authorities in Świnoujście
have recently said that they are seeking
EU funding to modernise the marina in
the North Basin.
“We want to obtain PLN13 million
(€3 million) to modernise the piers so
that they rise according to the water
level,” Paweł Sujka, deputy mayor of
Świnoujście said during an interview on
Radio Szczecin.
The key rationale behind the project
is to become more competitive. The
www.marinaworld.com – January/February 2025
37
MARKET UPDATE: POLAND
investment is needed not only to add
more space but to make the marina in
the Northern Basin look “more or less
like the marina in Łunowo, in other
words, very modern,” Sujka explained.
The renovation schedule, to be
kicked off in 2025, will expand capacity
by nearly 10%, enabling the marina to
accommodate 560 vessels.
“There will be concrete piers attached
to piles, completely resistant to storm
conditions. After this modernisation,
the marina will probably be the largest
on the Polish sea coast,” noted Marek
Bartkowski, manager of the marina in
the Northern Basin.
One of the most ambitious current
projects in the Polish marina industry
is the upcoming construction of
Nova Marina Gdynia. The project,
developed as a joint venture model
by Ghelamco Poland and the Polish
Sailing Association, will involve the
construction of a multifunctional
building with an area of approximately
20,000m² (215,300ft²). Among other
things, it will house the headquarters of
the Polish Sailing Association.
The need for new berths in the
Gdynia area, the heart of the Polish
sailing industry, has long been evident.
In an interview with Marina World in
2019, Przemysław Marynowski, a
spokesman for Marina Gdynia, revealed
that growth in the number of boats
and yachts in the country boosted
the demand for new accommodation,
particularly in the Gdynia area. During
the high season, usually observed in
the summer months, it was typically
booked by 100%, Marynowski
indicated.
Emerging opportunities
Market players believe that the marina
industry in Poland has some natural
constraints. Cruising in the country is
largely limited to the two sailing areas
around the ports of Szczecin and
Gdynia. Sailing north is challenging
because Poland is separated from
Lithuania and Latvia by Kaliningrad
Oblast, Russia.
The distance between Gdynia and
Klaipeda, Lithuania, is 143 nautical
miles and if European boat owners
had an opportunity to visit Svetlogorsk,
Russia, at the mid-way point, this would
give a new growth impetus to yachting
in this part of Europe. But in the context
of the ongoing political tensions with
Russia, such opportunity will unlikely
emerge in the foreseeable future.
In recent years, new marinas
have also started to appear outside
of the regions most popular among
boat owners.
In May 2024, Nautica Marina
launched a new marina in the
lake-rich region of Warmia-Masuria,
which can berth up to 150 boats.
In December 2023, regional
authorities also presented a
concept of building a marina on
the Vistula River in Bydgoszcz
in the central part of the country,
northwest of Warsaw. The initiative
is in its infancy but has attracted a
lot of public attention as one of the
proposed scenarios provides for the
construction of a floating marina.
The Bydgoszcz marina is due
to be an element of the emerging
Kujawsko-Pomorskie Vistula Trail,
a network of marinas proposed to
Marina Przelom (left & below) is
expanding its capacity to meet increasing
demand for storing and repairing sailing
and motor yachts.
meet the needs of growing tourist
traffic on the river.
Work on the trail is scheduled to
start by the end of 2025 and Wody
Polskie, a state water holding, is
due to select site locations for the
marina construction that will not be
harmful to the environment.
“This will be a network of marinas
and tourist attractions. Everything
will be covered by one marketing
umbrella,” Marcin Karasiński, vice
president of the Vistula Tourist
Organisation and coordinator of the
Vistula Trail, told the local press.
Cost competition
The situation is far from being cloudless
for Polish marinas. During the past few
years, just like the entire economy,
marinas in Poland have seen a surge in
energy costs.
While all of Europe has been
suffering from rising energy costs over
the last couple of years, in Poland
this has been particularly pressing.
Wholesale energy prices in Poland are
among the highest in Europe. As of the
middle of 2024, the average wholesale
price of electricity in Poland was €90
per MWh. Higher prices were recorded
during this period only in Ireland and
Italy. In comparison, in Norway and
Sweden, the energy prices were as low
as €32 and €39 per MWh, respectively.
“The rise of energy costs forces
38 www.marinaworld.com – January/February 2025
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MARKET UPDATE: POLAND
Private marinas face challenges due to rising
costs and increasing difficulty in competing
with public marinas that may not need to
make operating profit.
Photo: Smiltyne Yacht Club Marina
marina operators to seek alternative
energy sources,” Ewa Kot said, and to
help mitigate the rise in costs in 2023,
Marina Przełom installed solar panels
to provide a renewable and clean
source of energy. A solution that Kot
indicated is becoming common in the
country.
But high energy costs are only one
of the factors putting pressure on the
profitability of the marina business
in Poland. “The common challenges
for marinas operating in Poland are
the annual tax increases and the
introduction of new taxes,” Kot admitted.
And there is growing competition
between the private sector in the
industry and public marinas. “Private
marinas find it hard to compete with the
public marinas that are financed from
budget and may be operating at a loss,”
Kot claimed.
Marina Royale Darłowo, located in
the north on the coast of the Baltic
Sea, despite its name, opted not to
build a marina as a part of its project,
Wojciech Konferowicz, sales director,
POC Partners, the company managing
Marina Royale, commented. The
demand in this region is primarily met
by two marinas located further inside
the Darłowo port. Both are owned and
managed by the state, Konferowicz
indicated.
The coming years also promise to be
somewhat challenging for the marina
industry in Poland as the energy crisis
is yet to loosen its grip on the sector,
the general economic outlook remains
uncertain, and competition is likely to
strengthen.
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40 www.marinaworld.com – January/February 2025
ENVIRONMENTAL PRODUCTS & INITIATIVES
Tomorrow’s solutions
for today’s problems
In the final quarter of 2024, the diverse activities and brands that fell within the
Poralu Marine umbrella were consolidated under the new name Wearth Group
(see World News and Mooring Post December/January). Wearth Group growth
director, Christophe Sauné, discusses initiatives that make for sustainable
marinas.
At a time when waterfront
development is a major concern in
urban planning, when yachts and
marina infrastructure are either
flourishing or going
through major renovation
programmes, developers,
investors and governments
have the opportunity to
make the right investment
decisions. Indeed,
marinas are designed
and built to last over 30
years. With changing
regulations and a trend
to encourage or enforce
sustainable practices,
it seems mandatory
for stakeholders to be
proactive on promoting
clean harbour construction
and management habits.
Wearth Group, through its different
brands and expertise, has been
focused right from the beginning
on supplying the most innovative
solutions to limit the impact of marina
installations on the environment.
Our R&D investment policy firmly
sticks to this development philosophy.
From design to construction and
management, we strive for programmes
aimed at preserving what makes our
Fig 1. The Impact Program is a collaborative three-level system
based on cooperation between local partners.
industry special; the interaction with
clean waters and clean environments.
Collecting waste
Collecting waste isn’t the end goal
– in fact, it’s the starting point of a
process of transforming practices
and mindsets. Our range of litter
collection products, The Searial
The Bebot beach screening robot is perfect for
beach operators who consider there is strong
economic value in providing customers with
spotless sand.
Cleaners, can be combined to offer a
fully customised solution adapted to
specific site constraints while raising
awareness regarding marine pollution.
The Impact Program (see Fig 1) is a
collaborative three-level system based
on a concrete cooperation between a
community of local partners: NGOs,
charities, universities, public and private
stakeholders, and sponsors.
For example, to deal with the
increase in floating waste of all kinds
in the Ourcq Canal (mainly aquatic
weeds, but also packaging, bottles
and cans), the City of Paris decided to
invest in the Impact Program and the
Invisibubble, a bubble curtain solution
developed in collaboration with Wearth
Group’s partner Canadian Pound. This
system stops plastic waste and directs
it to a previously determined collection
point. Specifically designed pipes are
strategically positioned on the seabed
and release compressed air, forming
layers of bubble curtains. Once stopped
and redirected, the waste is collected
at a single location several times per
week. Despite this bubble curtain, fish
movements are not disrupted, and no
visual or noise pollution is generated by
the system.
The objectives of the installation were
clearly announced, and were measured
during an observation period before
being potentially deployed on a larger
scale. The aims were to:
• Facilitate the canal cleaning by
limiting the dispersion of floating
waste
• Prevent hydrocarbon pollution from
moving downstream
• Contribute to improving water
oxygenation
• Preserve the canal biodiversity and
reduce the proliferation of invasive
algae
• Fight against the presence of plastic
waste in the river and, ultimately, in
seas and oceans
• Raise awareness about the
installation by supporting the Paris
City Hall team in designing and
deploying their communication
initiative
For achieving its promises, the
project was recently awarded a Bronze
Territoria Award and the City of Paris is
www.marinaworld.com – January/February 2025
43
ENVIRONMENTAL PRODUCTS & INITIATIVES
currently investigating several additional
sites where the system could be
implemented.
Clean beaches
We notice that cleanliness for beach
operators has important commercial
value. But clean water and green
practices aren’t, however, fully
integrated as yet in traditional marina
business models.
Despite the proven success of waste
collection programmes and, more
generally, environmental approaches
in marinas, a huge difference remains
between aspirations and effective and
concrete action. Marina operators
express a strong wish to invest in ecofriendly
construction materials and keep
their water basin as clean as possible.
However, a deep dive into such
environmental practices comes with
dedicated investments and operational
costs that can rarely be compensated
by extra value perceived and paid for by
marina end users.
On the other hand, and mostly by
commercialising the Bebot – a beach
screening robot – we noticed that
beach operators find strong economic
value in providing their customers
with spotless sand. Cleaning practices
are, therefore, an intrinsic part of their
business model and OpEx plan.
As an innovative industrial company,
our role is to fill this ‘green gap’ by
providing not only technical solutions
but by also developing commercial
offers that help our customers value
their environmental approach.
Building green
Our vision isn’t strictly restricted to
water cleanliness. It initially started
with construction methodologies,
strongly focusing on decreasing the
impact of marina construction on local
ecosystems. Building ‘green’ is a big
step ahead with tremendous upsides.
Among other programmes, reducing
carbon footprint in marina construction
should remain one of our common
primary objectives. The challenge is not
only to conceptualise and design the
right solutions, but also to federate the
entire industry value chain around the
concept of sustainable construction,
from raw material suppliers to investors
and marina end users.
Marinas in general, especially floating
constructions, are manufactured for
a limited period of time. Knowing that
what is built today has an expiration
date and not considering the end of
life of the building materials seems like
leaving our next generations with an
issue we should have anticipated. In
that sense, making tomorrow’s circular
economy possible is a choice we
commonly make today understanding
the impact of construction and removal:
- How easy is it going to be to remove
what has been installed?
- What are the recyclability options
offered for the materials used?
- What construction options are
Poralu Marine’s Ecostyle decking allows light
to filter through and thus preserve underwater
flora and fauna.
available to drastically decrease the
development carbon footprint and its
impact on local ecosystems?
From a developer perspective and
purely on the financial aspect of
sustainable considerations, the trend
in marina property valuation and
potential capital gain follows the trend
of traditional construction: the lower the
environmental impact at construction,
during operation and at dismantling, the
higher the financial value.
Indeed, discount rate (or expected
return for investors) increases with
the risk associated to the asset,
naturally dragging down its future value.
Thus, non-compliance with future
sustainability expectations, which could
be either legally imposed or considered
socially non-acceptable, is foreseen
by investors as a risk combining high
financial impact and high probability,
and thus reducing the value of the
marina in the future.
Put differently, and mostly because
shorelines, banks and rivers are
The Invisibubble curtain stops plastic waste
and directs it to a collection point.
centres of attention when it comes to
sustainable practices, building green
is a must if we want our industry to
remain attractive for future investors.
Marina infrastructure, operators,
sailing, and boating in general stand on
a stage where natural elements are the
main pillars; the business in itself exists
only because water and shoreline are
perceived as pristine elements. They are
thus under constant scrutiny. Preserving
them by making the right choices is the
only way to ensure long term business
and pleasure for all, and tomorrow’s
solutions can already be found today.
44 www.marinaworld.com – January/February 2025
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ENVIRONMENTAL PRODUCTS & INITIATIVES
Real-time spill detection - automatically
Do you know how many spills occur in your marina and where they originate? If the answer is no, a team of Spanish
environmentally conscious specialists can help you take control.
Garau Ingenieros, Ocean Drivers and
Dr Mariano Morell have worked to
develop and promote an automatic
spill detection system aptly named
Spillcontrol. The system uses
the most up-to-date technology
to economically deliver an
environmental real-time monitoring
process that speeds up spill
detection and thus
minimises pollution
risks.
A fully commercial
product, Spillcontrol
has been installed
in three marinas in
the Balearic Islands
– Marina Botafoch
in Ibiza, and Club
Nàutic Portitxol and
Club Nàutic Arenal
in Mallorca – and
other marinas are
expressing interest.
The system involves
the installation of
fully autonomous
cameras (no need
for connection to
the power grid or
Wi-Fi networks) at
any location in the marina. These take
images of the water, which are sent
to the Spillcontrol servers. Using AI
analysis via the system’s proprietary
algorithm, spills can be detected and
quantified via image analysis. If a spill
is detected, an alarm or notification is
issued.
Spillcontrol records all data and it
is easy to extract specific information,
such as frequency, type and location
of spills. This enables the marina
operator to pinpoint any problem areas
and take corrective action. The system
helps facilities avoid fines for spills
that did not originate in the marina by
generating necessary documentation,
helps the marina to stay ahead of
future environmental requirements,
and assists in obtaining ISO 14001 or
EMAS environmental
management
certifications.
Equally
importantly, it sends
a clear message
to customers that
the marina is at
the forefront of
environmental
innovation and cares
about clean water.
This is the ethos
upon which Garau
Ingenieros began the
Spillcontrol journey
– and here’s the
background.
Garau Ingenieros is
a civil engineering firm
based in Mallorca that
undertakes a variety
46 www.marinaworld.com – January/February 2025
CHARGING FORWARD WITH
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ENVIRONMENTAL PRODUCTS & INITIATIVES
of projects, such as roads, urban
developments, wastewater systems,
coastal works and harbours and
marinas. “Our firm has a long tradition
that began with my great grandfather,”
says CEO Carlos Garau Fullana. “He
was a civil engineer and for some years
was the director of Palma Harbour. I
represent the fourth generation of civil
engineers in the family.”
Garau is an innovator who sought
to make the best of his talented team.
“We began work with drone topography,
Building Information Modelling (BIM)
and other innovations but we wanted to
go beyond this and find our own niche
– a speciality that specifically suited
us,” he emphasises. “Because we love
harbours, we know a lot about how to
improve water quality, and because it
makes no sense to have top quality
harbours and marinas with poor sea
water quality, we decided to move the
company focus towards improving the
marine water environment.”
The shift in focus was made
around four years ago and involved
collaboration with Ocean Drivers,
a software and hardware
firm specialising in marine
developments, and Mariano Morell,
a civil engineer whose PhD thesis
explored the science behind
Spillcontrol.
Other projects are also under
development: CleanPort, a
Spillcontrol development to create a
harbour quality system based on AI
and expert systems; and CICERO,
a water quality system.
“We are in the pre-commercial
phase of the CICERO project, which
is being authorised by Puertos
del Estado, the organisation that
manages the various port authorities in
Spain,” Garau says. “Puertos del Estado
has a very interesting programme,
Ports 4.0, that promotes innovative
projects related to different aspects of
port operations. We have been granted
€300,000 for our project, which has
a development cost of €500,000 over
three years.” CICERO seeks better
water quality via the natural processes
already present in harbour waters,
without the need for chemical products.
www.spillcontrol.es
www.marinaworld.com – January/February 2025
49
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Innovation to restore seagrass meadows
The UK-based Ocean Conservation Trust (OCT) has been focused on seagrass conservation for over a decade. Its Blue
Meadows Programme, a holistic approach to seagrass protection, regeneration and restoration at scale, aims to protect
seagrass meadows that already exist, and over the longer term, restore meadows that have been lost.
After years of trialling different
restoration techniques, the OCT
has now developed a purposebuilt
deployment device for use by
commercial divers. This innovative
device, called HMS OCToPUS, is
showing some promising signs of
success.
Hydroseeding on land is a planting
process to spread seeds rapidly,
particularly to help fight erosion. Taking
inspiration from this, OCT sought to
develop Hydro Marine Seeding (HMS)
as a technique to inject seagrass seeds
directly into the seabed to restore, on
scale, efficiently. To achieve this, the
Trust commissioned a local Plymouthbased
design team, Absolute Product
Design, to engineer a mechanism based
on a caulking gun. It was then named
OCToPUS (Ocean Conservation Trust o
Pressurised Underwater Seeder).
ENVIRONMENTAL PRODUCTS & INITIATIVES
Underwater hydroseeding (above) and the
specialist ROV that helps map and monitor
sensitive habitats (below).
The spring-loaded handheld device
is designed for divers to use on the
seabed and has a 1.5 litre chamber
filled with Zostera marine seeds
suspended in a specialised carrying
media. One OCToPUS unit can be used
to inject 2,000 seagrass seeds in under
20 minutes, in just one dive, by one
diver.
The Ocean Habitat Restoration team
has completed 1.5 ha (3.7 acres) of
restoration effort in the Solent Maritime,
and 2 ha (4.9 acres) in Plymouth Sound
National Marine Park. The team will
continue to monitor the restoration
sites, but preliminary results are
positive, showing vital regeneration of
the seagrass beds.
Amelia Newman, seagrass
aquaculture technician lead at the OCT,
said: “We focus entirely on subtidal
seagrass, and with that there are a
variety of additional challenges that
come with working below the waves.
So, we are really excited to be at this
stage with our new device and starting
to see how it could revolutionise the
way OCT goes about restoring this
vitally important habitat. We are so
grateful for the support of one of our
key partners, Ørsted, and the engineers
at Absolute Product Design, who have
been fundamental in the development
of this innovative device.”
Samir Whitaker, biodiversity lead
specialist at Ørsted, noted: “Seagrass
meadows are highly efficient carbon
sinks which improve water quality and
provide food and shelter to numerous
important species, such as sand eel
and herring. The UK has lost up to
90% of its seagrass, but groups like the
Ocean Conservation Trust have shown
that we can bring it back. Restoring
seagrass efficiently, and quickly, is
imperative to tackling the biodiversityclimate
crisis and Ørsted is delighted
to have supported the development
of HMS OCToPUS. We firmly believe
that a combination of collaboration
and innovation will be key to achieving
real progress in biodiversity protection,
preservation and restoration.”
In partnership with marine technology
company Sonardyne, MarineSee,
Voyis and Blue Robotics, the Trust has
also developed a specialised Remote
Operated Vehicle (ROV) to further its
conservation efforts.
www.marinaworld.com – January/February 2025
51
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ENVIRONMENTAL PRODUCTS & INITIATIVES
Mapping and monitoring of sensitive
habitats like seagrass in the marine
environment is challenging and the
ROV is a tool that will enable OCT to
map seagrass in unprecedented detail.
Using state-of-the-art underwater
positioning technology, the ROV is
capable of producing high-resolution
photogrammetry to track restoration
efforts and monitor established
beds. By also using other exciting
complementary acoustic technologies,
the OCT is aiming to demonstrate a
more comprehensive way of mapping
and monitoring seagrass, to support
its restoration activities. The ease and
precision of repeatability that should
be achieved with this technology will
also enable the OCT to much better
understand seasonal and annual
change in the seagrass meadows.
“To be able to look at seagrass in
this way is hugely exciting for us as a
team – we’re very fortunate to spend
a lot of time in and on the water but
this technology promises a much
more accurate, detailed and efficient
way we can monitor some of the
main metrics of seagrass health,” said
Andy Cameron, conservation projects
manager at the OCT. “This
also means we can use
divers differently for things
the ROV can’t do. We’re so
grateful for Sonardyne’s
help to take a huge step
forward in our capabilities
to monitor, which will
ultimately feed into
improving how we go about
restoring seagrass.”
Groundbreaking
seagrass conservation
work like this is important
as up to 90% of seagrass
beds have been lost in
the UK since the 1930s,
largely through physical
disturbance, pollution and
disease. The International Union for
the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
estimated in 2014 that seagrasses
are declining by 7% a year globally.
This estimate makes it the fastest
disappearing habitat on the planet.
Mark Parry, head of ocean habitat
restoration at the OCT summed up:
“We are dedicated to protecting and
restoring seagrass meadows in the
southwest and beyond, so it is thrilling
to see how we can build upon our
efforts with these exciting devices and
technologies. It is great to be working
with a team of passionate people at
the OCT who think outside the box,
as well as receiving support from our
partners and local organisations to help
us conserve these vitally important
habitats.”
Further information:
www.oceanconservationtrust.org
www.marinaworld.com – January/February 2025
53
ENVIRONMENTAL PRODUCTS & INITIATIVES
Coral Sea earns a
first in sustainability
certification
Coral Sea Marina in Airlie Beach, Queensland, has become the first marina
in Australia to earn Sustainable Tourism Certification through Ecotourism
Australia. The achievement underscores its commitment to global bestpractice
standards and highlights its leadership in sustainable tourism.
Joscelyn O’Keefe, head of marketing
and business development, explained
why the marina sought the certificate.
“Our marina is uniquely located at the
heart of the Great Barrier Reef and
as a destination marina we attract
hundreds of thousands of visitors every
Ecotourism Australia
Ecotourism Australia is a non-government, not-for-profit organisation, established in 1991, that promotes and
supports the ecotourism industry in Australia through building capacity and actively promoting sustainable tourism
operations and systems. It is recognised as the credible, national peak body for sustainable and nature-based tourism
in Australia.
Its foundational programme – ECO
Certification – was the world’s first
national ecotourism certification
programme. There are more than
2,000 certified experiences in the ECO,
Sustainable Tourism, Climate Action, and
Respecting Our Culture certifications.
Ecotourism Australia’s certification
programmes, including the new
Sustainable Tourism Certification, are
acknowledged and recognised globally.
year,” she said. “We are acutely aware
of the key role the marina plays in the
development of a sustainable tourism
industry in the Whitsundays and,
therefore, our commitment to effective
environmental management is a key
priority for us as a business.
The ECO Destination Certification
was developed by Ecotourism
Australia using the international
Green Destinations standard. The
certification assesses a region across
the four pillars of sustainability and
the destination must pass an on-site
audit conducted by a third-party auditor
before certification can be granted.
Ecotourism Australia has global
partnerships, working with the United
“Sustainability has always been
at the heart of our operations. This
certification will help us on our journey
to continue to promote the concept of
‘travel for good’ to our guests, visitors
and the wider community,” she added.
Ecotourism Australia’s CEO, Elissa
Keenan, congratulated Coral Sea
Marina on the achievement saying
that it was not only a testament to
its dedication to sustainability and
environmental stewardship but also
testament to the focus of the tourism
industry in the Whitsunday’s region.
“We have 38 ECO Certified operators
in the region and 18 operate their
tour experiences from the Coral Sea
Marina,” she revealed.
“Australia boasts the third largest
marine jurisdiction in the world,
contributing $118.5 billion to our
economy and supporting 462,000
jobs annually. It’s our responsibility
Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organisation (UNESCO),
the United Nations World Tourism
Organisation (UNWTO), Green
Destinations (an international
organisation for sustainable destination
development); and key partnerships in
the Asia-Pacific region including with
WWF-Australia, Parks Australia and
the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
Authority (GBRMPA).
54 www.marinaworld.com – January/February 2025
ENVIRONMENTAL PRODUCTS & INITIATIVES
Coral Sea Marina hosts 80% of the on-water tourism experiences in the Whitsundays.
to safeguard these waters for future
generations. Ecotourism Australia is
proud to have nearly 200 ECO Certified
operators and over 700 marine-based
experiences across Australia who are
committed to ensuring tourism activities
play a role in preserving our oceans
across our region. Coral Sea Marina is
further contributing to this commitment,”
Keenan said.
Sustainable Tourism Certification
assesses businesses, through third
party auditing, against Ecotourism
Australia’s internationally recognised
ecotourism standard across the four
pillars of sustainability: environmental,
cultural, socio-economic and
sustainable business operations.
The marina has integrated numerous
sustainability initiatives throughout its
operations. The Coral Sea Academy
educates guests and locals on the
environment, Great Barrier Reef,
resources. Coral Sea Marina Resort
and eco-friendly boating. The marina provides environmental information,
features interpretive signage, a
green boating guides, and updates
Resilient
seagrass nursery and citizen science via digital platforms and newsletters,
programmes. It also honours the
promoting sustainability and respect for
traditional owners of the land, the
the Whitsundays’ natural and cultural
Birri-Gubba Nation, through cultural heritage.
collaborations, signage and online
Coral Sea Marina is an awardwinning
destination marina in the
Whitsundays, at the heart of the
world-heritage listed Great Barrier Reef.
It features 520 wet berths, two lively
shoreside marina villages, and hosts
80% of the region’s on-water tourism
experiences, including 52 commercial
operators.
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56 www.marinaworld.com – January/February 2025
BUYING & SELLING MARINAS
Upscale marina/RV
resort on the Potomac
Coles Point Marina & RV Resort on the Potomac River in Virginia, USA –
one of several substantial properties of its type to be currently available to
investment buyers – is for sale via SVN Marinas, a premier advisory practice
for marina and marine-related properties.
David Kendal, (inset, above)
managing director with SVN/Nautilus
and chairman of SVN Marinas,
describes Coles Point as a ‘standout’
facility and, with over 25 years of
expertise in commercial property, most
particularly in marinas, he has an
excellent barometer.
Covering 335 acres (135.6ha),
Coles Point features a full-service
marina with 145 wet slips, a waterfront
restaurant, and a 39.5-acre (16-ha)
RV park with 118 RV Pads full-hookup
(FHU) and expansion potential.
It offers a mix of leisure, investment
and expansion opportunities and this
versatility, according to Kendall, is
what sets it apart. Revenue streams
include slip rentals, RV leases, fuel
sales, hospitality and event hosting.
Professional management ensures
operational excellence and seamless
guest experiences, making it a standout
in Virginia’s vibrant leisure market.
“With RV travel and recreational
boating on the rise, Coles Point aligns
with consumer demand for high-quality,
flexible travel options,” Kendall notes.
“This property also offers substantial
development potential, catering to the
increasing demand for upscale RV sites
and marina services.”
SVN Marinas has built a reputation
for delivering value in complex
transactions, including acquisitions,
sales and development projects and,
with a collaborative network of over
1,600 advisors, can tailor services
precisely to marina sector needs.
Kendall’s vision extends beyond
individual transactions as he champions
industry best practices, educates
investors on the unique dynamics
of marina ownership, and fosters
innovation in asset management.
For information,
david.kendall@svn.com
Christie & Co are the leading
Leisure property specialists
providing a full range of
brokerage, valuation and
consultancy services across the
UK’s marina sector.
Our recent activity includes:
• 5 Marinas Sold
•
• New 300 berth Marina launching
to market early 2025
Whether you’re looking to sell
your marina/marine related
business, are seeking a valuation
or want to expand your portfolio,
speak to the experts:
leisure@christie.com
+44 (0) 333 034 1756
www.marinaworld.com – January/February 2025
57
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West coast icon up for sale
An iconic wet slip marina on the US west coast has come to market via Simply Marinas. Priced at $30 million, the
property is described as offering a rare opportunity to acquire a first-class marina facility in one of the country’s most
desirable coastal urban locations and at the heart of one of its biggest boating destinations.
Absentee owned, the facility has
approximately 6,100ft (1,860m) of dock
space arranged as 161 boat slips on a
floating dock system. Income is derived
from slip rentals and 12 commercial
business tenants who rent 100%
occupied space in a 12,000ft² (1,100m²)
commercial building (6,000ft²/550m²
leasable). Slip occupancy is estimated
at 98% with a waiting list for certain slip
sizes.
With land area of slightly over four
acres (1.6ha), held on a fee simple/
freehold basis, and leased water space,
the marina is certified as a Clean
Marina.
For NDA and Executive Summary,
contact Michelle Ash
team@simplymarinas.com
Superyacht facility investment in Fort Lauderdale
CBRE Marinas & Shipyards presents a unique opportunity to acquire Port Dania, a rare marine property located on the
coveted Dania Cut Canal in Florida.
Situated in a prime location close to
the Port Everglades inlet, the property
accommodates yachts up to 250ft
(77m) and has unparalleled access to
South Florida’s waterways. Spanning
approximately five acres (2ha), the
property is perfectly suited for marine
use, including boat manufacturing,
yacht dockage and refit, drystack and
port operations.
With approach depths of up to 17ft
(5m), Port Dania can accommodate
superyachts with ease in an area where
yachting activity is so much in demand
that there is a shortage of dockage,
especially for superyachts requiring
satisfactory depth and linear footage.
Proximity to the inlet is a crucial and
highly valued factor for superyacht
businesses, as is nearby Port
Everglades, which serves as a gateway
to international trade and commerce
in the heart of Fort Lauderdale. Both
provide additional value.
“Port Everglades is bustling with
connectivity, where global trade
aligns with the superyacht community
providing crucial services for the area’s
maritime industry,” Julie Fisher Berry,
senior vice president CBRE Marinas
and Shipyards, tells Marina World. “This
is a unique opportunity to capitalise
on this prime location in the Yachting
Capital of the World and home to the
Fort Lauderdale International Boat
Show. It is one of the only locations
that provides adequate depths for
superyachts.” Sheila Roux, senior
BUYING & SELLING MARINAS
Conceptual rendering of the Port Dania site.
associate, adds: “There has been a
persistent shortage of marina slips in
South Florida and this trend continues.
The storage potential of this site makes
it a valuable opportunity for investors in
search of prime locations.”
For information, contact
julie.berry@cbre.com
www.marinaworld.com – January/February 2025
59
formerly The Jetty Specialist & Superior Jetties
INDUSTRY
GAMECHANGER
WATERSHEDS AT THE BOAT WORKS
INWATER REFIT SOLUTIONS
+61 7 5594 8200 | info@marinestructures.com.au | www.marinestructures.com.au
‘Great Loop’ marina comes to market
Grafton Harbor, commonly known as ‘The Key West of the Midwest’, is located in an Enterprise Zone on the southern
border of Illinois where the Mississippi River meets the Illinois River. The property is offered for sale via National Marina
Sales.
Featuring over 300 covered and open
wet slips with full dockside amenities
and a designated in-water storage area
for jet skis and other small vessels, the
marina is well protected by an effective
breakwater and is located on the
Great Loop, a popular and continuous
waterway for leisure boaters seeking to
explore eastern North America.
Facilities are plentiful. A fabulous
restaurant on the second floor of the
marina building is currently leased out
on a five-year term to talented tenants
who offer outstanding food in a scenic
environment with elevated views of
the rivers. A winery, located on the first
floor, is owned and operated by the
marina and carries a broad selection of
wines.
Abundant parking is provided on
immediately adjacent leased property,
which has 75 years remaining on the
current lease and a 100-year renewal
option. A 53ft
(16m) all-weather
tour boat, ‘Hakuna
Matata’, included
in the sale, is a
great addition to the
marina and runs
regularly to provide
an outstanding
events venue,
dinner tours, eco
tours, and more,
for customers and
visitors.
Permanent
slip holders and
visitors with access
to the swimming pool benefit from
ten separate, convenient and wellappointed
private bathroom suites for
changing, and customers can also
enjoy the floating ARRR bar, hot tub,
general store, ships store and gift
BUYING & SELLING MARINAS
shop. High speed diesel and gas/petrol
pumps are installed and transient slips
are available with reservations.
For information, contact Rick Roughen,
rick@roughen.net
www.nationalmarinasales.com
Meet us at booth 7A G24
The choice of professionals
www.roodberg.com
The Original
www.marinaworld.com – January/February 2025
61
PRODUCTS, SERVICES & PEOPLE
Diamond range launched
in Amsterdam
Belgian company arabel-marina, an established supplier of harbour systems to
marinas in Belgium, France and the Netherlands, launched new management
software and a new generation of dockside pedestals at Metstrade in
Amsterdam last November.
The upgraded software
has been developed
in close cooperation
with harbour masters,
software specialists and
end-users, and adopts
the latest technology to
offer marinas maximum
flexibility. Marina customers
can easily reserve berths,
add or update services
as they travel and make
easy payments. Marina
managers benefit from an
entirely automated check-in
and sales process and can
remotely monitor bookings,
service uptake and revenue.
arabel-marina offers
a comprehensive range
of slim profile electric
pedestals that can be
optionally managed via
the company’s software
system. New for 2024, the
Diamond series (left) can
provide electricity and water
for four to eight berths, with
or without meters. Each
pedestal has four electrical
outlets and four water
taps as standard but the
configuration can be varied
as needed. Outlets and taps
can be switched on and off
and read remotely.
The Diamond is available
in six different colours and
Sales contract
for marina trucks
Marina Truck Sales, in partnership
with Wiggins Lift Co and Taylor
Northeast, has been granted
exclusive rights to sell Wiggins
marina trucks in 11 states within
the northeast USA. Forklift
Exchange, an affiliate of Marina
Truck Sales, will provide ongoing
service and support.
The expanded agreement
significantly strengthens Marina
Truck Sales’ position in the marina
truck niche of the material handling
industry and builds on established
sales success in other territories in
the USA and overseas.
The company will work closely
with regional equipment dealer
Taylor Northeast to ensure a
smooth transition for all existing
orders. Taylor Northeast will fulfil
outstanding orders while Marina
Truck Sales oversees delivery, setup
and installation.
www.marinatrucksales.com
is expandable to up to eight
outlets and eight water taps.
Around-the-clock
operations are standard
for every marina and
the company covers this
with a broad range of
service packages. These
include installation and
commissioning, training,
maintenance and remote
maintenance.
All solutions are
designed, developed
and produced in-house
by a team experienced
in electricity and metal
working.
www.arabel.be
Seawall specialist appoints distributor
Dock and Marina has been appointed exclusive manufacturer’s representative for Atlantis Seawall in Florida, Georgia,
South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. The strategic partnership brings Atlantis Seawall’s vinyl sheet
piling products – engineered specifically for seawalls, bulkheads and marine walls – to a broader US market.
Atlantis specialises in manufacturing
high-quality vinyl sheet piling, and
utilises premium proprietary material
blends to create products known for
their durability and performance.
David Metivier at Dock and Marina
says the collaboration will enable the
company to meet the growing demand
for high-quality marine solutions in its
region.
david@dockandmarine.com
www.atlatisseawallusa.com
62 www.marinaworld.com – January/February 2025
Suppliers & Services
March 2025 – February 2026
Add your company entry now at www.marinaworld.com
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Rest of World: juliahallam@marinaworld.co.uk
PRODUCTS, SERVICES & PEOPLE
Floating dock helps meet
demand for superyacht berthing
A one-of-a-kind deepwater superyacht berth has been installed at Safe Harbor Rybovich – Berth One in Palm Beach,
Florida. Measuring 390ft (119m) in total length, the floating concrete dock was commissioned in response to demand
from superyacht owners and captains.
Vance Marine Construction installed
six SF Marina Type 2060 floating
concrete pontoons to create an
L-shaped arrangement, with a 140ft
(43m) section perpendicular to shore
and a 250ft (76m) section facing south
toward the Port of Palm Beach. A
generous 20ft (6m) in width, the docks
have a 36in (0.9m) freeboard with
a double row of 4 x 6in (10 x 15cm)
timber rub rails to accommodate a wide
range of vessel sizes.
Vance also drove 12 new 30in
(76cm) steel piles in an offset pattern
that allows small vehicles to service
superyachts on either side of the
dock. The piles ride within SF Marina’s
innovative guides that feature safety
covers and
cushion block
technology
for silent
movement
during the 3ft
(0.9m) tide.
Integrated
utility ducts in
the pontoons
are supplied
for future
installation
of water,
power, fuel
and waste removal capability. Oversized
ship bollards are rated for 25 tons.
The pontoons were manufactured
ISO wins for Liverpool
Liverpool Marina in the UK has successfully achieved ISO 14001, ISO 9001 and
ISO 45001 accreditations, marking a significant milestone in its commitment to
quality, environmental management, and occupational health and safety.
The achievement comes just 18
months after the marina team embarked
on a long-term project to enhance
operational standards and processes.
“We are incredibly proud of our team,
whose hard work and commitment have
made this possible,” said managing
director Chloe Baker CMM (above
centre) last October. “Achieving these
ISO accreditations not only enhances
our reputation but also provides peace
of mind to our customers, knowing that
we adhere to the highest standards in
the industry.”
in SF Marina’s factory in Sweden and
transported to the USA by ship.
www.sfmarinausa.com
Second club
in Brisbane
Freedom Boat Club has
expanded its operations in
Australia by opening a tenth club;
at Rivergate Marina in Brisbane.
The premium site provides
members with exclusive, direct
access to the picturesque
Brisbane River.
This is the second club in
Brisbane and is owned and
operated by seasoned franchise
partner Brett Bolton, who brings
over 26 years of expertise in the
marine industry.
“We are excited to further
expand our footprint in Brisbane
with this new location,” Bolton said.
“The Brisbane River offers an
unparalleled city setting for boaters,
and we are eager to provide an
easy, affordable way for people to
explore it. Our members will benefit
from not only access to top-tier
boats, but also expert guidance and
a community of passionate boating
enthusiasts who share the same
love for the water.”
64 www.marinaworld.com – January/February 2025
MAXIMIZE THE
RETURN
MARINA SPACE
EZ PORT EZ PORT EZ PORT
We Fit WHERE OTHER DOCKS CAN’T REACH
ez-dock.com
Learn how to make it grow!
PRODUCTS, SERVICES & PEOPLE
Index to Advertisers
AMI Conference & Expo, USA 15
ASAR, USA 20
Applied Technology &
Management, USA 36
Bellingham Marine, USA 7 & 67
Bluet, Finland 22
Boat Lift, Italy 45
CJ Plast, France 58
Capria, Argentina 42
Christie & Co, UK 57
Conolift by Kropf Industrial,
Canada 39
D-Marin, Greece 33
Den Hartog, USA 48
EZ Dock, USA 65
Eagle Floats by
Hendren Plastics, USA 55
Flovac, Spain 29
Forklift Exchange, USA 49, 50 & 53
Gigieffe, Italy 36
Golden Manufacturing, USA 14
Ingemar, Italy 10
Inmare, Italy 58
Lindley, Portugal 40
MPP Engineering, UK 42
Marex, Croatia 42
Marina Master by IRM, Slovenia 60
Marina Projects, UK 68
MARINAGo by
Scribble Software, USA 41
Marine Structures, Australia 60
Marine Travelift, USA 47
Marinetek, Finland 4
Martini Marinas, Italy 30
Metstrade 2025, Netherlands 26
Molo Marina Management/
Stellar Systems, USA 24
Perspective Products, USA 60
PierPump by Vogelsang,
Germany 8
Plus Marine, Italy 12
Ronautica, Spain 24
Roodberg - a brand of
Frisian Industries, Netherlands 61
SF Marina System, Sweden 2
Seaflex, Sweden 6
Seijsener, Netherlands 50
Strongwell, USA 56
Sunwalk, USA 48
Titan Deck, USA 58
Twinwood by CJ Plast, Portugal 30
Walcon Marine, UK 18
Uli Heinemann
After just over 25 years at the helm of Brussels-based International Marine
Certification Institute (IMCI), Uli Heinemann has opted to retire from his
position as managing director.
Heinemann, who
has played a key
role in shaping the
company – now the
largest CE certifier
in the water sports
industry – was
bid farewell by the
board of directors
at the IMCI annual general meeting in
Amsterdam in November.
“After signing more than 67,700
certificates, it is time for me to start
Suntex opts for
a new phase in my life,”
he said. ”However, I
will remain loyal to the
industry and continue to
work as a consultant and
assessor in the areas of
CE, UKCA and NMMA
certifications. I can hardly
imagine a life outside of
this industry.”
Ulrich Manigel, who has been with
IMCI for 22 years, now takes on the role
of managing director.
Storable technology
US marina group, Suntex Marinas, has adopted Storable’s Molo and Stellar
software across its entire portfolio of 72 owned marinas.
The enterprise-wide deployment
underpins a strategic two-year digital
transformation initiative designed to
support Suntex’s aggressive growth
trajectory, which encompassed 13 new
marina acquisitions in 2024 alone.
By standardising on the Storable
platform, Suntex has been able to
rapidly integrate new properties while
maintaining operational consistency
across its expanding portfolio.
“By integrating Storable’s advanced
marina management software
with our accounting and data lake
platforms, we are enabling a modern
customer experience, streamlining
our operations, and unlocking insights
and efficiencies through sophisticated
analytics,” said Brian Rook, Suntex
chief technology officer. “We look
forward to continuing our collaboration
with Storable to deliver even
greater value to our customers and
stakeholders.”
Through the enterprise platform,
Molo, and rental management system,
Stellar, Suntex has achieved significant
operational milestones:
• Accelerated financial operations:
centralised accounting with NetSuite
platform integration has dramatically
reduced monthly close times from
weeks to days.
• Revenue optimisation: implementation
of rental dynamic pricing automation
has driven revenue increases up to
10%.
• Rapid deployment capability: new
acquisitions can be integrated into
Molo’s platform immediately, versus
historical timelines of months or years.
• Streamlined training: standardised
processes and technology across all
locations simplifies staff onboarding
and ensures consistent service
delivery.
• Enhanced guest experience:
comprehensive digital tools, including
Stellar’s dock attendant, dock
attendant mobile app and marketing
automation tools, and Molo’s recurring
billing and work order management,
deliver a premium marina experience.
“Suntex represents the pinnacle of
modern marina operations, and their
full adoption of Storable’s Molo and
Stellar demonstrates the enterprisegrade
capabilities of our platform,” said
Chris Edwards, general manager of
the marine division at Storable. “Their
success in leveraging our technology
to drive growth while improving
operational efficiency sets a new
standard for the industry.”
www.getmolo.com www.storable.com
66 www.marinaworld.com – January/February 2025
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