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

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 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 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.
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 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 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 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. 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 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.