Building or refurbishing a marina can be, and usually is, a long and complicated process. One of the major obstacles in Europe these days is the permitting procedure. each country has its own set of requirements, but most follow the familiar pattern of local planning, environmental and in some cases, central government approvals. It’s not unheard of to even require Royal approval in some countries. In order to achieve these approvals a good deal of time and money is required to complete concept designs, impact studies and environmental assessments, which are then submitted, amended, resubmitted, discussed and (hopefully) finally approved.
Euromarina Review, Vol. 5 Issue 1 2006
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The Volvo Ocean Race is the world’s premier ocean race and features nine offshore legs, starting in Vigo, Spain and concluding in Gothenburg, Sweden. The Melbourne stopover kicked off a month-long party in the Docklands. There was live music, an in-port race, a special food and wine event and the BIA Summer Boat Show.
Installation of the aluminum docks had to move quickly and the components had to provide stable walkways and secure moorage for race participants. The calm basin of the Docklands provided the perfect setting for the premier of the Unideck system. Like all aluminum docks, the Unideck performs best in calm areas.
Bellingham Marine General Manager John Spragg believed the launch of the new aluminum Unideck system was a huge success, “We were happy to see how well the system handled the boat wakes and large crowds.” Graeme Ainley, past president of Yachting Australia and one of the site’s co-coordinators, said he was also very pleased with Bellingham’s Unideck system. “It performed extremely well and appears to be far more stable than other aluminum systems.”
Once the seven teams were off on the third leg of the race, and the festivities ended, the temporary system was removed. Over 200 meters of it were sent to New Zealand to serve as part of the in-water display at the Auckland Boat Show. The remainder stayed in Melbourne, where part of it will be used for the Melbourne Commonwealth Games.
As the world’s leading marina design/build construction company, Bellingham Marine produces Unifloat saltwater systems, Unideck freshwater systems and Unistack dry storage systems for marinas worldwide.
With a prime location on the beautiful waters of Australia’s Port Stephens, Soldiers Point Marina was recently rebuilt to accommodate larger craft and increase capacity. The marina design and construction was handled by Bellingham Marine.
The recently completed project incorporates the Bellingham Unifloat and Pacific systems with ducted servicing. The 100-berth marina accommodates vessels from 7 m to 42.7 m. All berths have full-service amenities, including 150-amp, 3-phase power; water; telecommunications; TV; Foxtel and wireless internet. They feature filtered water to provide the purest water for drinking and washing boats.
The marina also offers a 24-hour, self-serve fuel wharf and a free pump-out facility. Sandy’s Marine and Chandlery is a well-stocked marine store offering bait, tackle, fishing gear, gas, ice beverages and snack foods. It also performs essential marine services, including mechanical repairs, servicing and shipwright services. Marine electricians and skilled mechanics are available on call. The marina is also home to Riviera Sales-Port Stephens, with Steve Stewart and his team handling sales of the comprehensive Riviera flybridge and sports cruisers and stylish US imports including Four Winns.
Soldiers Point and nearby Nelson Bay meet the shopping, entertainment and dining needs of all discerning boaters. The marina’s courtesy car is available to boatowners for use in and around the local area. A complimentary pick-up and/or drop-off at Newcastle Airport can also be arranged for those choosing to arrive or depart the area by air. On site, the Point Restaurant offers a beautiful waterfront dining experience with seafood and prime rib specialties. Informal dining is available at the Bimini Bar and Grill. Plus, the marina is only an hour away from the Hunter Valley wine district and is just 25 minutes from an airport with direct flights to many capital cities.
As the world’s leading marina design/build construction company, Bellingham Marine produces Unifloat saltwater systems, Unideck freshwater systems and Unistack dry storage systems for marinas worldwide.
Unifloat, Unideck and Unistack are registered trademarks of Bellingham Marine.
It’s safe to say that the boating public appreciates placid moorages but has no idea how much science and engineering goes into planning and designing them. That’s my job. I’ve been a structural engineer specializing in marina design for the last 20 years.
For most of that time, I have developed solutions consistent with the site-specific marina engineering system employed by Bellingham Marine. This has afforded me the opportunity to learn, test, study, and solve breakwater, wave wall and wave attenuator challenges all over the world.
A smooth ride in a marina delivers more than just a higher level of comfort to your tenants and a less stressful berth for their boats. It can turn a parking lot for boats into a revenue-producing machine.
In my work with developers and operators around the world, I’ve heard an often-repeated story. The more tranquil the marina basin, the more likelihood your tenants will come to the marina and use your services.
A few years ago, Bellingham Marine Australia replaced a fixed-wood-dock marina for the St. George Motor Boat Club in Botany Bay, Sydney, Australia. The old docks were replaced by concrete flotation and a wave attenuator. One year after the new marina opened, Ralph Gibbons, the General Manager, said,
“People come to the marina for the weekend and stay on their boats. They enjoy just being in the marina with the other boat owners. They use the restaurants and stores. Our revenues continue to go up beyond our planning expectations.”
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MAGAZINE: Marina Dock Age
ISSUE: January/February 2006