There have been some exciting developments in the marina sector in recent weeks, opening up the choices for owners and charter captains. While there is nothing as special as being self-sufficient at anchor for the night, practicalities mean that you need a good marina for provisioning, bunkering and servicing. These latest developments in the Mediterranean can only help in that regard.
The growing Marinedi network is set to offer 21 marinas, eight of which are operational, including the Marina di Villasimius (above) on Sardinia which has space for yachts up to 60 metres. Among the marinas under construction is Marina di Napoli, which will become one of the Mediterranean’s largest marinas when it is fully opened. The main quays and breakwater are expected to be completed by April next year and there will be room for superyachts up to 100 metres. Most of Marinedi’s marinas are in Italian waters, and it’s a positive development for charter captains and owners. The group has plans to expand its offerings to African.
Limassol Marina (above) in Cyprus is set to welcome its first visitors by the end of the year, providing 650 berths for all types of vessels up to 115 metres. Each berth will have access to fresh water, electricity and to a fibre-optic network providing high-speed broadband, wireless internet and phone. There will also be a fuel station, waste removal, haul-out and shore-side technical facilities, a dry dock, and a workshop for light repairs and maintenance. All of this will be combined with a year-round 24-hour security and concierge service. The project has 162 luxury apartments and penthouses with uninterrupted sea and marina views, 15 villas with direct access to the beach, and a further 68 villas with their own private berths for yachts up to 60 metres at the bottom of the garden. The marina is managed by Camper & Nicholsons Marinas in partnership with local firm Francoudi & Stephanou Marinas. Camper & Nicholsons Marinas’ Porto San Rocco facility on the Gulf of Trieste also offers superyacht berths up to 60 metres.
Marina Port Vell is embarking on the second phase of its development, making it a central element of the ‘Barcelona nautical cluster’, offering room for yachts up to 150 metres. The operators expect highest demand in the 60-90-metre range, and new facilities include a concierge service, a marina club with business centre, and hi-tech water and waste management systems. The marina has been designed to reduce emissions and noise pollution.