Marina Projects Ltd have completed an innovative design of new superyacht berths at Ocean Village and Marina Bay in Gibraltar. The redevelopment of the marina which consists of 144 waterfront rental apartments, is built over water on mini piles with access provided via a landscaped pier. The development features an award-winning Marina Club, over 10,000 square meters of residential space and are designed to accommodate superyachts up to 80 meters (262 feet). Marina Projects strategically arranged the berths around the perimeter of the development, showcasing a modern design and high-quality berthing systems to attract some of the world’s most prestigious vessels.
The scope of services undertaken by Marina Projects included a comprehensive design study that identified the preferred berthing arrangements taken forward to construction. As part of the study process, a number of critical design interfaces were resolved that included the coordination of detailed mooring analysis and interactions with quayside infrastructure.
One of the key challenges for the designers was integrating the new berths within the overall scheme to ensure the berthing complimented the development and the wider marina operations. Marina Projects designed a combination of stern-to berths on piled anchorages surrounding the Marina Club and stern-to berths on floating pontoons for the smaller superyachts. All berths are equipped with head-mooring buoys, enhancing the convenience and stability of yacht mooring. The next phase of the project will focus on connecting the superyacht berths to the club’s spa decks and other facilities.
Marina Director William Bowman, has seen first-hand the positive impact it’s had on Ocean Village Marina; “It was a pleasure working with Simon and the Marina Projects team on this redevelopment. The superyacht berths were seamlessly integrated into our design and, once operational, have proven to be popular with superyacht captains. The design process was efficient and highly collaborative, and Marina Projects provided valuable support and expert advice whenever it was needed.”
Simon Goodhead, Marina Projects Commercial Director noted “the project presented a set of unique challenges that required thorough consideration of the vessel types and their operational requirements. This new high-quality, market leading development will ensure Ocean Village Marina has the ability to accommodate superyachts within the iconic location of Gibraltar”.
In order for the marina to remain operational throughout the construction and due to the proximity of Gibraltar Airport, a mini piling system was adopted to minimize noise and disruption. The entire 270-berth marina underwent a redesign, incorporating both fixed and floating pontoons to maximize water space efficiency, allowing for longer and wider berths suitable for modern yachts. Mediterranean-style moorings were replaced with modern finger pontoon berths, further improving accessibility and usability of the marina.
