Pelindo Properti Indonesia (PPI), developer of Benoa Marina in Bali, has plans for a new 100-plus berth marina as part of a larger marine hub in the Benoa area and is also involved in the development of a marina in Labuan Bajo, the gateway to Komodo National Park.
“The Labuan Bajo marina will be a game changer for cruising there, so it’s exciting times ahead,” said Richard Lofthouse, Managing Director of Catalano Shipping Indonesia, operator of the superyacht-friendly Benoa Marina since 2019.
Benoa Marina, which can accommodate a megayacht up to 85m as well as more in the 50-60m sector, has been undergoing a gradual upgrade with landscaping and the construction of a marina club, plus there are plans to add more berths.
“PPI has done a fantastic job of landscaping the area and building a marina club, which we’ll be fitting out with offices and a crew zone,” Lofthouse said. “We also plan to add an additional finger to handle some of the smaller boats and open up the main dock space for superyachts in the 50-80m range.”
PPI, developer of Benoa Marina, is developing further facilities in Indonesia
Lofthouse said the marina’s traffic in the Covid era had been slow but expected activity to increase as restrictions ease. The Indonesian government has stated the importance of marine tourism, making single-entry visas more readily available and reducing the quarantine period.
“During Covid, superyachts that would normally stay two or three months at Benoa Marina have stayed for 12, while smaller yachts have moved more. As such, we’ve had more 60-footers and less 60m yachts than usual,” Lofthouse said.
“However, the easing of regulations to enter Indonesia will make a big difference and allow crew changes and guest trips to happen a lot more easily. With clear entry protocols and the remoteness of the National Parks, Indonesia is an attractive post-Covid destination and we’re looking forward to continuing to welcome our clients back.”
In Thailand, Phuket Yacht Haven’s ongoing expansion includes the installation of 18 new-generation superyacht pontoons by Marinetek that will create 14 berths able to accommodate yachts up to 50m. The new superyacht pontoons (M48000SYCC and M3300SY) are among the largest models in the Finnish company’s pontoon range.
Phuket Yacht Haven is one of the island’s two major superyacht marinas
“The installation of these latest-generation pontoons marks a significant addition to welcoming superyachts from across the globe as Thailand continues to grow as a world-class boating and charter destination,” said Jai Dhillon, the marina’s Business Development Manager.
The new pontoons will be equipped with power and fresh-water connections, and will supplement the existing 320 berths at the marina, which features a 260m pontoon and three 50m fingers installed by Marinetek in February 2015.
Yacht Haven is installing 18 new-generation Marinetek pontoons
Located on the north of the island, Yacht Haven has 24-hour security across its entire property and services include refuelling and shuttle transfers. Facilities include a sea-view restaurant, offices, gym, swimming pool, workshops and accommodation.
Meanwhile, Royal Phuket Marina’s developments in the Covid era include the installation of solar panels on the roof of its four-storey dry-stack system. The east-coast marina generates 60 per cent of all the power needed for its operations from the new solar system, which drastically reduces its carbon footprint.
Suitable for boats up to 48ft (15m), the dry-stack facility offers other advantages such as negating the need to coat hulls with antifouling chemicals that leach into the ocean over time. The storage service includes hauling out after use and a pressure-wash before re-stacking.
Royal Phuket Marina’s dry-stack storage with rooftop solar panels
The move to solar made Royal Phuket the first marina in Thailand to switch to renewable energy, having in 2019 become the country’s first to receive ‘Clean Marina Accreditation’ from the Marina Industry Association as part of its International Clean Marina Program.