July 2025 WATERLINE | 19 When considering redevelopment at Horizon Shores Marina, owners d’Albora Marinas required three things: (i) design to maximise yield, (ii) improved marina product design and (iii) a turn-key delivery. Strategically located between Brisbane and the Gold Coast, Horizon Shores Marina appointed Bellingham Marine to deliver the project. Originally X Y and Z piers provided 62 berths offering 614 lineal metres of berthing, the new configuration delivers 54 berths but with 876 lineal metres of berthing between 16m to 20m. This was achieved by changing the orientation from east-west to north-south and utilising the fairway as turning aisle space. The first stage of redevelopment required removal and disposal of asbestos contaminated structures and piles before pre-piling 51 piles of 356mmØ and 406mmØ with embedment’s ranging between 6.4 to 7.1m. Following the piling, the Bellingham Marine Unifloat® pontoon system was installed. The six-sided concrete pontoon system utilises composite reinforcing, composite thru-rods and APR composite walers that are designed to deliver extended design life and reduced maintenance. Customised power pedestals using the M-Tech Connect system will be trialled by d’Albora. Interfacing with various marina management software systems it allows marinas to monitor and manage electricity (kWh - kilowatt hours) and water usage (litres) at dockside pedestals, providing real-time usage tracking, alerts for abnormal usage or faults. It can also provide remote control of power & water supply. The new addition also needed to comply with Queensland Fire regulations, this was met with fire hose reels with manual call points and fire hydrants set out at required spacings. d’Albora Marinas CEO, Julien Pouteau commented, “the improved utilisation of water space has given us a 42% increase in yield”.” “The project at Horizon Shores Marina reflects how thoughtful planning, good design and modern materials can come together to create a facility that’s not only functional but achieves increased yield and is future-ready.” said Bellingham Marine General Manager, Bruce Birtwistle. IMPROVING YIELD THROUGH CLEVER MARINA DESIGN By Bruce Birtwistle, General Manager Bellingham Marine ENGINEERING A 5 GOLD ANCHOR MARINA By Ekrem Reyhancioglu, Asia Pacific Director Wearth Group FEATURE MARINA PLANNING DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION Achieving 5 Gold Anchor accreditation is a rare distinction. It demands technical excellence, operational discipline, and a clear commitment to elevating the customer experience. At Ocean Marina Jomtien (OMJ) in Pattaya, Thailand, this recognition is the result of years of strategic investment, operational leadership, and design foresight, supported by close collaboration between OMJ’s management and Poralu Marine. Located on the Gulf of Thailand, OMJ is the largest marina in Southeast Asia with 450 berths, serving as a hub for both regional cruisers and international yachts. Under the leadership of Scott Finsten CMM, Marina Manager for over a decade, and with continuous investment from the owners, the marina has undergone a steady transformation to meet the growing demands of the industry. From environmental responsibility to superyacht servicing, every aspect of the marina has been elevated to international standards. A key role of a marina builder is to understand what the customer wants to achieve and help them to achieve it through the design and construction of the marina. Consideration of the local environmental condition of the marina’s location is also critical to planning. The priority for OMJ was a system that balances high-performance design with environmental and operational sustainability. To achieve this, the pontoons installed by Poralu Marine are built from marine-grade, 100% recyclable aluminium, chosen for its durability, light weight, and resistance to corrosion in tropical and saline conditions. Key performance indicators under the 5 Gold Anchor criteria are stability and safety, so to ensure compliance with these standards, the floating system installed incorporates unsinkable polyethylene floatation units. Embedded technical ducts within the pontoon structures enable clean, efficient distribution of power and water services, supporting the high service standards expected of Gold Anchor accredited marinas. Flexibility was another specification of the marina operator. Adjustable fingers and cleats were installed to offer flexibility and accommodate a wide range of vessel sizes, an essential requirement for operational versatility and berth optimisation. “As expectations grew, we needed to accommodate larger vessels without interrupting operations,” explains Scott Finsten. “In 2024, we launched an upgrade to welcome superyachts up to 50 meters. The flexibility built into Poralu Marine’s engineering allowed us to do this efficiently and with precision.” To satisfy the demands of aesthetics and safety, without compromising performance, the pontoons were finished with composite wood decking, which is anti-slip, heat-resistant, and recyclable, offering safe and comfortable access in tropical conditions. It also has the advantage of being easily removable, allowing for quick underwater inspection or technical maintenance when needed. The use of modular architecture allows phased expansion without structural compromise and ensures that both the immediate and future outcomes that OMJ identified could be achieved. Understanding the client’s current and future goals is critical in the planning, design, and building of marinas. A deep understanding of the Gold Anchor benchmarks ensures that we align the design to meet rigorous quality, functionality, maintenance standards, and customer service readiness. Poralu Marine emphasises the importance of partnering with each client to support their goals by planning and designing a marina that enhances the marina’s capabilities and can respond to their evolving needs. For more information visit www.poralu.com and www.wearth-group.com
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTI3ODI1