Festival City awards marina contract to local marina manufacturer

From its manufacturing facilities in Ajman, Septech will cast concrete pontoons and install them at the site that will provide long-stay berthing for over 100 medium to large vessels and short term and day berthing for small to medium vessels.

Nestled on the Deira side of Dubai creek and bounded by the Dubai Wildlife and Water Bird Sanctuary/Conservation area on the south and the creek on the western edge, Dubai Festival City will be a multi-use development, incorporating shopping and entertainment facilities and high-end hotels. The marina, incorporating 3,000m² of pontoon system and including an aesthetically pleasing 450m² of curved pontoon, will give VIP boat owners the option of parking their cars and availing a direct drive to their private vessel via golf cart.

Septech managing director, David Heffernan said the contract has been described by Festival City developers as a 'showcase marina' because of its prime location, superior level of service and capacity to house prestigious vessels in the style of renowned marinas around the world.

"The client required a first-class marina that would meet the expectations of boat owners and visitors to the site," Heffernan said. "Of equal importance was the quality of the final product and the peace of mind that comes from partnering with a long established local company with direct access to international marina manufacture and installation expertise."

Heffernan referred to Septech's partnership in the region with Bellingham Marine Australia (BMA), a subsidiary of Bellingham Marine, the world's oldest and largest marina company which enables them to manufacture and install the highly regarded Bellingham Unifloat™ floating concrete pontoon system.

"Our ten-year regional track record and local manufacturing facilities, together with our BMA partnership means we can fast-track the project well under the normal construction schedule for a marina of this type,"

Heffernan added.

Septech's contract to build and install the marina, expected for completion early next year includes managing the necessary piling works as well as a five year maintenance contract.