Luxury marina in development in Panama City
Panama City is to welcome a new 200-berth superyacht marina to its shores, as part of the Ocean Reef Island and Marina. The man-made islands and harbour will offer luxury residential and leisure facilities, as well as an exclusive shoreside yacht club.…
The much-lauded expansion of the Panama Canal, due for completion in 2014 will no doubt enhance the amount of marine traffic passing through the Central American state, and increase the efficiency with which this busy maritime highway is managed. As Theodore Prince, writing for Supply Chain Quarterly, said:
“The expansion of the Panama Canal…could become a point of inflection for trans-Pacific…movement. Many stakeholders believe the expansion offers a game-changing opportunity, and there has been a great deal of speculation, analysis, and publicity regarding its anticipated benefits.”
This last point is undeniable, a fact evidenced by the news that Panama City is to welcome a new superyacht marina, accommodating yachts up to 90m in length, to its shoreline as part of the man-made Ocean Reef Island and Marina. US-based architect, SmithGroupJJR is partnering Panamanian real estate developer, Grupo Los Pueblos to develop the 84,983- and 101,171-sqm islands, connected by two 160m bridges, and offering luxury residential properties with views of the Pacific and Panama City.
Faced with the prospect of a wave climate that ‘starts off the coast of Australia and builds relentlessly until it reaches Panama’, SmithGroup has developed a protected harbour that will house the 105,218sqm marina. The marina itself will offer berthing for around 200 yachts, and there will be a dedicated yacht club factored in to its development. There will also be heliports, parks, tennis courts and a golf course incorporated into the ‘resort’.
Construction of the islands themselves, and their connecting bridges are underway but the overall completion date for the project is yet to be confirmed. The overall cost is estimated to be $300 million, with shoreside residences being sold for between $4.5 and $10 million.
David Lantz, Corporate Practice Manager at SmithGroupJJR, outlined the group’s role in the project:
“SmithGroupJJR is assisting the largest residential developer in Panama with the development and design of a landmark offshore island and marina project. In order to create a marina amenity, SmithGroupJJR developed a design for a harbour and marina between the islands that preserves the low impact of the island system and provides a tranquil basin for boats. SmithGroupJJR’s coastal engineers performed tidal circulation and wave transformation studies to resolve a breakwater configuration and marina shape that promotes ambient water quality, and provides adequate dockage and calm harbour conditions.
“The design criteria for the yacht harbour was unique, driven by the size and types of boats needed to safely operate in the waters of the South Pacific, as well as their cruising capacity to reach popular fishing grounds and other distant ports of call without refuelling. SmithGroupJJR’s 200-slip marina design accommodates the existing and anticipated boating demand and has evolved into a superyacht facility that will receive vessels up to 90m in length. [We] detailed a dockage design, with plans and specifications, for both enclosed slip and Med Moor type berthing. The floating docks operate in six metres of tidal fluctuation and are self-contained with all power and services. The design also includes a contemporary yacht club facility that controls exclusive access to the docks and is the principal amenity to the residents of the surrounding island development.”
Related Links
SmithGroupJJR Website
Grupo Los Pueblos Website
“The expansion of the Panama Canal…could become a point of inflection for trans-Pacific…movement. Many stakeholders believe the expansion offers a game-changing opportunity, and there has been a great deal of speculation, analysis, and publicity regarding its anticipated benefits.”
This last point is undeniable, a fact evidenced by the news that Panama City is to welcome a new superyacht marina, accommodating yachts up to 90m in length, to its shoreline as part of the man-made Ocean Reef Island and Marina. US-based architect, SmithGroupJJR is partnering Panamanian real estate developer, Grupo Los Pueblos to develop the 84,983- and 101,171-sqm islands, connected by two 160m bridges, and offering luxury residential properties with views of the Pacific and Panama City.
Faced with the prospect of a wave climate that ‘starts off the coast of Australia and builds relentlessly until it reaches Panama’, SmithGroup has developed a protected harbour that will house the 105,218sqm marina. The marina itself will offer berthing for around 200 yachts, and there will be a dedicated yacht club factored in to its development. There will also be heliports, parks, tennis courts and a golf course incorporated into the ‘resort’.
Artist's impression of how the Panama City marina will look.
Construction of the islands themselves, and their connecting bridges are underway but the overall completion date for the project is yet to be confirmed. The overall cost is estimated to be $300 million, with shoreside residences being sold for between $4.5 and $10 million.
David Lantz, Corporate Practice Manager at SmithGroupJJR, outlined the group’s role in the project:
“SmithGroupJJR is assisting the largest residential developer in Panama with the development and design of a landmark offshore island and marina project. In order to create a marina amenity, SmithGroupJJR developed a design for a harbour and marina between the islands that preserves the low impact of the island system and provides a tranquil basin for boats. SmithGroupJJR’s coastal engineers performed tidal circulation and wave transformation studies to resolve a breakwater configuration and marina shape that promotes ambient water quality, and provides adequate dockage and calm harbour conditions.
“The design criteria for the yacht harbour was unique, driven by the size and types of boats needed to safely operate in the waters of the South Pacific, as well as their cruising capacity to reach popular fishing grounds and other distant ports of call without refuelling. SmithGroupJJR’s 200-slip marina design accommodates the existing and anticipated boating demand and has evolved into a superyacht facility that will receive vessels up to 90m in length. [We] detailed a dockage design, with plans and specifications, for both enclosed slip and Med Moor type berthing. The floating docks operate in six metres of tidal fluctuation and are self-contained with all power and services. The design also includes a contemporary yacht club facility that controls exclusive access to the docks and is the principal amenity to the residents of the surrounding island development.”
Related Links
SmithGroupJJR Website
Grupo Los Pueblos Website
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