Update on superyacht extension to Vuda Marina

The management team at Vuda Marina, Fiji, has told SuperyachtNews.com that work is progressing well on a c.US$18million superyacht extension to the marina. The work will see the marina add a state of the art extension that will include berths for 10 superyachts of up to 65m. Work on the new marina began at the end of 2012: the building plan includes a 180m retaining wall, a dedicated ramp for catamaran haul outs and repair, 30 new hard stand spaces, and 100m of new floating docks. “Expected time frame to completion is four to five years,” said Adam Wade, General Manager and CEO of Vuda Marina.



The new development will build on the marina's existing infrastructure. “The current Vuda Marina is very unique in that it's become known as a cyclone hole, recently coming through Cyclone Evan in December 2012 without loss,” said John Philp, Director of Vuda Marine. As a further protective measure, the extension to the current marina - which involves the creation of a second basin, much like the first one, will also be fully enclosed on all sides : with very little fetch, and a surge boom gate across the 25m channel during cyclonic weather. “What's also unique about the development is the creation of a 10 acre island and sales of apartments and villa's,” continued Philp. Nine of these ‘superyacht villas’ will come with a 60m superyacht berth. There are 10 superyacht berths in the new basin, and another 25 berths ranging from 10m to 25m in length. “Our hardstand area will also increase by about 80 per cent, so it's not just about superyachts.”



The need for new and/or bigger marinas to support the growing superyacht traffic through the South Pacific is growing, particularly as yachts can now charter in Tahiti, Fiji and New Zealand. As a central location and port of call for a growing number of larger yachts, Fiji is a logical place for marina development. A 2012 survey conducted by Port Denerau Marina, one of the country’s leading marinas, showed that yachting contributed $30.5 million to the Fiji economy in 2012. The survey also showed that numbers of superyachts (in this case defined as 80’+) visiting Fiji are on the rise with 32 in 2010, 37 in 2011 and 40 in 2012. The Vuda Marina development is one example of Fiji moving to put new infrastructure into place to be ready for the growing demand.

As an added lure for visiting yachts, in breaking news Philps told SuperyachtNews.com that on 18 March Vuda Marina was given official Approved Boarding Station status by Customs in Fiji. The move means that all arriving yachts into the western side of Fiji (including Denarau) will now be cleared at Vuda Marina instead of the commercial port of Lautoka. “Finally after years of research, meetings, lobbying of government it has been recognised that we need to service our yachting tourists in a manner which shows we appreciate their business, whilst at the same time being mindful of the integrity of Fiji's borders,” said Philp.

With this move just passed the marina is worked closely will all the government agencies, including Bio Security, Immigration, Customs, the Navy and Ministry of Defence, Health and Quarantine to open this facility by the last week of April when the first yachts arrive in numbers. “We are certain that together with the relevant agencies we will be able to provide a much speedier turn around time, in congenial surroundings,” said Philp.

SuperyachtNews.com will keep readers informed as this development progresses.

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