By Gordon Wilson, Marina Dock Age
Since Hurricane Sally’s widespread destruction in the fall of 2020, the Wharf Entertainment District of Orange Beach, Alabama, has largely recovered. The Wharf Marina experienced damage to an outer attenuator, prompting several recent improvements performed by Bellingham Marine (BMI).
The first phase of construction began in October 2022 with the replacement of the outer wave attenuator section and fuel docks, reaching completion in spring of 2023. Bellingham redesigned the fuel dock to accommodate an additional two slips that hold a total of nine fuel-dispensers (three high-speed diesel pumps, three gasoline pumps, and three additional diesel pumps) making The Wharf Marina fuel facility the largest fuel system on the water along the Gulf Coast. A complete full-service center, each of the three fingers of the fuel dock contain a sanitary sewer hydrant, with an additional four hydrants located on the adjacent Dock G.
Major modifications to the marina utility systems were added due to the influx of larger vessels. These design considerations resulted in the addition of 3-phase power and an overall increase in the number of power pedestals. Bellingham Marine Utilities installed new electrical service to the outer docks, including 30A, 50A, and 100A single phase, with 3-phase power added to Dock G for larger vessels. Marina Electrical Power (MEE) supplied the power pedestals and substations, while Bellingham Marine Utilities performed the electrical installation with assistance from McGonigle Electric of St. Augustine.
By Gordon Wilson, Marina Dock Age
A dock-by-dock renovation is underway at one of the largest marinas in the North Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area. Bellingham Marine is leading the project at Safe Harbor Loch Lomond Marina. Modern floatation, triangle frames with polymer covers, and composite decking, will be added to the marina throughout the 2023 season. Content to retain the existing layout and framework, the marina turned to Bellingham Marine to replace the antiquated floats, deck and fendering, to provide an upgraded look to the marina that requires lower maintenance.
Bellingham Marine, a licensed general and electrical contractor who p
erforms all of their work in-house from manufacture to installation, has also handled unexpected electrical and mechanical issues found during the renovation. Additional electrical and mechanical repairs and upgrades, replacement of damaged boards, stringers, cleats, and hardware have been completed. About 90% of the marina will remain open to members and visitors throughout the project that began in 2022.
Loch Lomond Marina is about halfway between San Francisco and Napa and is home to over 500 slips. The marina welcomes permanent members as well as transient boaters and accommodates vessels up to 62’ in length. Completion of the renovation project is expected near the close of the 2023 season.
By Gordon Wilson, Marina Dock Age
Come spring, visitors to Arizona’s Lake Mohave will have access to a new state-of-the-art concession building and dock system at Katherine Landing. Part of the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Katherine Landing on Lake Mohave is about a two-hour drive south of Las Vegas in Bullhead City, Nevada.
Mohave is a popular stop for several recreational activities including boating, fishing, and even scuba diving. Bellingham Marine performed the recent project for Urban Park Concessionaires, the holders of a 15-year contract with the National Park Service (NPS) to provide visitor services at the landing, according to the NPS website.
The project provided a multitude of improvements including a new 659-foot headwalk, an 80-foot ADA gangway, (27) 26-foot-long rounded fingers, a fuel dock with three 8×32-foot fingers, and a pre-fabricated building with match-cast concrete floating platform. Slip-side amenities in the new dock system include electrical, sewage pumpout, fire suppression system, and potable water. Bellingham also designed and built the underwater anchoring/cable system suitable to accommodate 14-20 feet of water level variation, which is not uncommon for Lake Mohave.
“The client upgraded from a steel and wood dock system to our Unifloat/Match Cast system, which will offer more stability and longevity with less maintenance,” said Brian Hylland, project manager for Bellingham Marine. “One of the challenges is tying in the new dock system to the existing steel system. However, we were able to match the existing infrastructure.”
The Town of Palm Beach marina, now with enhanced superyacht berthing, opened last year after a major rebuild. Image: Jacober Creative – courtesy of Town of Palm Beach Marina
The Town of Palm Beach Marina, the only public marina located on the 18-mile (29km) long barrier island between the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean, reopened to the public in November 2021 after a $40 million rebuild. Completed on time and under budget, it provides a significant upgrade to the marina facilities in Palm Beach County, Florida, and its first year of operation has been a huge success.
Development of the master plan, which began in January 2017, was approved by the Town Council on 10th April 2018. And, as South Florida is experiencing increasing demand for larger slips, the approval of the project design addressed the growing need to expand the marina to allow access for larger vessels, including superyachts.
Murray Logan Construction was chosen as the general contractor for the project and Bellingham Marine was contracted to undertake the marina portion of the extensive renovation. Working together with the Town’s consulting engineer, Baird, the scope of work included total replacement and redesign of the existing marina, and installation of a hurricane-rated Unifloat concrete floating dock system which was put through its paces with minimal ensuing damage by Hurricane Ian. Steel pipe piling with HDPE sleeves, installation of ADA compliant aluminium gangways and waterside utilities were included.
The marina now comprises 84 slips, ranging from 60 to 294ft (18 to 90m) divided between three docks: the Brazilian, Australian and Peruvian. An additional 250ft (76m) structure, the Royal Palm Dock, was included in the project to accommodate superyachts through the use of side ties. Before the renovation, the marina was only able to accommodate one 200ft (61m) yacht, but with the completion of the project it has increased this capacity tenfold.
To spark the imagination of those contemplating similar projects in their marinas, Robert Wilkes highlights ten of the best Bellingham Marine marina rebuilds.
Best Superyacht Marina:
Rybovich, West Palm Beach, Florida, USA
Rybovich’s transformation from shipyard to superyacht destination marina placed this already iconic facility in a class all of its own.
You won’t find a marina and shipyard more tailored to serving the needs of superyacht owners and crews than Rybovich, the world’s pre-eminent superyacht facility. The marina can accommodate yachts of 120m (400ft) with high freeboard, heavy duty docks; in-slip refueling; abundant power and the ability to service yachts right from the docks. Specializing in 10-star concierge service, crews enjoy hotel-like amenities and an on-site bistro social life. The shipyard can haul out most yachts and also has a 2,500- ton floating dry dock. A new 14 acre (5.6ha) work-site was recently added nearby and a channel was dredged to integrate the two sites. Read more about developer’s plans for Rybovich, best superyacht, destination marina.
Best Iconic Boat Show Venue:
Bahia Mar Yacht Center, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA
Bahia Mar Yachting Center was rebuilt in the early 2000’s. The developer’s aim was to build the ultimate special event facility. Power and dock configuration were a top priority.
Bahia Mar Yacht Center is one the earliest and longest serving venues of the annual Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show – the largest boat show in the world – and the 2002 rebuild ensures that it will continue in that tradition. Masterfully designed, the marina functions as a world class superyacht center 11 months out of the year. The magic begins in October when the marina expands from 242 large yacht slips and side ties into a 1,000-boat gunwale-to-gunwale moorage for the iconic Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. The rebuild transitioned the marina from fixed to floating docks and incorporated a one of- a-kind electrical system with custom-built distribution panels for the show. The system ensures adequate power for all the yachts on display. Learn more about the award winning marina at Bahia Mar Yachting Center.