V&A Waterfront begins construction of R230m superyacht marina

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21-07-2026
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Moneyweb
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Project remains on track for completion later this year as fabrication begins at Damen Shipyards.

The V&A Waterfront and Damen Shipyards Cape Town have officially transitioned the R230 million Quay 7 Superyacht Marina development from design to full-scale physical production.

The maritime project reached a major milestone with a structural keel laying ceremony at the Damen Shipyards factory in the Port of Cape Town, marking the formal start of fabrication for South Africa’s first purpose-built super-yacht marina.

In traditional shipbuilding, a keel laying ceremony represents the official birth date of a vessel’s construction. For the Quay 7 development, the ceremony marked the physical welding of the first structural steel plates for six floating pontoons.

The project is approximately 45% complete and remains on track for practical completion on 30 October 2026, with an official opening scheduled for November 2026.

The construction site currently utilises a workforce of about 120 people, including personnel from nine local subcontractors, with 76% of total procurement spend directed to local suppliers to date.

Graham Wood, CEO of the V&A Waterfront, emphasised that the ceremony marks the moment where years of strategic planning become a visible asset.

“Quay 7 will position the V&A Waterfront and Cape Town where they belong – on the global superyacht circuit – and create long-term economic opportunities for the marine services sector, local manufacturers and the broader ocean economy. Every weld brings that future closer,” said Wood.

Technically advanced engineering framework

The construction involves six 30-metre floating pontoons based on the Damen 3006 design, which will provide eight total berths, six stern-in and two side-on, to accommodate vessels measuring up to 90 metres.

Each 48-tonne steel pontoon is being built in three distinct fabricated sections covering the bottom, side shells, bulkheads, and deck before final assembly.

The project represents the most technically advanced marina infrastructure ever undertaken by Damen Shipyards Cape Town, a firm whose primary expertise spans specialised shipbuilding for patrol, research, supply, dredging, and tug vessels.

Technologies deployed to integrate precision-engineered marine infrastructure include 3D modelling, digital scanning, and specialist underwater survey systems, alongside a customised seabed anchoring system designed for Cape Town’s marine environment.

Hermoine Manuel, managing director of Damen Shipyards Cape Town, highlighted the domestic execution capabilities of the build: “Our expertise is in shipbuilding – patrol vessels, research and supply vessels, dredgers, and tugs – and we have brought that discipline to a marina context.

“This project is an example of international expertise combined with South African talent and local supplier capability, and it demonstrates that complex maritime infrastructure can be designed, procured, constructed and delivered to international standards right here in Cape Town.”

Once launched and positioned adjacent to the new Cape Town Edition Hotel, the pontoons will be outfitted with water and electrical infrastructure, fire and lifesaving equipment, world-class IT connectivity, bamboo decking, and specialised shear fenders to secure the structures to the quay wall.

Securing year-round economic multipliers

Unlike conventional seasonal infrastructure, the Quay 7 marina uses a dual-purpose design to maintain constant economic activity. During peak super-yacht season, the eight berths will host international vessels.

In the off-season, the basin will pivot to support commissioning and export staging for Cape Town’s prominent local catamaran manufacturers, including Robertson and Caine, Two Oceans Marine, and Balance Catamarans.

The financial rationale for the development tracks a consistent rise in super-yacht visits to the V&A Waterfront since 2009, with 35 vessels recorded during the 2024/25 season. Each visiting vessel drives localised consumer demand across a broad supplier network, including marine engineers, logistics providers, fuel suppliers, provisioning firms, and hospitality operators.

Andre Blaine, executive of marine and industrial property at the V&A Waterfront, noted that the engineering framework is entirely optimised for long-term operational excellence.

“The engineering you can see is only part of the story. The anchoring systems, the submerged structures, the utility integration – this is infrastructure built to serve international maritime traffic for decades,” said Blaine.

Durban enters the superyacht framework

As Cape Town accelerates its physical infrastructure build, eThekwini Municipality is launching its own strategic initiative to capture a share of the global maritime blue economy.

The city’s Economic Development and Planning Committee has approved a formal report to establish a strategic partnership with Navigo of Italy.

The primary objective of the Italian partnership is to position Durban as a premier coastal investment destination by hosting the internationally recognised Yachting Aftersales and Refit Experience Symposium from 2026 to 2028.

The initiative aims to draw international yacht captains, marina operators, and shipyards to KwaZulu-Natal, stimulating foreign direct investment into Durban’s existing ship repair facilities, marine manufacturing networks, and inner-city waterfront developments.