Pontoon delivery for new marina on track

V&A Waterfront reveals progress towards delivering on plans for a superyacht basin

SOUTH AFRICA: The V&A Waterfront proved their commitment to delivering on plans for a superyacht basin at Quay 7 at an official keel laying ceremony yesterday that showcased the manufacturing progress already made in the production of six steel pontoons which will provide the underlying structure for the new facility.

Under construction at the Damen Shipyards Cape Town (DSCT) facilities, three of the six pontoons are near completion, with all six due for delivery by the end of October ahead of an official opening planned for November.

“The keel laying ceremony marks the moment where years of planning this strategic maritime infrastructure becomes a visible reality,” says Graham Wood, CEO of the V&A Waterfront.

Although production began in March, the keel laying ceremony was scheduled to coincide with current milestones and deliver a physical perspective of the magnitude of the project to guests who included members of the boating sector, V&A Waterfront team members as well as the Damen technical team.  

A capacity for technical delivery

Each of the six 30-metre pontoons is being built in three sections in DSCT’s Shed 6 which is able to accommodate the scale of the build. Steel plates are first fabricated into structural sub-panels covering the bottom, side shells, bulkheads and deck sections before being assembled into complete pontoon structures.

The assembly and completion of the first three pontoons is the next major milestone in the construction programme, and DSCT Managing Director, Hermoine Manuel says it is the company’s most technically advanced marina project.

Speaking during the ceremony, Sefale Montsi, Director of DSCT noted that, although the company had delivered similar structures to Tanzania, these pontoons are significantly larger. With a track record in shipbuilding that spans significant deliveries to the South African Navy (SAN) as well as Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA), DSCT has the technical expertise as well as on-site skills to deliver port infrastructure and marina projects.

“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,” said Manuel.

The submerged pontoon structures require the integration of precision-engineered marine services infrastructure. Technologies deployed include 3D modelling, digital scanning and specialist underwater survey systems.

Once complete, each pontoon will be outfitted with fire and lifesaving equipment, water supply and electrical kiosks, bollards, fenders, world-class IT connectivity, bamboo decking and shear fenders securing the structure to the Quay 7 wall adjacent to the new Cape Town EDITION hotel.

According to Project Manager, Wafeeq Fakier, each 60-ton pontoon will likely be transported by heavy load to the Synchrolift where they will be placed in the water before being towed into position at Quay 7.

“What makes our Superyacht Marina different is that every aspect of the marina has been designed around operational excellence and long-term economic impact,” says Andre Blaine, Executive: Marine and Industrial Property at the V&A Waterfront.

“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,” he added.

Supercharging the maritime economy

The significance of the development of the Superyacht Basin at Quay 7 supersedes the delivery of a bespoke facility catering to an exclusive user; it is also a mechanism to foster growth in the city’s maritime economy.

Unlike conventional marina developments, V&A Waterfront’s Superyacht Marina is designed for dual-purpose use. During the superyacht season, the eight berths will accommodate vessels of up to 90 metres.

In the off-season, the basin will support commissioning and export staging for Cape Town’s globally recognised catamaran manufacturers, including Robertson and Caine, Two Oceans Marine and Balance Catamarans, creating year-round economic value for the local marine sector.

“The marina will uniquely position Cape Town as a maritime hub and world class facility in our region,” said Manuel as she acknowledged the V&A’s investment as a tool to promote opportunities within the marine manufacturing sector.

Attracting superyachts to Cape Town will simultaneously require the efforts of not only the V&A Waterfront, but also the positioning of the maritime sector to confirm its ability to service the needs of the sector through repairs, maintenance and technology supply.

Describing the V&A Waterfront’s R230 million investment in the new marina as a “shot in the arm”, for the local industry, Wood emphasised that it was being undertaken with the real downstream impact in mind as he referenced the superyacht sector’s need for refuelling and provisioning.

Wood was responding directly to criticism that the investment would create an exclusionary luxury precinct that would not cater to local growth and development. “This is a demonstration of the impact of the investment which will also stimulate the growth of small businesses in our sector,” he said pointing to the pontoon contract that had been awarded to DCST.

The economic rationale for the investment is well established. Superyacht visits to the V&A Waterfront have grown consistently since 2009, with 35 vessels recorded in the 2024/25 season, many remaining for extended periods.

Each visit generates sustained demand across a wide network of local businesses – fuel suppliers, provisioning companies, marine engineers, logistics providers, hospitality operators and marine contractors – with spend remaining largely within the local economy.

“Our Superyacht Marina presents an opportunity for local suppliers, marine services businesses, manufacturers, and for Cape Town to strengthen its position on the global maritime map. We look forward to welcoming the first superyachts later this year,” concluded Wood.

In addition to the future potential of the facility, to date, 76% of procurement spend on the project has been directed to local suppliers.

PHOTO: Damen Shipyard Cape Town Managing Director, Hermoine Manuel presents V&A Waterfront’s Managing Director, Graham Wood with a small gift to mark the pontoon’s keel laying milestone. (© Maritime Review Africa)

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