Tuesday 01 November 2022
A review of the leisure marine market has found marinas in Jersey and the South Coast of England are now providing more bigger berths, in line with a trend of owners buying larger vessels.
A review of the leisure marine market has found marinas in Jersey and the South Coast of England are now providing more bigger berths, in line with a trend of owners buying larger vessels.
However, a lack of space and limited supply in local marinas means demand for larger berths is not currently being met, which may be limiting growth. There is also evidence that facilities provided locally have fallen below those available elsewhere.
The review, carried out by Marina Projects, an international specialist firm, found that demand in the wider leisure marina market had grown strongly in recent years. Of the 30 marinas in the Solent area that were studied, more than half had occupancy rates of more than 90%, and extensive waiting lists. Jersey's marinas were 88% full.
Currently, Guernsey Ports marinas are around 95% full, and more than 200 islanders have paid to be on the waiting list for a berth.
Nearly a third already have a place in one of the marinas, but have put their name down for a larger berth so they can buy a bigger boat. That would free up their current mooring for someone else on the list, but they are prevented from doing so due to limited availability of larger berths - between 10 and 20 metres.
Marina Projects found the proportion of berths available for larger vessels in Guernsey was only around half that seen in Jersey or the Solent.
In Guernsey Ports' four marinas, nearly three quarters of berths were unsuitable for vessels longer than ten metres, compared to around 50% in Jersey and the Solent.
By contrast, in the Jersey and the Solent around 20% of marina berths were for boats longer than 12 metres, but in Guernsey the proportion is currently around 10%.
Guernsey's berth mix is similar to that found in leisure marinas in Brittany. However, the study noted these French facilities were likely to be influenced by local conditions, including large tidal ranges, which would tend to favour smaller boats.
Marina Projects used its findings to produce the initial concept design for a new Pool marina and concluded there was opportunity for growth locally.
"The berth mix profiles in Jersey and the Solent have developed organically and can be considered to illustrate a wider trend within the boating community with marinas responding to increased demand for larger vessels.
"An opportunity exists for Guernsey to address the balance in favour of a larger berth mix profile, and align the market towards that observed in Jersey and the Solent, where market growth is organic and less influenced by other constraining factors.
"They provide an indicative profile of a modern marina with all tide access and can be used as the basis for the berth mix for a Pool Marina"
The market review also found there were significant differences between the facilities provided to mooring holders in different marinas, and Guernsey's had fallen behind.
"The modern boating customer expects a high level of facilities and customer service, such as secure walk ashore marina access, high speed WiFi, premium [toilet and washing] facilities, and high quality bars and restaurants.
"While Guernsey does offer some of these, there has been a lack of investment over the years, they have now become dated and no longer meet the exacting standards today's customer expects."
Islanders are now being asked for their views on the principle of a new marina in St Peter Port, so any feedback can be reflected when proposals are presented to the States next year. Details of Guernsey Ports' investigations and concept design can be found here.
Find out more
A public drop-in session, where members of the project team will be on hand to answer questions, will be held in the harbour terminal on the New Jetty.
- Friday 4 November - 12pm to 7pm
- Saturday 5th November - 10am to 4pm
There will be ample parking in North Beach Car Park, with short term and disabled parking on the New Jetty itself.
