Septech wins Dh50m marina contract

A Dh50 million contract to build three marinas has been awarded to infrastructure specialist Septech Emirates.

The facilities at the huge Dubai Marina development will be supplied on a turnkey basis. The first of the projects, Yacht Club Marina, will have a 116-berth capacity and is due to be completed by the summer of this year. The other two, Marina Mall waterfront and West Marina, are to be ready by 2009.

Once completed Dubai Marina will have four marinas offering 600 berthing spaces for vessels as large as 120ft. The East Marina has 180 spaces.

Septech Emirates recently completed the Festival Marina at Dubai Festival City and has won several pontoon installation contracts.

“This win was the result of the company’s 11-year track record, local manufacturing facilities and partnership with Bellingham Marine Australia (BMA), the world’s largest marina design and installation company,” said Septech’s marine division manager Paul Lane.

“Our association with BMA and the purpose-built factory in Ajman where we manufacture and design custom-engineered pontoons to suit individual client needs allow us to fast-track any project over its normal construction schedule.

“Also, with advanced production techniques being incorporated into our operations, Septech’s marine business is growing fourfold annually.” The company will install Unifloat pontoons – floating concrete systems – that are known to be eco-friendly. A three-and-a-half-year study by BMA found marine life, including algae, thrived under the pontoons.

“Concrete has long been recognised worldwide as the preferred material for marina docks,” said Lane. “It provides mass for stability, rigidity for strength and durability. And most importantly, using concrete pontoons means there is minimal disruption to the seabed.”

Septech will be responsible for the design, manufacture and installation of the floating docks and the installation of piling, a pump-out dock, barrier-free access gangways and dock utilities. The marina designs feature curved walkways and high deck loading pontoons suitable for golf carts. “Waterfront properties have become a growing lifestyle trend, drawing both homeowners and investors from around the globe,” said Lane.