450 Berth Marina Proposed For Isle Of Man

by Jason Gorringe, Tax-News.com, London

01 June 2010

The Isle of Man’s Department of Infrastructure has confirmed that it is going ahead with a number of projects to continue improvements to the island’s harbour facilities, including the proposed creation of a new marina.

Under the government’s Port St Mary Harbour Improvement Scheme, the department is undertaking investigations, consultation and establishing initial designs to propose how facilities for harbour users could be improved, and also to assess the practicalities of building a new marina within the outer harbour.

A major project for the Department will be the development of a marina in Port St Mary with 24-hour access. The new project has been designed to increase the leisure boating sector, and ease occupancy rates at existing marinas in Douglas and Peel.

The department is also to strengthen Alfred Pier - which protects the harbour - to ensure its long-term durability.

Commenting, Minister for Infrastructure, Phil Gawne said:

“Even with a total of 228 marina berths now being available in Peel and Douglas, the waiting lists remain at about the same levels as they were before the marinas opened. There is no reason to think that a marina in Port St Mary could not be similarly popular.”

”The plan for the harbour development is in three stages with the final stage including the provision of a 450 berth marina and improved onshore facilities including car parking, boat storage and new retail and catering facilities. It is likely that the development of Port St Mary Harbour would help encourage regeneration in the surrounding area as seen in both Douglas and Peel.”

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