en.Wedoany.com Reported - The V&A Waterfront and Damen Shipyards Cape Town held a keel-laying ceremony at the Damen shipyard in Cape Town Harbour, officially launching pontoon production for the Quay 7 Superyacht Marina.
The marina, costing R230 million, is expected to be completed by October 31 and open in November, with construction currently about 45% complete. Approximately 120 people are working on site, including employees from nine local subcontractors. To date, 76% of procurement expenditure has been directed to local suppliers.
The marina will feature six Damen 3006 pontoons, providing berths for up to eight vessels measuring up to 90 metres in length. Each 30-metre-long pontoon is being built in three sections by Damen Shipyards Cape Town: steel plates are first formed into substructure panels covering the bottom, side shells, bulkheads, and deck sections, then assembled into a complete pontoon structure. Upon completion, each pontoon will be equipped with fire and lifesaving equipment, water and electricity supply kiosks, bollards, fenders, IT connections, bamboo decking, and shear fenders to secure the structure to the Quay 7 wall adjacent to the new Cape Town Edition hotel. The hotel will feature a 200-square-metre dedicated marina concierge area, including a business lounge, refreshment station, and meeting and event rooms.
The assembly and completion of the first three pontoons represent the next major milestone in the construction schedule. Hermoine Manuel, Managing Director of Damen Shipyards Cape Town, stated that this V&A infrastructure is the most technically advanced marina project the company has undertaken to date. Its expertise lies in shipbuilding (patrol vessels, research and supply ships, dredgers, and tugs), and it has applied that technology to the marina environment. This project is an example of combining international expertise with South African talent and local supplier capabilities, demonstrating that complex marine infrastructure can be designed, procured, built, and delivered locally in Cape Town to international standards.
Graham Wood, CEO of the V&A Waterfront, noted that the keel-laying ceremony marks the moment when years of planning for this strategic marine infrastructure become a visible reality, and he looks forward to welcoming the first superyacht later this year.
Unlike traditional marina developments, the V&A Waterfront's superyacht marina is designed for dual use: during peak season, the eight berths accommodate superyachts typically carrying elite tourists; during the off-season, the berths support the commissioning and export parking of Cape Town's globally renowned catamaran builders, including Robertson and Caine, Two Oceans Marine, and Balance Catamarans.
Since 2009, superyacht visits to the V&A Waterfront have grown steadily, with 35 vessels recorded in the 2024/25 season, many staying for extended periods. Each visit generates sustained demand for a broad network of local businesses, including fuel suppliers, provisioning companies, marine engineers, logistics providers, hoteliers, and marine contractors, with expenditure largely remaining within the local economy.
