Septech Emirates has been awarded the contract to build turnkey solutions to three marinas as part of the Dubai Marina development.

The Dh50 million ($13.6 million) contract consists of designing and building the Yacht Club Marina, Marina Mall waterfront and West Marina, said an official spokesman.

The first of the three, Yacht Club Marina, will have a 116-berth capacity and will be completed by the summer of 2008. All three marinas, including provision of services such as power and metering facilities are expected to be completed by 2009.

Once completed, Dubai Marina will house four marinas of which, the East Marina offers 180 berthing spaces. In total, Dubai Marina will offer 600 berthing spaces for vessels as big as 120 feet.

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

According to Septech Emirates’ Marine Division manager Paul Lane this prestigious win was the direct 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.

“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 Emirates marine business is growing four-fold annually,” said Lane.

Septech Emirates will install Unifloat pontoons - floating concrete systems - known to be eco-friendly causing no harm to marine life. A three-and-a-half year study conducted by Bellingham Marine substantiates this fact stating that marine life, including algae, thrive in their new environment under the surface of the concrete pontoons.

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

“Waterfront properties have become a growing lifestyle trend, drawing both homeowners and investors from around the globe. Septech aims to raise the bar and provide a distinct identity to the Dubai Marina development,” Lane said. – TradeArabia News Service