New ultra-luxury marina for the wealthy to park their superyachts in Cape Town

Construction of the V&A Waterfront’s Quay 7 Superyacht Marina is underway, with the new eight-berth facility set to open before the end of the year.

The V&A Waterfront and Damen Shipyards Cape Town recently marked a significant milestone in the development of the Quay 7 Superyacht Marina with an official keel laying ceremony.

The event, which was held at the Port of Cape Town, signalled the formal transition from design and planning to the physical production of infrastructure.

The marina is expected to establish the V&A Waterfront and Cape Town as a globally competitive superyacht destination and help grow South Africa’s ocean economy.

It is being built in front of the Cape Town Edition hotel, the first Marriott Edition hotel in Africa. Marriott’s Edition Hotels are considered one of the group’s luxury tier brands.

The Cape Town Edition hotel, along with the new marina, will offer an ultra-luxury experience for the rich and famous.

In traditional shipbuilding, a keel laying ceremony marks the placement of a vessel’s structural backbone and is recognised as the moment full-scale construction begins.

For the V&A Waterfront’s six floating pontoons, it marked the welding of the first structural steel plates. Construction is due to be completed by 31 October 2026, with an official opening planned for 1 November 2026.

About 120 people are working on site, including staff from nine local subcontractors. To date, 76% of procurement spend has been directed to local suppliers.

“The keel laying ceremony marks the moment where years of planning this strategic maritime infrastructure become a visible reality,” said V&A Waterfront CEO Graham Wood.

He explained that Quay 7 will position the V&A Waterfront and Cape Town where they belong – “on the global superyacht circuit”.

It will also create long-term economic opportunities for the marine services sector, local manufacturers and the broader ocean economy.

Behind the construction

Constructing the marina is no easy task. Each of the six 30-metre pontoons is being built by Damen Shipyards in Cape Town in three sections.

Steel plates are first fabricated into structural sub-panels covering the bottom, side shells, bulkheads and deck sections before being assembled into complete pontoon structures.

The assembly and completion of the first three pontoons is the next major milestone in the development’s construction programme.

Damen Shipyards Cape Town Managing Director Hermoine Manuel explained that it is the company’s most technically advanced marina project.

“Our expertise is in shipbuilding – patrol vessels, research and supply vessels, dredgers, and tugs – and we have brought that discipline to a marina context,” Manuel said.

“This project is an example of international expertise combined with South African talent and local supplier capability.”

Manuel said it demonstrates that complex maritime infrastructure can be designed, procured, constructed and delivered to international standards in Cape Town.

The submerged pontoon structures require the integration of precision-engineered marine services infrastructure. Technologies deployed include 3D modelling, digital scanning and specialist underwater survey systems.

Once complete, each pontoon will be outfitted with fire and lifesaving equipment, water supply and electrical kiosks, bollards, fenders, world-class IT connectivity, and bamboo decking.

Shear fenders will secure the structure to the Quay 7 wall, which will be adjacent to the new Cape Town EDITION hotel.

Long-term economic impact

V&A Waterfront Executive of Marine and Industrial Property Andre Blaine explained that this development is not just like any other marina.

“What makes our Superyacht Marina different is that every aspect of the marina has been designed around operational excellence and long-term economic impact,” he said.

“The engineering you can see is only part of the story. The anchoring systems, the submerged structures, the utility integration – this is infrastructure built to serve international maritime traffic for decades.”

Unlike conventional marina developments, V&A Waterfront’s Superyacht Marina is designed for dual-purpose use. During the superyacht season, the eight berths will accommodate vessels of up to 90 metres.

In the off-season, the basin will support commissioning and export staging for Cape Town’s globally recognised catamaran manufacturers.

These include Robertson and Caine, Two Oceans Marine and Balance Catamarans. This dual-purpose approach will create year-round economic value for the local marine sector.

The economic rationale for the investment is well established. Superyacht visits to the V&A Waterfront have grown consistently since 2009,

In the 2024/25 season, a total of 35 vessels were recorded, many of which remained for extended periods. Each visit generates sustained demand across a wide network of local businesses.

Dockers pay fuel suppliers, provisioning companies, marine engineers, logistics providers, hospitality operators and marine contractors. Spend remains largely within the local economy.

With construction now well underway, Wood said that the V&A looks forward to welcoming the first superyachts later this year.

“Our Superyacht Marina presents an opportunity for local suppliers, marine services businesses, manufacturers, and for Cape Town to strengthen its position on the global maritime map.”