2023 November December Marina World

WIGGINS MARINA BULL

WIGGINS MARINA BULL CUSTOM DESIGN BUILT TO LAST EASY MAINTENANCE +1 (805) 485-7821 wigginslift@wigginslift.com www.wigginslift.com

IWMC 2023: IN THE FIELD ton crane and 3.5 ton forklift. Four large and six smaller workshops offer a range of services including a sailmaker and a ship’s chandler. Marina director, José Massapina CMM, hopes that work on the new nautical reception – just part of the ambitious expansion plan – will start in January next year. The building will house all essential office and administration space, areas for maritime tourism companies and the new nautical club, and a new electrical Marketing in the marina Marina de Lagos has contracted with Marketing Marina for a commercial marketing plan. The concept, launched just 18 months ago and already present in eight countries, involves the installation of sophisticated screens that display high-end advertisements. Marketing Marina creates the commercial plan for each specific marina, secures the advertising, installs the hardware, and shares the profits with the marina. Joonas Ruolahti, partner at Marketing Marina, confirms that “the marina environment is especially good for promoting high-end premium brands”. The screens are mostly located outdoors but can also be installed in yacht club buildings. “We expect to have installed systems in 40 marinas by the end of the year,” he says. Marina World Above & below: Marina de Albufeira, the final port of call, is a busy marina set for serious expansion starting with a new nautical reception building. power station. It will have a rooftop bar and restaurant. The far-reaching plans also include two hotels; a shopping mall; three tourist apartment blocks; a fuel station for cars; a hypermarket; sports training centre; and around 40 villas. Massapina is also excited to discuss the inauguration of a special project to attract recreational divers that opened in September this year. “It’s a permanent underwater exhibition just about a mile in front of the marina at about 12m [39ft] in depth,” he clarifies. The initiative was developed by a partnership between EDP (the national electricity company), the University of Algarve, the Municipality of Albufeira, the artist sculptor VHILS and Marina de Albufeira. Called ‘Art Reef by VHILS’, it has been created using redundant parts and machinery from an old coal plant/ power station that have been cleaned, sand blasted and repurposed to create fascinating underwater artwork. Some of the components were prepared in the marina boatyard and, due to their weight and size, were transferred to the water using the travel hoist, and towed to the site with the help of large floatation balloons. A team from the University of Algarve has planted corals and other plants typical to the area around the structure and these have taken well and are spreading rapidly. “It is already a great attraction for divers who visit our marina,” Massapina says. The IWMC 2023 field trip was generously sponsored by Lindley. Carlos Muriongo www.marinaworld.com – November/December 2023 39