BLUE STAR MARINA
BLUE STAR MARINA Quality solutions for any size marina. Tel: (+1) 305 300-9596 info@AccmarEquipment.com Miami, Florida, USA www.AccmarEquipment.com 5 BLUE STARS: ancora Marina, Neustadt in Holstein - Baltic Sea www.bluestarmarina.org The transparent certification system indicating the quality level of marinas INTERNATIONAL MARINE CERTIFICATION INSTITUTE ®
DOCKSIDE SERVICES Meeting a continued thirst for power The increasing demand placed by superyachts on dockside services has led to the development of ever sophisticated electrical hardware. UK-based Rolec Services, a pioneer in the design and manufacture of pedestals with superpower, has delivered one record-breaking unit – and more may be in the offing. “Whilst we have been providing superyacht services fairly steadily for 15 years with the regular provision of 125amp, 150amp, 250amp, an occasional 400amp and even 600amp, 2012 saw us manufacture not only 1,000amp superyacht services but also 2,000amp,” says Rolec operations director Holly Brown. Demand has been dictated by the increased presence of superyachts at marina docks. “Several years ago, the much larger superyachts tended to be moored out to sea or in the bay, using tenders to transport personnel to and from shore or, alternatively, in special quayside locations, with services supplied from the shore,” explains Rolec managing director Kieron Alsop. “But this meant they were missing out on the social scene surrounding the marina.” As marinas honed their destination appeal, they also started to offer larger berths – but often at the extremities of the mooring basin where pipework is more challenging. “Due to various technical calculations, e.g. voltage drop, ambient air correction factors, pressure loss and water volume flow rates, the electric cables and water pipes running from shore down onto the marina and along the pontoons to the edges of the marina were extremely large,” Alsop confirms. The need to go to the drawing board and develop a new product was clear, and to suit the new-style marina it had to look attractive rather than industrial. The result was the Rolec ‘MegaMaster’ pedestal, a unit available in different sizes for wide ranging power and water 250amp MegaMasters on the docks at Camper & Nicholsons (C&NM’s) Cesme Marina, Turkey. requirements - e.g. 16amp to 600amp electrical supplies and ½ inch to 2 inch water supplies - and services such as pump-out. The initial design sported a stylish aluminium housing but this was soon followed by different finishes and colours, including stainless steel and GRP, and ornate features such as curved tops and LED lighting. “We’ve now manufactured close to a thousand MegaMasters in various formats and sizes that are helping to service large boats and superyachts from South America through the Caribbean, Europe, the Middle East and South East Asia,” Alsop confirms. But more power was needed. Another giant step A surge of seriously large superyachts mainly in the Middle East led in 2012 to the design of a new giant MegaMaster that could offer a 1,000amp threephase electricity supply (3,000amps in total); the equivalent electricity supply of 50 houses! Five custom designed units were ordered by Camper & Nicholsons Marinas for Yas Marina in Abu Dhabi for a visitor berth that welcomes vessels up to 150m and above. According to Yas Marina manager, Ronan Jolle, the available shore power is highly appreciated by boat owner and crew and no changes are planned. But developing a 1,000amp unit brought its own challenges. “Massive cables and water pipes and a huge increase in structural integrity was Valencia Yacht Base in Spain is a dedicated superyacht extension to Real Club Nautico de Valencia and moors vessels up to 120m in length. MegaMasters provide 400 to 600amps. www.marinaworld.com - July/August 2015 29
