MARKET UPDATE: ESTONIA
MARKET UPDATE: ESTONIA Gulf of Finland The north coast of Estonia stretches for 140nm along the south coast of the Gulf of Finland; a busy waterway with deep waters. There are no natural harbours and only a few places to anchor but there are good marina facilities, particularly in and around the capital city Tallinn. The eastern border with Russia is marked by the River Narva, which is navigable for 14km (8.7mi) to the city of Narva and a tiny marina. Boaters must take great care, however, to observe correct distance from the border marker buoys so as not to enter Russian waters without permission. Between Tallinn and Narva, guest marinas are evenly spaced albeit generally small, offering from three to 40 berths. Visitors heading for Tallinn – the best preserved medieval city in northern Europe – have several marina options, and access to all that a bustling, picturesque city can offer. The best examples include The Seaplane Harbour (Lennusadam); Old City Marina; Pirita KJK (Kalev Jahtklubi); and Pirita TOP (Tallinn Olympic Yacht Centre). Collectively, these offer over 600 berths. The floating installations were completed at Kakumäe Marina to the west of Tallinn on 1 st May, offering 300 berths. West Estonia An area of national parks and conservation areas, and the welcoming small island of Vormsi with its 12-berth marina, Estonia’s west coast has a very jagged coastline with few bays deep enough to be entered by boat. The main city of Haapsalu, a resort area made famous by the therapeutic mud in its shallow-water bays, has three marinas: Grand Holm (70 berths); Veskiviigi (62 berths) with the long-standing Haapsalu Yacht Club; and Westmeri (70 berths). There is a 35-berth marina in Dirhami to the very north of the region and a 28-berth deep water facility at Rohuküla that has megayacht mooring. Hiiumaa Hiiumaa is the second biggest island in Estonia with a jagged shoreline of 365km (227mi) surrounded by around 200 small islands and islets. Visitors enjoy beautiful hiking trails, quiet forests and excellent surfing, and the island is renowned for its historic lighthouses. There are five modern guest marinas: Heltermaa (42 berths); Kärdla Yacht Harbour, which opened in 2014 with 60 berths; Orjaku (40 berths); Roograhu (15 berths); and Sõru (15 berths). Kuressaare Yacht Harbour Developed on the original site of Saaremaa Sea Sports Club, which was built in the early 1900s as the first leisure boat harbour in Estonia, Kuressaare Yacht Harbour was designed from the outset as a visitor facility. The existing City-owned harbour and buildings were completed in 1999 with the help of EU funds under the PHARE programme. Access to the open sea was provided by a 2.9km (1.8mi) long canal and protection afforded by extremely costly breakwaters. “Originally, the canal was to be 50m [164ft] wide and 3m [10ft] deep but this proved too expensive,” explains Oskar Jõgi, who has been harbourmaster at Kuressaare for the past 15 years. “The end result is 30m [98ft] wide and 2.5m [8ft] deep.” The marina berths were completed in 2005 using 210m (689ft) of Top Marine timber pontoons to create 133 berths. The contract was a major early commission for the Estonian pontoon manufacturer and comprises three 70m (230ft) long piers and a 90m (295ft) long quay that is generally used for extra mooring space during Saaremaa Estonia’s biggest island at 2,992km² (1,155mi²) is also the second biggest island in the Baltic Sea. Saaremaa has long been valued as a vacation and tourism destination and its central city Kuressaare has two marinas – Kuressaare City Harbour (132 berths) and Roomassaare Marina (70 berths), which has deep waters and offers alongside berthing for vessels up to 120m (394ft). Saaremaa has 12 marinas evenly spaced around the coast, and a 33- berth facility on the island of Abruka. events. Plans are in hand to expand the marina at the end of the pier near the fuel station but a lot of dredging will be required. Although a visitor facility, Kuressaare remains loyal to its ‘sea sports club’ roots, offering club training for seven to nine-year-olds and ice sailing training, and works with the local high school helping children to learn to sail and respect the sea. The marina also hosts many nautical events including the Midsummer Eve Rally. Kuressaare is a popular spa resort and is particularly busy during the summer season but the yacht harbour, which is within comfortable walking distance of the town centre, provides good extra revenue. “I’ve calculated that each person spends €180 over a two night stay and this equates to approximately €240,000 for the town from May to October,” Jõgi reveals. The smallest marina is Veere Fishing Harbour, which has deep water berths for just six boats but can accommodate an 80m (262ft) vessel. The recently built yacht harbour at Kuivastu has 50 berths and attracts a high level of visitors, and Mõntu Fishing Harbour at the southernmost point of the island is currently expanding its pleasure craft quay to accommodate a total of 20 boats. Gulf of Riga Visiting boats can moor up at six marinas in the Estonian part of the Gulf of Riga although marinas at Manilaid, 40 www.marinaworld.com - July/August 2017
ICOMIA 2018 WORLD MARINAS CONFERENCE AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND SAVE THE DATE KIA ORA, WELCOME TO NEW ZEALAND Nestled between three stunning harbours and surrounded by picturesque islands Auckland is a boaties paradise. It is not hard to see why one in five households own some sort of boat. The proposed dates for ICOMIA 2018 coincide with the Volvo Ocean Race Auckland stopover in 2018. Delegates will be able to enjoy the ‘Marine Showcase’ on offer including live entertainment and top hospitality packages both on and off the water. We look forward to seeing you here! ► Further information to come. Europe Middle East HRS (APPROX) HRS (APPROX) Southeast Asia HRS (APPROX) HRS (APPROX) North America million of sea, coast and islands make up Auckland’s magnificent Hauraki Gulf Marine Park Australia HRS (APPROX) HRS (APPROX) South America
