Biggest marina in Southern Hemisphere launches upgrade to become national marine industry hub
THE biggest boating facility in the Southern Hemisphere is relaunching as part of a plan to ensure the Gold Coast remains a major national marine industry hub.
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THE biggest boating facility in the Southern Hemisphere is relaunching as part of a plan to ensure the Gold Coast remains a major national marine industry hub.
Gold Coast City Marina and Shipyard has a new logo and a renewed passion for getting more boaties on the water.
One of the first facilities in Australia to adopt the philosophy of ‘marine clustering’ — gathering marine-related industries in one location, like a shopping centre for boaties.
The marina and shipyard aims to adopt a much closer working relationship with nearby marine trades to become a “one-stop-shop” for boaties.
GCCM was built by then managing director Jeff Leigh-Smith and partner Patrick Gay in 1988, lifted its first boats in 2000, and was then run by Jeff’s sons Dean and Ryan Leigh-Smith as operations managers.
It features a world-class marina, dry storage, shipyard facilities and more than 60 tenants employing more than 500 marine-related contractors.
Since 2000, GCCM has lifted, maintained, refitted, repaired and built more than 50,000 vessels, from jetskis to superyachts.
In 2014, the Gay group took sole ownership of the facility, now run by Patrick’s son Trenton Gay and his team.
Last year it picked up Best Marina and Boatyard gong for the fourth year running, Best Dry Storage Facility and Superyacht Australia Business of the Year.
Chief operational officer Steve Sammes said the team has spent two years working on plans to the take the marina to a new level of convenience and customer service.
“It’s about upgrading and creating new facilities and it’s also about creating the right
team, the right culture and the most efficient processes to get boats back on the water faster and for longer than any other facility,” Mr Sammes said.
He said the marina would ramp up its project management services using its team of project managers.
“We have a specialist for everything so we can provide tailor-made solutions no matter how large or small the project,” he said.
Trenton Gay will promote the project management services locally and in Tahiti, Singapore and Fort Lauderdale, aiming to bring more superyachts to the Gold Coast for major works.
GCCM will offer a qualified pilot escort service from The Seaway to the marina for large vessels and the new logo and website launch will coincide with the Marine Expo and Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show.
Plans are under way for overwater offices, expansion of undercover work areas for large boats and 65m marina berths to meet demand.
GCCM intends to rally all levels of government to secure Port of Clearance facilities on the Gold Coast in the lead-up to the Commonwealth Games and the bid for the America’s Cup in 2019.
It will work with the Boating Industry of Australia to make the Gold Coast Marine Precinct the hub for training and innovation in Australia and has plans to expand at its 20ha site, at 20 Beattie Road.
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