Marina Projects to manage Whitehaven Marina
5 May 2009
Marina Projects Ltd, the south coast based company is on the expansion trail after securing the management contract for the historic 260-berth Whitehaven Marina on England's north-west coast in Cumbria.
Signing a long term lease with the Whitehaven Harbour Commissions, Marina Projects through its subsidiary company Whitehaven Marina Ltd has taken over the day-to-day management of Whitehaven Marina including operational control of the Sea Lock and management of the new £1.4million boatyard facility.
Previously the Harbour and marina has been run by the Harbour Commissioners but they have recognised the need to develop further the scale, quality and marketing of the Marina. Chief Executive of the Harbour Commissioners, Celia MacKenzie said "The Commissioners are confident that these exciting changes will benefit Whitehaven as a whole and we firmly believe that Marina Projects will bring a new and dynamic approach along with new ideas to keep Whitehaven at the forefront of the marine leisure sector"
Whitehaven, famous as the maritime gateway to the Lake District, has been used as a major port since the late1600s when boats arrived from around the world carrying tobacco, sugar and rum and departed loaded up with salt and coal.
Today, the marina is kept busy during the summer months with visiting yachts but it is the flourishing local fishing industry and commercial vessels serving the Robin Rigg wind farm 10 miles to the North West that account for much of the marina's traffic throughout the year, providing a convenient and safe haven at most states of the tide.
"We have been looking for an opportunity like this for a while," said Mark Bowden, Marina Projects Operations Director.
"Like Endeavour Quay, Whitehaven is rich in British maritime history and being such a popular destination, offers plenty of marketing and promotional potential. The infrastructure is largely in place but allows us to put some systems in place that will help maximise that potential and benefit the local community"
"The marina is already a very busy place but we will be working hard to promote Whitehaven as both a great UK sailing destination and an ideal departure point for other areas."
Whitehaven offers boat owners a perfect departure point for the Isle of Man, Ireland and Scotland's West Coast.