News & Views

Waterfront masterplan

Marina Projects’ core task during the marina concession process was development of a concept masterplan, around which the JV’s financial and technical bid could be structured. The marina masterplan design focused on the regeneration and reuse of the existing commercial cargo and ferry port within the heart of Vlora city. Hemmed in by the historic city on all sides, it was recognised that the Port of Vlora would be better suited to marine leisure and blue tourism focused activity than commercial activity. Under the masterplan proposal, marine commercial traffic will be relocated to an existing port just 6km north of Vlora, while the current port infrastructure would be reconditioned and extended to provide safe berthing for leisure yachts. Additional marina infrastructure will include protective breakwaters, a fuel berth, floating pontoons and a dedicated marina management and customer facility building.

Marina Vlora will integrate with the successful Lungomare masterplan for the city, which aims to deliver a substantial network of public areas including promenades, plazas and pedestrian friendly streets and will connect the tourist-focused south of the city with beaches to the north of the port.

Marina Design Services

In response to the technical requirements of the tender competition, Marina Projects prepared a suite of design and technical studies to support the JV’s submission over a concentrated tender period in early 2021. In addition to a marina masterplan for the 400+ berth facility, technical studies included a marina operational & maintenance plan, construction programme, capital cost estimate, CapEx cashflow and detailed design phase programme.

With the development rights now secured for the JV bidder, Marina Projects will turn its attention to the detailed design stage of Marina Vlora. Marina professional services will include detailed development of the berth mix and layout, integration of the marina into the wider development masterplan, design of the marina facilities, preparation of the marina business case, and marina tendering & procurement assistance. The design process is expected to take at least 12 months while it is anticipated construction of the marina will take up to three years from commencement of works.

The Marina Vlora scheme bolsters Marina Projects’ list of successful marina designs in the Adriatic region, with world-leading Porto Montenegro superyacht marina and recently launched Portonovi marina turning heads in neighbouring Montenegro to the north. Strategically located at the Strait of Otranto – the narrowest point between Italy and Albania, between western Europe and the Balkans, and separating Adriatic and Ionian seas, Marina Vlora has the opportunity to play a central role in the continued growth of the Albanian tourism sector.