The Caribbean island of St Kitts is to open a new eco-friendly superyacht marina by 2010 which will be able to take vessels of up to 91m. This is a continuation of the trend among other nearby islands to convert their facilities to take larger luxury yachts which are increasing in numbers within the area as the global feet grows.
The announcement of the development plans was made by Kiawah Development Partners of the Mandarin Oriental Group, an established luxury brand, and the St Kitts Tourism Authority, who will be transforming the Christophe Harbour into a resort and second home destination, including a Tom Fazio-designed golf course, two five-star hotels, luxury shops and restaurants and a marina containing 40 – 60 slips.
There will be a variety of in-slip services including waste oil removal, repair and maintenance, fueling hook-up for boats over 18m, and waste water and factory services for vessels over 30m. The harbour will be designed with environmental awareness its heart, with consideration to preserve the shoreline, water and coral reefs of the area.
Financial perks of choosing the harbour mean that there will be an exemption from import duties, consumption taxes and other government charges for fuel.
The designer of the marina is Applied Technology & Management who have previously worked on superyacht marina Yacht Haven Grande in St Thomas, which opened earlier in 2007. The specific location of this project was chosen for its sheltered location on the southeast peninsula of the island, superb for those who want easy access to both the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean in the West Indies.