Orams Marine completes first stage of development

New Zealand-based Orams Marine has now completed the first stage of its highly anticipated large-scale development.

Project stakeholders gathered together at an event held on the 8^th of July in Auckland  to mark the occasion. The event overlooked the new 12,000-square-meter hardstand and the new 820-tonne and 85-tonne travel lifts, with luxury superyachts providing a backdrop for the proceedings.

Neven Barbour, CEO of Orams Marine, said, “The location here is unique and you can see the investment that’s gone into it. What has been created here will serve the industry well into the future.”

The event was welcomed by Barbour, who acknowledged the excellent work and effort from the parties involved in the project. The Orams Marine team, its partners within Auckland Council and an array of marine industry figures all had a part to play in creating the vision for the waterfront.

Before the installation of the new 12,000-square-meter hardstand, the three 90-metre marina piers, an industry-leader water treatment plant and two new travel lifts, the first-stage of the development involved extensive construction work.

Barbour continued, “Strengthening the sea wall, containing contamination, plus the in-built water treatment plant which sets a new standard in discharge water treatment; the result of this is a best-in-class engineering solution”.

David Rankin, chief executive of Eke Panuku Development Auckland, added, “The project we’re celebrating this evening is a good illustration of one of the core strategies we’ve been pursuing on the waterfront, which is that we wanted to retain in Auckland a genuine, authentic, working waterfront character. Right back when the original planning was done by Auckland Council, we’ve always been clear that special and focused effort would be made to preserve and strengthen over time, the marine business component of the waterfront.

“There has been a very significant investment by Orams in this site. It’s great to finally see a big travel lift. I’ve been reading about, and seeing lots of overseas examples, and then to walk up and see just how big it is. Also knowing the terrific space that piece of equipment puts you in for getting not only the most domestic business available, but also critically for the country overall as it pitches you very competitively for the international superyacht market,” Rankin continued.

After Rankin communicated the importance of the development to the crowd, Peter Busfield, CEO of the NZ Marine Industry Association, added, “David, thank you for your confidence in the marine industry. I’m sure we will deliver, and it will be good for not only the marine industry, but for the economy of Auckland and of New Zealand.

“We have confidence for the future. New figures from the Superyacht Report last week, say that, with the number of superyachts now in construction, from 2022 there will be in excess of 6000 superyachts over 30metres in length; and likely to be around 8000 by 2030. This provides a huge opportunity for Orams Marine and Auckland to try and capture some of that market.”

To allow for covered work on vessels to take place, the build of its 85-tonne work shed is ongoing. This will allow for the 85-tonne marine travel lift to easily drive in. The next stage of development includes building a number of commercial buildings and will be completed towards the end of 2022, with residential development to follow.

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