: How to choose the terminal?
Choosing the right dock is crucial.
Which factors are more important: location, number of berths, supporting services and practical amenities?
Two industry experts to answer your confusion and questions when looking for a suitable dock.
“Each marina has very different services to offer shipowners,” says Joy Koch McPeters, founder of Marinalife.
Marinalife is a cruise management service that provides information and an online reservation system for ports in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean and Central America.
“So the first thing you and your guests will want to determine is whether it’s geographical (such as the proximity of the marina to a particular city or location) or more about amenities (such as a pool, restaurant, yacht club, etc.).
These factors have a significant impact on the price of berths.”
“The ease of access to the docks, both on land and by sea, is a fundamental consideration,” said Roberto Perocchio, president of the Italian Association of Tourist Ports.
“A good dock requires deep water to shelter from storms, sufficient entry space for ships and a large number of berths.”
Whether you prefer a port close to home or a frequent sailing location as a dock, make sure you have easy access (unless the dock provides additional system services).
This is because you may need to maintain your yacht when you are not using it, or have it serviced during bad weather.
Preferably within a 1-2 hour drive of your city, or near a train station or airport, this will allow you to make the most of your free time and travel more easily.
“Also pay attention to whether the port system is well maintained on a regular basis, and whether the staff is committed and reliable,” Perocchio continued. “You also need to look closely at the range of services the terminal provides: reception, security systems, technical support, transportation services, restaurants, and entertainment facilities.
Adequate berthing water and adequate security systems are essential;
Whether or not the docks are equipped with supply stations is less important, as one can usually be found nearby.
A gathering place for your guests, such as a yacht club, pool or fitness center, will be the icing on the cake for you and your VIPs.
At the same time, if there are multiple permanent crew members on board, their services can bring you more intimate care and help.”
In view of the wide variety of services above, berths vary widely in price;
Therefore, it would be desirable to compare the infrastructure and amenities of the ports and to make a valuation on that basis.
Sometimes, BY CHOOSING A CHEAPER berth, you MAY NOT BE able TO receive TIMELY and effective emergency assistance, or you may not be able to enjoy high quality personal service.
“Some marinas offer discounts to yacht club members or group members like Marinalife,” says McPeters. “This creates a model where you can save some of your parking fees and still enjoy great service.”
When reading all contracts, at all costs go into detail, as there are sometimes automatic renewals or price changes that are implicit and not explained to the owner in advance.
You will also need to reduce your berthing costs (consult a professional for this), such as putting your yacht on the rental market during periods when you are not using it.
“Our management service takes into account our customers’ specific requirements and their personal preferences, such as frequent sailing with their children or pets, which may influence their final choice.”
“We always recommend that shipowners visit the dock to see if it meets their requirements before making a decision,” says McPeters.
A more comprehensive customer profile will allow us to direct our customers to a terminal that truly meets their needs.”
Although industry guides such as Pagine Azzurre are available, getting more useful information is largely word-of-mouth.
“It is important to share experience with other shipowners to judge whether their choice of port is reasonable.”
“Trade associations are also an important source of information for advice and what’s going on with the docks,” Perrocchio concluded.
