New Docks for Hurricane-Damaged Marina

Marina Technologies (MTI) has been selected to build new floating docks for Blue Haven Resort & Marina on Leeward Channel in Provo, Turks & Caicos. The Marina, built in 2013 using waler-style concrete floating docks, was destroyed by Hurricane Irma in 2017. “Normally, the marina gets about 4 knots’ worth of current but we estimate that with the hurricane, it got about 15 to 20 knots’ worth of current. The water ran in with so much power that it snapped the wood that holds the marina together. It snapped concrete floats and sections of the dock. The movement from the sheer volume of water and wind cracked nearly every float on the dock. Whatever didn’t blow away was damaged by wind and water,” reported Adam Foster, who was marina manager at that time.

MTI will supply the docks for 71 mega-yacht slips up to 220 ft long, with a maximum draft of 8.5 feet. The docks will be a heavy-duty aluminum system with dual-track aluminum extrusions and thick-walled aluminum rectangular tubing for all beams and stringers. They will include grooved composite decking; large, top-access utility troughs for easy utility installation and maintenance; polyethylene floats, PVC fendering with full-length internal aluminum backing plates; adjustable cleats up to 22 inches (10-ton capacity); dual flexible/silent rubber dock connections, and heavy-duty aluminum pile guides.

“Our heavy aluminum system is much stronger than the previous timber-waler system and coupled with the shallow-draft polyethylene floats will be better able to withstand the next hurricane and raging tides,” said Bob Berry, Marina Technologies project development manager.

MTI designed the new docks to fit the existing piles, which remained in place and were largely undamaged by the storm. “This was a huge cost-saver compared to pulling and re-driving all the piles,” said Berry.

Main and tee docks are 12 feet, 13 feet, and 15 feet wide. The finger piers are six feet, eight feet, and 10 feet wide. The docks are oriented so the vessels face into the current, making docking much easier and safer.

Marina Technologies will begin manufacturing the docks in September in their facility in Montreal, CA. The completed 37-feet-long long dock sections will ship in containers to the Island in November. The installation will be completed early this winter.

The re-built marina will offer fueling services, pump-out services, 100-amp single and 3-phase power, 480-volt/100A – 3-phase power, potable water, laundry services, waste collection, on-site provisioning, crew lounge, private showers, swimming pool, nearby beaches, and complimentary resort shuttle service.