Last May, Valencia Port Authority called for bids for the use and renovation of the yacht facilities in the northern area of the Port of Valencia. It ultimately awarded the licence to the joint venture between Semar (Serveis Marítims Port Eivissa) and Ocibar, two groups specialising in benchmark yachting projects in the Mediterranean.

This company, whose right to operate and manage the concession has been signed yesterday October 1st, will develop and operate the project submitted to Valencia Port Authority for a minimum period of thirty-five years. 

The project, which will feature three individual marinas known as Marina Norte, Marina Sur and Marina City, will revamp the entire site and give it a totally new and authentic personality worlds from the current one. Thanks to its privileged location compared to other yacht facilities in the Mediterranean and thanks to its unbeatable connections with the main yachting markets, the new Marina Valencia licence-holder will revive the port's previous life and spirit, such as when it played host to the America's Cup, and revamp the area with top-class yachting and social attractions, giving the area the calibre and allure it truly deserves.

The planned renovation works will reshape the facility into four unique areas. The first will include the three marinas in the heart of the city for yachts between 8 and 130 metres LOA. The second will involve the construction of a refit & repair yard hosting first-class specialist companies. Thirdly, there'll be a leisure, dining and entertainment area expertly integrated into the environment that will make the marina a must-visit for local, national and international audiences. And finally, Marina Valencia will feature a an architecturally stunning area with unparalleled sea views set aside for offices and retail units. And all this will be spectacularly complemented with parking spaces, bike lanes, jogging tracks, spectacular terraces, and landscaped gardens. 

However, the project doesn't just involve the revamp of the marina, but also includes the development of fascinating social, nautical, environmental and sporting proposals that will be rolled out as the whole project takes shape. 

One key factor in the success of all the facilities managed by Semar and Ocibar is that both companies are renowned for their excellence and their incredible culture of service, while also providing facilities with their own personality and full integration into their settings. And a common denominator for Semar and Ocibar when it comes to developing a new project is their in-depth analysis and study of the local environment and socioeconomic status.

Semar is a joint venture between two companies engaged in the yachting and tourism industries: the IPM Group and the Alonso Marí Group via Insotel Marine Group (IMG).

Meanwhile, the IPM Group is an association of leading companies in the international yachting industry that started operating in the 1990s with the construction and management of Marina Port de Mallorca. It has since been involved in the creation and management of internationally renowned marinas and refit yards.

The group includes various yachting divisions engaged in major projects in the maritime industry:

• IPM Management, a consultancy specialising in the management, promotion, investment and construction of yacht facilities and projects in and outside Spain.

• IPM Marinas and Refit Yards, engaged in the development and management of marinas and refit yards such as Marina Ibiza, Marina Port Ibiza, Marina Port de Mallorca, Marina Palma Cuarentena, Marina Port Mahón, STP Shipyard Palma, Varadero Ibiza, and Varadero Valencia.

• Yacht service companies, including Monzó Yacht Painting, a company that paints and repairs hulls and decks, and The Carpentry, an end-to-end carpentry firm that specialises in refitting and repairing decks and designing yacht interiors.

• CKIPM Marine Group, a company engaged in the construction of marinas and sale of yachts in South Korea.

Besides its industry prestige earned through its measurable credentials, IPM Group is also highly renowned for its quality, as it runs incredibly equipped facilities and boasts a team of professionals with proven experience in top-flight and cutting-edge yachting projects.

IMG Group is part of the Alonso Marí Group, a business conglomerate that includes leading companies in the tourism, yachting, construction, property development, and services industries, boasting more than fifty years of experience and employing more than two thousand professionals.

Insotel Marine Group (IMG) is involved in the development and operation of:

• Yacht facilities and refit yards such as Marina Ibiza, Marina Port Ibiza, Marina Palma Cuarentena, Marina Port Mahón, and Varadero Ibiza.

• Ferry services through Trasmapi (fifty departures per day in high season), Menorca Lines (ferry from Alcudia in Mallorca to Ciutadella in Menorca), and Formentera Lines (the main ferry line between Ibiza and Formentera)

• Charter services, principally Prestige Charters.

What's more, the Alonso Marí Group includes the following companies and projects:

• Insotel Group, with hotels providing more than eight thousand beds on the four Balearic Islands and luxury resorts in the Caribbean.

• Grupo Alonso Mari, engaged in construction and property development.

• Viajes Ebusus (travel agency and tour operator) and Island Bus (passenger transport rental).

• Playa Soleil (hotel complex, restaurant, beach club, and club in Ibiza).

• Prestige Events (event services) and Prestige Catering (premium dining and catering services).

All these companies provide high-quality complementary services for customers who, in addition to berthing requirements, are looking for accommodation, travel, catering services, restaurants or any other aspect that helps them enjoy their destination. 

The experience of both groups in the yachting industry dates back more than thirty years in the case of IPM and fifty years in the case of IMG. These companies decided to join forces more than ten years ago to create Marina Ibiza and turn it into a five-star facility with international prestige, masterfully repositioning the island as a superyacht destination. 

IPM Group and IMG Group have built and currently play a role in managing acclaimed restaurants such as Roto Club, Restaurante Calma, and Cappuccino Ibiza. What's more, they manage the premises of Lío Club Cabaret and the only luxury retail hub on the island of Ibiza, home to world-leading boutiques.

Ocibar is also a company specialised in the construction and management of yacht facilities, which for over twenty-five years has been passionately committed to quality and exclusivity as hallmarks of its marinas.

These marinas share excellence and individuality as a common denominator, each boasting its own unique characteristics that make every visit a truly memorable experience.

Its portfolio of marinas and refit yards includes:

• Port Adriano, an exceptional marina in Mallorca designed by Philippe Starck.

• Port Tarraco, a marina in Tarragona specialised in superyacht wintering.

• Marina Santa Eulalia, a laid-back space within the ever-bustling destination that is Ibiza.

• Marina Botafoc, home to the most charter berths in the whole of Ibiza. 

 

All its facilities have their own marina services and refit yard.

Ocibar also specialises in the revitalisation of marinas, providing retail spaces, outstanding design features, and events and concert venues, which for more than twelve years have been wowing crowds with legendary bands and music for all tastes.

In addition to the two companies in the joint venture, this project is being supported by numerous partners, including two that have been involved in architecture and engineering both on land and at sea. These companies include Erre Arquitectura, Ingeniería Civil de Levante (ICL), GEICorp (Global Equity Infrastructures Corporation), and Global Management Consulting.

This fascinating and ambitious project to revitalise the area of La Marina de Valencia, that will be named Marina Port Valencia from now on, will kick off in the month of October, with further details being released as they happen. What's more, Semar and Ocibar as a group will be exhibiting for the first time ever at Valencia Boat Show so that customers, partners and friends can find out much more about the project. 

PARTNER COMPANIES

Erre Arquitectura: prestigious architecture, design and urban planning studio in Valencia, led by Jose Marí, Amparo Roig, and M. Angeles Ros, and formed by a fifty-strong team of professionals who have been specialising in commercial, sporting, residential and educational projects for more than twenty-five years.

The firm is passionately committed to architecture based on knowledge, innovation and sustainability, where each project represents a new challenge that meets the needs of customers, providing functional solutions that enhance the lives of their users.

It is currently developing major projects in the area near the marina, such as the expansion of the Marina de Empresas project, in addition to iconic projects for the city of Valencia such as the Roig Arena (in partnership with the international studio HOK), the Hortensia Herrero Art Centre, and the new Hotel Marriot.

Ingeniería Civil de Levante (ICL): founded by the civil engineer Felipe Baños Torregrosa as a civil and maritime engineering consulting company in June 2002, this firm will deal with the new challenge of transforming Marina Valencia. 

The company boasts a multidisciplinary team with extensive experience in project planning, execution and control, working on maritime and port projects in the private sector both in Spain and overseas. Thanks to the ICL's expertise and professionalism in the design of yachting projects such as marinas and refit yards, it is a leader in civil engineering works for marinas. 

Its key achievements include the design and management of Marina Ibiza, helping this facility position itself as one of the most cutting-edge in the Mediterranean in terms of infrastructure and environmental protection and management; Marina Sa Riba, which meant that yachts up to 90 metres LOA could berth in Ibiza for the first time ever; the design of the marina to host the first Volvo Ocean Race in Alicante; and port projects in China and South Korea.

GEICorp (Global Equity Infrastructures Corporation): technical, strategic and financial advisory company in the marina industry that has taken part in this project with the rollout of market studies, among other actions, channelling its experience and knowledge to detect key factors, fully leverage the marina, and fulfil the business plan.

With twenty-plus years of experience, it covers all development and consulting services such as planning, design, construction, and infrastructure management. Its experience in financial and strategic analysis services has helped the firm actively participate in feasibility studies, tenders, investment analysis, financing studies, and the management of benchmark infrastructures.

In the yachting field, GEICorp has drafted numerous benchmark studies, economic-financial models, and business models for leading marinas and refit yards, as well as the coordination and management of tenders and the development of facilities for marina operators and managers.

Global Management Consultancy: company led by Jose Luis Fayos, who has an enviable track record in the yachting field and is renowned for his vast experience in project management and strategic advice. The firm has spearheaded multiple initiatives, providing state-of-the-art and efficient solutions for the management and development of marinas, maritime infrastructures, and companies in the yachting industry. In this case, the company provided consulting services on the Marina Valencia project.

 

With more than twenty years of experience, José Luis Fayos is renowned for his all-embracing approach in critical areas such as sustainability, operational improvement, and regulatory compliance at port facilities. 

What's more, he actively collaborates with international associations and organisations such as ANEN (Spanish Association of Yachting Companies) as Technical Director, and ICOMIA (International Council of Marine Industry Associations) as Member of the Marina Committee and Chair of the Sustainability Committee, providing invaluable support to the progress of the yachting industry through the exchange of experiences and specialist knowledge.