Construction at the Port Takola yacht marina and boatyard in Krabi is set to start again at the end of November, according to The Phuket Gazette. It is hoped that first phase of berths will be complete in May 2016 with other phases of the project starting shortly thereafter.
Eventually the project is set to include an architect-designed Capitainerie with a view over the marina basin as well as 5-star restroom facilities and a cafe plus offices and retail units for yachting-related businesses that will be located along basin edge.
The marina will be the centerpiece of a larger development that will eventually host residences, a resort hotel, nature trails and a museum. The low-rise project is being designed to take advantage of the surrounding nature features that include a mix of woodland, grassland and mangroves.
Suriya na Nagara, a retired admiral of the Royal Thai Navy, is developing Port Takola within the family’s private estate. “After careful study, we decided to develop a marina to take advantage of the many positive factors of the site, including its perfect shelter and excellent geographical location,” Admiral Suriya told the newspaper.
British maritime civil engineer and marina specialist Simon Arrol, founder of Island Global Yachting in Dubai, is overseeing the project and has experience designing marinas across the world. Projects he has worked on include Grand Harbour Marina in Malta, Port Gocek in Turkey, Port George (later renamed Port Louis) in the Caribbean and The Palm Jumeirah Dubai.
Port Takola’s first phase of development is valued at USD8 million and will only see yacht berths opened at this time as plans for the next phase start to take shape. “The first phase of Port Takola is only modest in terms of scale and facilities, but it will be sufficient to provide a great experience to yacht owners and their guests. Our approach is to create a boutique marina that sits comfortably with the surrounding landscape,” Matthew na Nagara, Suriya’s son and co-developer, added.
