KwaZulu-Natal is making a serious play for the big boats. In a move that signals a potential massive step up for the local Blue Economy, the eThekwini Municipality and Italian maritime stalwart Navigo officially cemented their partnership this month, laying the groundwork for a R1.9-billion (£85.5m) superyacht infrastructure injection for the Port of Durban.
The City handed over a formal Letter of Intent to Navigo at the YARE (Yachting Aftersales and Refit Experience) conference in Italy in March. The move underlined the City’s ambitions of positioning the Province – and Durban in particular – as a regional hub for superyacht berthing and services.
The plan envisages a coordinated superyacht hub spanning both Durban and Richards Bay. It incorporates a 24-hectare superyacht precinct in the Port of Durban. This site is being earmarked specifically for refit and servicing operations; a sector that has traditionally been dominated by Cape Town.
Navigo’s President, Katia Balducci, described the partnership as a “historic chapter” for the continent, noting that Durban has the vision to compete on the world stage. The City is also moving forward with a new Superyacht Academy in collaboration with the Durban University of Technology.