With over 35 years of experience as trusted marina engineering consultants, our team at International Coastal Management specialises in practical, cost-effective marina upgrades that align with both technical performance and user needs. Whether you're looking to improve berth layouts, enhance resilience to wave impacts, or preparing for larger vessels, our team provides independent, end-to-end support, from feasibility through to design, approvals, and delivery.
Why Upgrade a Marina?
Over time, even the best-built marinas face pressure from:
Larger vessel sizes (including superyachts and megayachts)
Evolving user demands - for deeper drafts, more amenities, improved services
Regulatory changes - environmental and safety standards changing
Structural wear and tear - pontoons, revetments, breakwaters and piles all age and need upgrading at some point
Sediment and water quality issues - many marinas can suffer from infill and circulation problems
A well-timed upgrade can address these issues, restoring performance, increasing revenue generation, and enhancing the user experience.
How Independent, Expert Marina Engineering Advice Can Save You Money
ICM is not a supplier of marina products or pontoons, we’re independent coastal engineers. That means our only goal is to deliver the best outcome for your marina, based on performance, usability, budget, and long-term success. Our upgrade process follows a proven roadmap:
Step 1: Comprehensive Condition Assessment
We begin by physically assessing your current infrastructure, including pontoons, revetments, seabed conditions, wave exposure, and site functionality. This includes:
Structural performance and deterioration
Operational constraints
Revenue optimisation opportunities
Environmental conditions (waves, tides, sedimentation)
This gives us a clear, data-backed understanding of where the marina is today, and where it could go.
Step 2: Concept Development & Feasibility Analysis
Based on the findings, we generate upgrade options tailored to your marina goals. This can include replacing aging docks, expanding the number of berths, or improving wave protection. Our team evaluates:
Engineering feasibility
Cost-benefit analysis
Coastal processes and wave climate
Environmental permitting pathways
Revenue potential
We also identify any dredging, breakwater improvements, or shoreline stabilisation that might be required.
Step 3: Smarter Layouts for Future Use
Using modern modelling tools and marina design guidelines (including AS3962), we design new layouts that reflect:
Changing vessel mixes (e.g. more 20m+ vessels, multihulls)
Superyacht or commercial requirements
Optimised fairway widths, turnaround space, and berth orientation
Safe tidal and wind access
Opportunities for additional revenue (charter berths, longer stays)
Our founder, Angus Jackson, helped lay the foundation for modern marina design in Australia as a member of the original Australian Standards Committee for marina guidelines in 1991. These standards (AS3962) remain a national benchmark today.
Step 4: Coordinated Delivery & Stakeholder Engagement
We coordinate across your entire project team, working closely with:
Pontoon and marina hardware suppliers
Marine contractors
Environmental consultants
Approval authorities
Internal stakeholders (e.g. yacht club or marina committees)
ICM handles everything from pre-approval engagement to design reviews and tender support. Our project managers ensure your best interests are protected from start to finish.
Step 5: Construction Oversight & Post-Installation Monitoring
Once construction is underway, we stay involved. ICM oversees:
Fabrication checks before pontoons or components leave the yard
On-site contractor supervision and quality control
Compliance inspections and final sign-off
Post-installation monitoring to confirm performance
In a recent marina project, a supplier had proposed an oversized, costly system to our client. We reviewed the requirements and provided the client with a more economical option that better suited the marina’s long-term needs, saving significant capital while delivering a more functional design.
Common Marina Upgrade Scenarios
Every marina upgrade is unique, however here are just a few examples of situations our marina engineering consultants frequently support:
Aging pontoons that no longer meet safety or usability standards
Marina layout that doesn’t suit today’s vessel mix
Increasing maintenance costs due to sedimentation or poor flushing
Dredging needs or water depth concerns for larger boats
Interest in attracting superyachts or high-value vessels
Need for updated utility infrastructure (power, sullage, fire systems)
What You Gain From an ICM Led Marina Upgrade
✔ Independent advice that puts your needs first
✔ Optimised design that enhances functionality and revenue
✔ Regulatory compliance through strong environmental support
✔ Reduced capital costs through smarter, leaner layouts
✔ Peace of mind with specialist engineering support through the entire process
Upgrading a marina is an opportunity to rethink how your site performs, earns, and grows. At ICM, we bring the technical depth and project delivery expertise to make your upgrade a long-term success.