The list of superyacht marinas in the US is being boosted with new facilities in Seattle and Palm Beach. The latter will see the Palm Harbor Marina being opened next month, offering 200 berths for yachts up to 61m (200ft) in length. In Seattle, the Salmon Bay Marine Center was recently commissioned and can accommodate 18 large yachts up to 73m (240ft) in length.



The Florida marina is owned by Leisure resorts LLC and is operating on a leasehold arrangement with the City of West Palm Beach. The marina will include 24/7 security, fuel and power, Wifi connections and attendants always available. Access is via the Intracoastal waterway and it is just minutes from the Atlantic Ocean. The marina has a claim to fame in that in the 1930s Ernest Hemingway used to frequent it.



Salmon Bay Marine Center became fully operational in June and accommodates up to 18 yachts up to 61m (200ft). For Seattle, Salmon Bay brings a dedicated full-service base just there to serve large yachts. It is located on the Seattle Ship Canal and has been developed at a cost of $30m by Don and Brooke Stabbert.



Around the marina basin are eight new buildings that provide offices and workshops for a number of marine service companies, turning Salmon Bay into a marine cluster of businesses with a common interest. There are also a number of apartments that can be used by visitors.



Brooke Stabbert was quoted by one local newspaper as saying: “I don’t think there’s anything else like this on the west coast. I think the closest place you’ll find something like this is in Florida. We’ve been told we have the finest facility on the west coast, anywhere from Panama to Alaska.”





Superyacht Business/David Robinson