The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

THE owners/developers behind the million dollar state-of the art Bay Street Marina hope to have it powered up soon, describing the development as an “anchor” in the city of Nassau’s revitalisation plans.

The 90-slip facility located on Nassau harbour directly behind Luciano’s of Chicago and the adjacent Green Parrot Restaurant on East Bay Street, will be capable of handling vessels up to 150 feet in length.

The $6 million development is a joint venture between the Bethell and Symonette families. In a brief interview with Tribune Business, John F Bethell, of Bethell Estates said that the marina’s opening had been delayed due to a lack of power.

“We’re still waiting on BEC. We have received two or three promises from them but nothing has been done,” said Mr Bethell, who added: “I’m optimistic that we will get it before the end of the year. We’ve been waiting for so long now. All they have to do is run a cable from Bay Street into a transformer. In fact the company which is building it has dug the trench and put the conduit in for them,” said Mr Bethell.

In the meantime, work on the project continues.

“We’re still constructing buildings but the dock will open as soon as we get power. We’re putting a dock master’s office up and we have to do a couple of utility buildings,” Mr Bethell said.

“Transient boaters are going to tie their boats up to our dock and they will be able to go down town and shop. It will be sort of an anchor on the eastern end of whatever development takes place downtown,” said Mr Bethell.

Bay Street Marina consists of 6,000 linear feet, all planked in long-lasting Brazilian Ipe wood, with spaces allotted for vessels of between 40 feet and mega yachts up to 150 feet. The marina has been designed by BHM Management and built by Mosko Marine Construction. It will eventually include a pool for guests, a fitness centre, full showers and laundry facilities, on-the-spot yacht wash down and cleaning services, a high quality reverse osmosis plant, full security with CCTV, free wi-fi, wastewater disposal facility, 24-hour service and more.