Get Superyacht Ready — the MIA’s new accreditation

The Marina Industries Association (MIA) has announced the launch of its much-anticipated Superyacht Ready accreditation, which is designed to help skippers and owners identify marinas that have the capacity and capabilities required to provide safe and adequate berthing for Superyachts.

Superyacht Ready is available to Global Gold Anchor accredited marinas that satisfy the program’s assessment standards. The Superyacht Ready criteria is based around the suitability of the marina’s infrastructure to accommodate superyachts, accessibility for superyachts, security measures and service availability.

Suzanne Davies – MIA CEO

Suzanne Davies, MIA CEO explains that the two accreditations are designed to work together: “Superyachts berth at marinas for varying reasons and duration. The style, location and facilities required at the marina will vary depending on the reason for berthing and who is on board, owners, charterers or simply the crew.

“Superyacht Ready indicates that the marina is equipped to provide berthing for a superyacht and the Gold Anchor rating will give an insight into the extent of the facilities available at the marina, the service levels and the overall ambiance and opulence that one can expect.”

It is expected that premium marinas such as Gold Anchor Platinum marinas, Coral Sea Marina Resort and Sanctuary Cove Marina will elect to accredit as Superyacht Ready. But not all superyacht marinas need to have the facilities such as these due to their location and the amenities around them.

Jones Bay Marina for example, is a highly regarded superyacht marina and is superbly located on Sydney Harbour, with access to all that an international city, such as Sydney, has to offer. In preparation for its Superyacht Ready accreditation, it is undertaking its Gold Anchor accreditation.

Nairn Johnston, General Manager of Jones Bay Marina commented, “We are very supportive of this accreditation and believe it will be a great service to skippers and to the broader industry in the Pacific region in helping to promote the region and marinas to superyacht skippers and owners.”

Superyacht Ready will be supported by the MIA’s My Marina Guide, a map-based, online marine services directory, that will enable captains to identify Superyacht Ready marinas based on their needs at a specific time and delve further into a marina’s facilities and offerings.

David Good, CEO Superyacht Australia commented, “With the growth in popularity of the Asia Pacific region with superyacht owners, the Superyacht Ready accreditation will assist captains to identify marinas with the most appropriate facilities for their vessel. Superyacht Australia has consulted with the MIA on the criteria and commend this initiative and the extension of its Gold Anchor accreditation.”

All Gold Anchor accredited marinas are invited to apply to accredit immediately. For marinas that would like to become Superyacht Ready, the self-assessed Gold Anchor accreditation is the simplest and quickest way to join the program. The accreditation process involves the marina conducting a self-assessment against the Superyacht Ready criteria, as well as making a declaration regarding their compliance and payment of the three-year participation fee. An oversight committee will review all applications prior to the accreditation being awarded.

About the Marina Industries Association (MIA)

The MIA is the peak body representing the interests of club, recreational and commercial marinas, boatyards and industry suppliers in Australia and the wider Asia-Pacific region. Working closely with other marina associations around the world, the MIA works in support of developing sustainable marina industries through the delivery of strong leadership, industry guidance, education, accreditation and research. The MIA has 300 corporate members and connects over 2,000 industry leaders and decision makers. Seventy-five per cent of members are marinas, clubs and boatyards and over 80 per cent of larger marinas (over 100 berths) in Australia are members of the MIA.

Superyacht Ready

Superyacht Ready is an accreditation designed to help skippers and owners identify marinas that have the capacity and capabilities required to provide safe and adequate berthing for Superyachts. Superyacht Ready is available to Gold Anchor accredited marinas that satisfy the program’s assessment standards. The Superyacht Ready criteria is based around the suitability of the marina’s infrastructure to accommodate superyachts, accessibility for superyachts, security measures and service availability.

Global Gold Anchor

Gold Anchor is an international accreditation which requires a rigorous assessment of a marina’s services, procedures, and facilities. It involves an independent audit of 86 criteria across all areas of the business including service, facilities and infrastructure and includes a customer survey. The accreditation aims to inform consumers as to the level of services and facilities at marinas and to provide marinas with a set of benchmarks to maintain and a pathway for continual improvement.

The international program has accredited over 200 marinas across 28 countries and is a joint venture initiative between the Marina Industries Association (MIA) and The Yacht Harbour Association (TYHA). TYHA delivers the Program in the United Kingdom, Europe, Middle East, Africa and the Caribbean. The MIA delivers the Program in Australia, Asia-Pacific and in the USA in association with the Marine Recreation Association (MRA).