New marina system developed for seasonal use provides stability, user comfort and high load capacity while facilitating easy installation, removal and storage.
Bellingham, WA, USA – 8 May 2017– The Miami International Boat Show (MIBS) produces an economic impact of over $600 million for the Miami area, so when show organizers at the NMMA were told they needed to find a new location, it quickly became the top priority. After considering many venues, one site stood out above the rest, Miami Marine Stadium Park. This option presented the challenge of bringing in a temporary wood dock system that would adhere to stringent EPA regulations while still providing the necessary engineering and design components required to accommodate the thousands of show visitors. The problem was that such a dock just didn’t exist…yet.
In light of the sensitive ecological environment, Bellingham Marine stepped up to the challenge, producing the world’s first 100% EPA compliant temporary marina with the ability to be compactly stacked in storage. Many features distinguish this timber dock from other lightweight systems available in the marketplace. For example, it’s portable nature with the feel of a solid permanent dock along with easy customization set the system apart from the competition.
Bellingham Marine was recently selected by Boating Industry Magazine as a recipient of their Top Products of the Year Awards for 2017 for the groundbreaking floating dock system used by MIBS. Honorees were selected based on their innovation, impact on the industry, creativity and more, according to the magazine. Bellingham is featured in the May issue along with a range of other “Top” products, from boats to accessories and beyond.
This product is not only new for the company; it is also new to the marina industry. The versatile, portable docks have the look and feel of a custom-built, permanent dock system. Many visitors to the show were shocked to find they were standing on a floating dock because the system feels as stable as a fixed pier. The Miami International Boat Show marina is the largest temporary marina in the world.
2017 Miami Boat Show by the Numbers:
- 554 slips (up from 450 slips in 2016)
- 1,300 boats on display
- 100,000 boating enthusiasts
- 150,000 square feet of dock installed
“Our business goal is to provide solutions to our clients that meet their individual situations,” said Everett Babbitt, President and CEO of Bellingham Marine. “That is why we are proud to go the extra mile and deliver products and projects that are crafted in response to each client’s unique problem, rather than giving them a one size fits all product.”
As the world’s leading marina design-build construction company, Bellingham Marine specializes in floating dock, floating platform and floating wave attenuation systems for marinas worldwide. The company also produces dry storage systems for the upland storage of boats.
