The V&A Waterfront's R230 million Quay 7 Superyacht Marina has earned a major innovation award as the development moves toward completion, underscoring its expected role in growing Cape Town's marine industry and attracting more international superyachts to the city.
Presented by the Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the award acknowledges the marina’s role in strengthening maritime infrastructure, improving global connectivity, and supporting economic growth in the Western Cape.
Currently under development and scheduled for completion in October 2026, the R230 million Quay 7 Superyacht Marina will provide purpose-built berthing for vessels between 30 and 90 metres. The facility is designed to support both international superyacht traffic and South Africa’s marine manufacturing sector.
“We are honoured to receive this recognition,” said Graham Wood, CEO of the V&A Waterfront. “Quay 7 demonstrates how strategic infrastructure investment can create meaningful economic opportunities across marine services, manufacturing, tourism, hospitality, and logistics. It reflects our belief that Cape Town can compete with the world’s leading maritime destinations while delivering tangible local benefit.”
Part of the Granger Bay precinct expansion, the marina responds to growing international demand for superyacht facilities in Cape Town, a city increasingly recognised as an important maritime gateway and technical hub.
The marina has been designed with a dual-use operating model, accommodating visiting superyachts during the peak season while supporting commissioning and export staging for local boat builders during the off-season. This approach is intended to ensure year-round utilisation of the facility.
Industry stakeholders have welcomed the development. Southern Wind CEO Marco Alberti said: “The V&A Waterfront facilities are vital to our superyacht business, and we welcome the Quay 7 development which adds sorely needed capacity at the right moment.”
John Craig, chairman of the South African Boat Builders Export Council (SABBEX), added: “Kudos to the V&A Waterfront management team on this well-deserved award. SABBEX appreciates the close working relationship between the V&A Waterfront and the local boatbuilders to facilitate the growth of the local boatbuilding sector, which is an important component of Cape Town and the Western Cape’s economy.”
The development is expected to generate economic activity across marine engineering, logistics, fuel supply, provisioning, hospitality, training, and tourism, while strengthening Cape Town’s position as a globally competitive maritime destination.
The facility will also pursue Gold Anchor accreditation, an internationally recognised benchmark for marina excellence, further enhancing the city’s appeal as a world-class destination for the global maritime industry.
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