Salamanca Capital Investments, a Mayfair based investment advisory business and part of the Salamanca Group, has announced the purchase of Marina Port Vell in the heart of Barcelona. Salamanca plan to turn the Marina Port Vell into a superyacht base with berths able to host megayachts of up to 185m.

Salamanca Capital Investments will work together with the Spanish Port Authority towards this goal. The Marina was acquired from Global Via whose parent company, FCC, is one of Spain¡¯s largest construction companies.

Luxury yachts at Marina Port Vell - Photo Credit Marina Port Vell

Group Chairman and CEO of Salamanca Martin Bellamy notes: ¡°Barcelona is one of the world¡¯s most exciting cities and Port Vell is at its heart. This is a unique opportunity to turn the Marina into Europe¡¯s most exciting mega yacht destination and in doing so add to the vibrancy of the city.¡± Executive Director of the Group, Uri Nachoom explains the strategy for the new superyacht Marina; ¡°Currently the Marina is home to some 400 boats. In due course, through design optimisation, this will include more than 45 super yachts of more than 50 m in length¡±. 

Bellamy comments ¡°Marina Port Vell fits well with the Groups focus on acquiring asset backed opportunities with significant value enhancement possibilities¡±.

¡°We absolutely believe in Barcelona and we are convinced that luxury yachting is a growth business. Not only is Barcelona ideally situated for access to the playgrounds of Europe, the Marina is well protected and Barcelona has the infrastructure and interest to attract boat owners and their crews. We hope to rival the best Marina¡¯s in the world. While Monaco has an established reputation we believe Barcelona has even more to offer¡±.

The Group will soon announce the launch of its Maritime Services Business that will further support Marina Port Vell and offer a wide range of marine related services globally.

Redevelopment of the Marina will commence in the autumn and will be complete by Mid 2011.

Marina Port Vell - Photo Credit Marina Port Vell