Barcelona marina OneOcean Port Vell has announced the sale of a 160 metre superyacht berth in a direct deal, with a lease running until 2036.
The berth is located in the marina’s Spanish Quay, which offers 440 metres of fixed dock spaces. Although the identity of the owner has not been disclosed, the size of the berth suggests that one of the world’s largest superyachts could be heading to Barcelona more frequently in the future.
Martin Bellamy, chairman of the OneOcean marine group, said: “Our decision to increase berth capacity at OneOcean Port Vell was driven by the escalating demand we have received for secure space in a location that owners enjoy.
“We believe this berth sale is evidence of the strength of Barcelona as a superyacht destination and the trend towards more superyachts choosing a homeport in the Mediterranean,” he added.
Speaking about what drew the client to Barcelona, Paul Cook, general manager at OneOcean Port Vell, told Boat International, “They were impressed by the investment potential here and the opportunity to entertain potential clients and guests in a thriving area. For the crew it’s a great location to be in as well, it’s one of the best winter home ports that a crew could ask for.”
OneOcean Port Vell benefitted from €100 million of investment from the UK-based Salamanca Group in 2014, which in turn has led to a strong increase of large yachts visiting during 2016. Last year, the marina reported an 85 per cent increase in yachts measuring 80 to 100 metres and a 742 per cent rise in yachts measuring more than 100 metres LOA.
One of the few European marinas to be located within a major city, OneOcean Port Vell has moorings for more than 150 yachts with a maximum LOA of 190 metres. Famous superyachts to moor at the marina recently include the 156 metre Lürssen yacht Dilbar, which was spotted in Barcelona on February 10.