14 BOAT STORAGE
Investment in ‘smart marina’ pays dividends
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n 2020, Gulf Star Marina in Florida became the world’s first smart marina to feature stacker crane technology developed by LTW Intralogistics of Wolfurth Austria, and American-based GCM Contracting Solutions. The fullyautomated, computer-operated system safely transports boats from dry stack storage to the water in minutes using an electric lift-and-rail system, which provides a number of significant benefits. These include increased capacity and a boost to client satisfaction, leading to higher occupancy rates. “Boat owners started calling and e-mailing as soon as we began taking reservations because they
MARINA INDUSTRY • OCTOBER 2021
recognised this new smart marina would provide both convenience and security,” said Todd Carroll, owner of Carroll Properties and developer of Gulf Star Marina.
“This new technology is allowing us to safely store more boats than similar-sized marinas that use a forklift system, thus increasing our revenue.”
Gulf Star Marina is a 2,694 square metre, four-level facility that can accommodate boats and yachts up to 12 metres in length. The marina itself is a bunker-like, reinforced concrete structure, providing superior fire, wind and rain protection. Monthly prices are based on vessel size. Just a year after opening, Gulf Star Marina is essentially at capacity. According to Carroll, there are several factors that have led to the marina’s success. LTW and GCM spent nearly a decade codeveloping futuristic technology to automate the storage and retrieval process for boats. Although automation is not new
