Superyacht Base Kobe Marina
by Asia-Pacific Superyacht Association 20 Dec 2024 00:27 PST
New superyacht facility in Kobe, Japan © Asia-Pacific Superyacht Association
After several years of planning, SUPERYACHT BASE company is pleased to announce the award of the new Kobe Marina project to its consortium, known as SUPERYACHT BASE KOBE. The consortium consists of seven principal investors - GLION Group, Plan Do Sea, Horizon Yachts, Setouchi Brand Corporation, Creation Co., Ltd, SYL Monaco and SYL Japan.
SUPERYACHT BASE KOBE MARINA will start construction in April 2025 with a full service opening for yachts in 2026 and a full opening with surrounding infrastructure in 2027. The facility is part of the Kobe harbour and waterfront regeneration, where previously industrial spaces close to downtown Kobe are being reimagined for public enjoyment. This includes the Glion Arena Kobe, an indoor-sports complex adjacent to the marina site primarily for basketball, but which can also hold shows and concerts, etc.
SUPERYACHT BASE KOBE MARINA will feature over 1.4 km of usable linear superyacht quays which can accommodate any size vessel. Two quays are approximately 350 meters long, with three others at approximately 100 meters each. A newly built breakwater digue provides an extra 200+ meters of dockage, and a liner floating dock will provide 300 meters dockage for yachts of less than 60 meters. Long-term leases will be available for purchase as well as annual and shorter-term dockage options for all sizes of yachts. Multiple 400-volt 3 phase 150-amp power pedestals will be installed as standard. Larger custom shore power electrical installations will be available to lease purchasers, suitable for the size of the yacht in question. Stern-to dockage will be available for all yachts up to around 80 meters.
Yukio Shintani, owner of Creation Marine in Japan for over 40 years and one of the spearheads of SUPERYACHT BASE KOBE said, “It’s a very exciting day. We have been working very hard planning this marina for over two years with our consortium partners and there have been many changes, especially with the fluctuating construction costs, but we will have a superyacht marina in Japan that has the facilities of superyacht marinas in Monaco, France, Italy, and south Florida that can accommodate any size yacht that has yet been built or even imagined.”
The marina location in Kobe City is right in the centre of Japan, an archipelago of over 14,000 islands stretching 3,000 km from north to south. Kobe sits at the entrance to the Inland Sea of Japan, a 300nm long body of water with around 3,000 islands in it; all well protected from the swells of the Pacific Ocean. “The cruising potential in Japan is incredible” says Nigel Beatty, Monaco resident, APSA Chairman, and owner of SYL Monaco, one of the consortium investors. “More and more international yachts are coming to Japan every year. There is 50% more coastline than the United States, so there is a massive area to explore with still many undiscovered cruising destinations. With a Mediterranean climate in many parts of the country, and sub-tropical in others, there is great winter cruising and while it might be a bit chilly to swim, there is world-class skiing usually just a stone’s throw away from any yacht”
SUPERYACHT BASE KOBE MARINA has already identified marina staff with a wealth of previous superyacht experience in Europe and the Americas to run the facility to a standard that superyacht Owners and Captains expect. The marina is a 5-minute walk to downtown Kobe with its high-end boutiques and car showrooms such as Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Bentley, Bugatti and Ferrari, but also within those streets there are hundreds of terrific local bars and restaurants to explore.
“It’s a fantastic place for owners and guests, but also for crew that are based long term at the marina. Kobe is a very vibrant city, and the marina is right in the heart of it”, says Yukio Shintani. In addition, proximity to three major airports, two with international and private jet capabilities, and Shinkansen (bullet trains) that can whizz guests or crew to anywhere in Japan, plus local mass transit and shore services/provisioning/etc., makes Kobe the best location for this kind of superyacht harbour in Japan, and the perfect place for superyachts to base long term and prepare for incoming owners and charter guests.
Planned for 2026 and 2027 are more facilities on the quayside of the marina with marine offices, boutiques, cafes and restaurants, plus the Kobe Yacht Club is planned at the site. Consortium member Plan Do See is a worldwide hotel and hospitality operator and developer and will be instrumental in this phase. With the adjacent Glion Arena Kobe having events well over 50% of the year, then the spill over to the area around the marina will be significant.
With Kobe City’s ease of transport links and many hotels and hospitality at all levels, Superyacht Base Kobe plans to organize events soon with international yacht industry partners, such as superyacht conferences, superyacht shows and rendezvous. The new facility which will be the largest superyacht facility in the Asia-Pacific region, and one of the largest in the world. It will be able to provide an excellent year-round base for superyachts wishing to charter in Japan, and private yachts that wish to extend the Owners' cruising opportunities in one of the most modern and safest countries in the world.