KepLand In Tie-Up With Marina Builder

Source : The Business Times, January 17, 2008

KEPPEL Land International and high-end marina builder Bellingham Marine Industries yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding for Bellingham to design and construct premier marinas in Keppel Land’s waterfront properties in the region.

Bellingham will provide KepLand with design, project management and construction expertise for marinas, when there is a potential for one to be included in one of its masterplan projects. KepLand chief executive Kevin Wong said: ‘We are confident that Bellingham, with its proven track record in the design and construction of marinas, will enhance our overall masterplan for our developments at Keppel Bay as well as our other waterfront developments in Asia.’

The US-headquartered company with an annual turnover of over US$100 million has carried out several marina projects in countries around the world. Apart from the recently completed Marina at Keppel Bay, others include the 180-berth Portofino Yacht Club in Redondo Beach, California, and the 250-berth Marina CostaBaja in Mexico.

Bellingham president Everett Babbitt said: ‘Keppel is a very honourable and outstanding company and our talents mesh very well because we bring a high degree of technical skills while they have all the contacts and infrastructure base throughout Asia.’

KepLand’s marina project is Bellingham’s biggest foray into the region, where it has been active for only the past three years.

Mr Babbitt said Bellingham enjoys a good reputation among the yachting and marina circles. The company organises forums for megayacht skippers and crews and is well known in the community. Mr Babbitt said these crews, who make many decisions on behalf of the owners about where to dock these expensive boats, tend to look out for Bellingham-designed marinas because they know they can expect a high standard.

Mr Babbitt said he hopes the partnership will lead to more success in the region and perhaps raise revenue share from Asia from about one per cent to 10 to 15 per cent in future.