#greystonesharbour – It's full steam ahead at Greystones Harbour where operators BJ Marinas Ltd are putting the final touches to the marina ready for opening in 11 days time on April 1.

Our exclusive photo (taken yesterday) shows recent progress in the marina basin with piling complete and furniture being installed.

BJ, will operate the marina and boatyard,  say they are 'really happy with the progress' and confirm the marina will open on schedule.

The pontoon installation will be completed shortly with 100 berths initially and the access bridge should also be complete by the weekend.

Office and facilities will be in place early next week and other services and the access road are also well under way.

Local boaters have already being eyeing up the new facility. Greystones Sailing Club has put together a provisional programme for Keelboat racing this season, a new era for the club.

The County Wicklow marina has received '85 serious enquiries' for berths over the Christmas and New Year Period. Berthing details are here.

The newest addition to boating on Ireland's east coast is operated by BJ Marinas Ltd, a company owned by senior marine industry figure Bernard Gallagher.

The firm are operating the new site under contract from developers Sispar and Wicklow County Council.

Greystones Harbour Marina takes shape – pontoons are installed this week to give Ireland a new addition to its coastal marina network

#RIB – The National Yacht Club is running Dublin Bay's first Rib Raid from Dun Laoghaire on the south side of the bay to the new harbour in Greystones in Co. Wicklow on Sunday 5th May.

The raid is in aid of the RNLI and it is open to all ribs & small motorcraft.

The plans are for the RIb fleet to assemble in the pool at the National Yacht Club at 10.00. There is a costume theme of Pirates of the Muglins plus a voluntary RNLI safety check and briefing.

There will be an 11.30 departure from Dun Laoghaire and plan for lunch at Greystones – ashore or onboard before heading home and a BBQ at National Yacht Club.

There are prizes for the best dressed pirates, a navigation challenge.

#greystones – A piling barge to install steel poles for Greystones Harbour marina has arrived on site at the East coast harbour in County Wicklow.

Piling will take most of March to complete and the initial 100-berth marina is planned to open in April. The marina will be operated by BJ Marinas Ltd. Local councillor Derek Mitchell welcomed the arrival of the works that will provide a new destination for Irish sea boaters.

'I'm very pleased that BJ Marinas Ltd are now building the marina which they will operate from April. Its MD, Bernard Gallagher, who was Chairman of the Irish Marine Industry Federation, has provided very useful advice to the project when it was in its formative stages a decade ago' Mitchell told Afloat.ie.

#greystones – Soon to open Greystones Harbour marina in County Wicklow has received '85 serious enquiries' for berths over the Christmas and New Year Period according to BJ Marinas Ltd, the recently appointed operators of the marina that is due to open on April 1st.

The marina will open initially with 100 berths and work to install the pontoon berths in the new harbour will start with pile driving in two weeks time.

The firm will operate the marina and boatyard on the purpose built site under contract from developers Sispar and Wicklow County Council. Bernard Gallagher of BJ Marinas Ltd is reporting 'a steady stream of enquiries'. Interest is mixed between sail and power craft owners.

The enquiry for the biggest vessel so far being a 55-footer. After piling on February 1st, pontoons are expected to be on site in the third week of February. Access roads are also to be completed at the site.

#greystones – Greystones Harbour Marina in County Wicklow is to open next April with 100 berths.

The newest addition to boating on Ireland's east coast will be operated by BJ Marinas Ltd, a company owned by senior marine industry figure Bernard Gallagher.

The firm will operate the marina and boatyard on the purpose built site under contract from developers Sispar and Wicklow County Council.

"We're delighted to be appointed as harbour and marina operators for Greystones. It's a unique and stunning site and we're looking forward to opening this new marine leisure facility next April in time for the 2013 boating season" Gallagher told Afloat.

Gallagher's sister company BJ Marine Ltd is one of the most successful boat sales and service firms in Ireland established over 35 years. The firm represents some of the biggest names in global boating brands including French yacht manufacturing giant Beneteau for over 20 years. The firm also represents American power boat firm Sea Ray and British luxury motorboat manufacturer Fairline. In 2012 BJ Marine imported the first production hybrid diesel electric boat, the Slovenian built Greenline 33, into Ireland.

Although the substantial structure of the new Greystones breakwaters and harbour has been completed with two new slipways and part opened to the public for over a year the marina element had stalled during the financial crisis with only limited access to the new harbour for visiting boats.

Last March a meeting of local boat owners in the Wicklow town heard of 'huge interest' in the new facility and it is understood over 70 applications for berths were received.

BJ Marinas Ltd will be responsible for the installation of the marina. The marina furniture and piling will be 100% Irish built and supplied according to Gallagher.

Berths will eventually reach 230, a major bonus for the east coast boating scene.

Gallagher also operates Bangor Marina boatyard on Belfast lough. The company also has offices at Malahide marina in North Dublin and has operated an international base in Malta since 1989.

His interest in a marina at the harbour at Greystones goes back 16 years when entrepreneur Albert Gubay launched a plan for a 300-berth marina in 1996 that was never built.

The latest Greystones Harbour Project originally envisaged a primary care medical centre, some five new clubhouses for existing harbour users, a Coast Guard house, as well as commercial, leisure and office facilities, a new beach and some 375 new homes.

The project is a major Public Private Partnership involving Wicklow County Council and Sispar and expected to cost in excess of € 300 million. The land side of the development had stalled with the financial crisis.

Sisk builders announced in July that it had agreed with its partners Park Developments and their bankers NAMA that Sisk will take ownership and control of the project.

BJ Marinas Ltd have issued the following contact details for berth enquiries:  [email protected]  Telephone +353 (0)86 2718161

#greystones – Sisk builders announced yesterday that it has agreed with its partners Park Developments and their bankers NAMA that Sisk will take ownership and control of the County Wicklow project. Originally developed in partnership, the substantial structure of the breakwaters and harbour has been completed and part opened to the public recently. The land side of the development has stalled with the financial crisis and with NAMA's involvement. Slipways are in place but long awaited marina furniture has yet to be installed in the new harbour.

'I am very pleased that Sisk have taken control as they are financially very stable, have been around for a century, take a long term view and are knowledgeable on marine affairs. NAMA are a bureaucratic organisation not suited to moving this imaginative project forward' Greystones Councillor and sailor Derek Mitchell said last night.

Parts of the harbour are now open including the best public boat launching facilities in Ireland (2 public slipways reaching to below low water) and compounds have been given to 5 Community organisations (Sea Scouts, Rowers, Sailors, Divers and Anglers). The South Breakwater and the car park are also open. Already this is one of the best water sport facilities in Ireland. The uncompleted area towards Bray Head is currently being grassed and it is hoped to open the marina in 2013. The latter is held up by threatened legal action over a commercial matter.

The Project is a public private partnership between Sispar and Wicklow County Council which when completed will consist of a new harbour, a marina, public areas including landscaped park and public square, a new primary care centre, retail space, club houses and boat storage, public slipways, a dedicated coastguard slipway, a site for a coastguard building and high quality residential development.

The company has recently carried out a series of works to improve public access to and enjoyment of the harbour area. This includes providing public access to the south breakwater; extensive launch facilities for use by the coastguard, clubs and sailing community; green amenity areas; and car park space.

The hoardings around the harbour area and on the North Beach Road have been removed and palisade fencing along a large section of the cliff walk has been replaced with more attractive fencing in order to enhance the appearance of the walk. Sispar have recently commenced grassing over the site area thus fully responding to the community's concerns over the appearance of the site.

"We have invested close to €75million in the Project so far and are totally committed to seeing it through" said a spokesperson for Sispar, "the economics of the development have been significantly affected by the economic downturn. However, the major harbour works are completed and there is now public access to the harbour. The remainder of the project can progress once critical decisions on funding and planning are taken and there is a recovery in the Irish economy".

NAMA, the SISK Group and Park Developments have reached an agreement which will result in the SISK Group acquiring Park's interest in the project and the taking on full responsibility for the Project. One outcome of this agreement is that there will no longer be any debt owed to NAMA by Sispar in relation to the project. Sispar is continuing to work with Wicklow County Council on delivery of the project on a phased basis.

Sispar is also currently engaging with all relevant stakeholders to the Project in order to finalise issues arising out of this agreement.

#GREYSTONES –After so many flase dawns and its completion marred with controversy Gresytones new harbour in County Wickow welcomed in new residents this week when the developers of the harbour, Sispar, handed over the keys to their new compound to Greystones Rowing Club on Wednesday.

The club has 200 members including 140 juniors, and is a Sea Rowing Club with 3 x 25ft Skiffs and 65 sea kayaks for members.

Founded in the 1920's it has never had premises to keep the boats safely and has been trying to get a place in the harbour since 1992.

'We are delighted with the compound, the launching facilities and the harbour which has been built by Sispar. This will increase the numbers of young people we are able to train' said Alan Monahan, Chairman of the club.

The club is having its annual Regatta on August Bank Holiday Saturday and hope for a lively event with lots of participants and spectators.

Last night Councillor Derek Mitchell welocmed the  news 'I am delighted to see the new facilities for the Rowing Club which they have been trying to get for 20 years. When four other clubs move in there will be great action in the harbour for adults and juniors. In Ireland we have ignored the sea even though we are an island nation. This will change that in Greystones at least'

New members of the rowing club are welcome; call 087-6762743

#GREYSTONES HARBOUR – A Wicklow Councillor has urged developers Sispar to finish the marina in Greystones after a difficult meeting last night that saw plenty of interest in pleasure craft berths planned for the town's Harbour.

In a very positive sign the meeting in the Beach House Pub was 'overwhelmed' with people interested in berths but it was also announced that the marina works would not be completed before late Autumn.

Over 150 attended the meeting but many could not get into the main meeting room. There were a number of different concerns raised and disappointment that there are now further delays. A schematic drawing of the proposed marina layout was handed around the meeting room (see below).

There was some confusion whether the meeting was a further test of the market to see who was interested rather than a firm presentation and a plan of what was going to be provided. Other points raised and views about the meeting are appearing on bulletin boards here.

'These numbers were far more than the organisers expected and a great vote of confidence in it. While the delay is disappointing, this interest gives the developers the signal to proceed to invest in pontoons to get it open' said Councillor Derek Mitchell.

Many details such as security, fuel berths, sizes, visitor berths were discussed as the operator has to finalise these. Berth cost was also discussed and there were different views between the operator and the boat owners.

The marina map displayed at last night's meeting that shows proposed berthing arrangements in Greystones harbour

It is expected that Sispar will finalise their costs and hold another meeting within eight weeks.

'Last nights interest was exceptionally positive for the town. 50 berths were envisaged but with this level of demand 100 would seem the minimum needed. I urged the developer to move more quickly as I have felt the issue has been drifting for some months. This should put it on track'. Mitchell added.

Meanwhile Councillor Ciaran Hayden has responded to local comments that the new harbour looks like a 'concentration camp’. The Fianna Fail councillor said the comments ‘have been met with disdain by most harbour users'.

#GREYSTONES – The Greystones, County Wicklow marina briefing by developers Sispar scheduled for March 14 at the Beach House pub at Greystones harbour will focus on the setting up of the marina operation.

All interested parties have been invited to attend.

There will be a review of the current proposed layout based on the provision of 56 berths with a mix of sizes based on information gathered locally. Terms of berth rentals as well as the provision of services to pontoons will also be discussed.

#GREYSTONES MARINA – A prospective berth holders meeting is expected to be held next month at Ireland's newest marina facility at Greystones in County Wicklow. It is understood the developer Sispar will outline plans for the marina berths including a layout on an initial 56 berths and the relevant costs.  Potential berth holders who wish to secure a berth are being urged by local clubs to attend the meeting.