Former oil-rig construction yard opens as Portavadie Marina
What was once a blot on the landscape created by the oil boom of the 1970s is to be turned into a muti million pound marina on the west coast of Scotland.
The first phase of the new 230-berth, deep-water, Portavadie Marina complex and resort was opened on 26th August by Jim Mather, Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism.
Built on the site of a former 1970s oil-rig construction yard which never opened Portavadie Marina aims to provide some of the highest quality facilities in the UK for sailors
The opening of the marina comes at a time when Scotland is experiencing a boom in sailing as marine leisure activities are now second only to golf in attracting revenue from tourism.
Owners Portavadie Estates Ltd, have so far spent around £18million on the first phase of the development, including the marina, restaurant, accommodation and luxury facilities which will eventually create more than 100 jobs.
The 12 metre deep lagoon, which is situated directly east across Loch Fyne from the village of Tarbert, provides fully serviced berths for almost any size of leisure craft. There are also a variety of shore side benefits, including showers and toilets, a launderette, drying room and a number of self-catering family apartments and cottages for between two and eight persons.
