Nelson Marina on New Zealand’s South Island opened its new 110-tonne Cimolai travel lift and runway on Monday, 21 September 2026. A new boatyard and marine service centre are planned next at the marina, adding to wider marine infrastructure in the city, including a 550-tonne travel lift and yard commissioned at Port Nelson’s Calwell facility in April.
OCEL Engineering, Kernohan Engineering and Smith Crane & Construction helped replace the marina’s 30-year-old travel lift with the new Cimolai model, doubling its previous lifting capacity of 55 tonnes and increasing the maximum vessel beam from 5.6 metres to 8.5 metres. According to mayor Nick Smith, the added capacity is expected to support more maintenance, repair and boatbuilding work at the site, backed by the city’s marine businesses and workforce as demand grows from the aquaculture and tourism industries.
The lift upgrade is among the marina projects supported by a nearly $13 million NZD (about $7.8 million USD) government loan through the Regional Infrastructure Fund, secured in January 2026, which also covers development of a new boatyard due for completion in the first half of 2027 and a new marine service centre now seeking private-sector partners.
In his 23 September weekly column, mayor Smith said the projects are part of the marina masterplan approved by the city council in 2022, later leading to the creation of a separate Nelson Marina company and board after public consultation through the long-term plan 2024-34.
The recent marina upgrade also adds to wider marine investment in the city, as Port Nelson, jointly owned by Nelson City Council and Tasman District Council, commissioned a 550-tonne Cimolai travel lift and yard at its Calwell marine engineering facility in April.
