The 2025 Nautilus Marine Insurance Marina of the Year Awards brought together the marina industry’s top achievers in a celebration of excellence. Held at Sydney’s Middle Harbour Skiff Club, the event welcomed over 110 guests from Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, the UAE and Singapore, showcasing the remarkable progress, innovation and leadership shaping marinas today.
Andrew Chapman, CMM, President of the Marina Industries Association (MIA), opened the event: “This is another incredibly successful celebration of our industry. The awards attracted record entries across several categories.”
Nautilus Marine Insurance’s Andrew Mulholland highlighted the event’s focus on people and values. “These awards honour all entrants and finalists who consistently raise the bar and set new standards in our industry. While outstanding facilities are important, it’s the people who deliver the excellence we celebrate tonight. It's about putting your customers at the core of everything you do and building trust through integrity and reliability.”
For the first time, two new categories were introduced to highlight individual contributions. Jacob Morris of Marine Structures earned the inaugural Emerging Talent Award for his leadership and innovation, while Stephanie Trounce of Gold Coast City Marina & Shipyard (GCCM) was named Industry Woman of the Year for her expertise in safety and compliance.
Among the flagship categories, Jones Bay Superyacht Marina in Sydney was announced as Best Commercial Marina for under 140 boats. Recently redeveloped and operated by Scope Marine’s Nairn Johnson, CMM and Scott Cotton, CMO, who is also an Emerging Talent finalist, the marina can accommodate vessels from 20 to over 100-metre.
Gold Coast City Marina & Shipyard (GCCM) wins in three categories: Best Commercial Marina over 140 boats, Boatyard of the Year over 20 boats and Dry Stack Facility Award. Celebrating 25 years of innovation and service, GCCM was recognised for its facilities and sustainability credentials.
The International Marina of the Year award went to Dubai Harbour Marina, narrowly surpassing Westhaven Marina in Auckland, which earned a Highly Commended mention for its performance in the category.
White Bay 6 Marine Park won in the Boatyard of the Year for under 20 boats category, while Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron (RQYS) claimed Club of the Year, with Sandringham Yacht Club receiving a Highly Commended nod in the same category. The Boathouse Marina was Highly Commended in the Dry Stack Storage Facility of the Year category.
Innovation was also recognised, with Bellingham Marine winning the Industry Innovation of the Year Award for its advanced Unifloat system. On the environmental front, Royal Phuket Marina was recognised with the MIA Environmental Award for its leadership in sustainability, including being the first carbon-neutral marina in Asia.
Notable honours included Hall of Fame inductions for ONE°15 Marina Sentosa Cove and Dry Stack Storage Facility of the Year for Sydney Harbour Boat Storage, while Ocean Marina Jomtien received a special presentation for its 5 Gold Anchor Platinum and Superyacht Ready accreditation.
Other recognised marinas, such as Birkenhead Point Marina, Coral Sea Marina Resort and Sanctuary Cove Marina, were commended for upholding international standards.
The 2025 Nautilus Marine Insurance Marina of the Year Awards not only recognised outstanding marina facilities but also celebrated the people, innovation and values driving the industry's evolution. As sustainability, talent development and customer experience take centre stage, the marinas honoured in 2025 set a new benchmark for excellence across the globe.
