The Quay 7 Superyacht Marina will be located at one of the Southern Hemisphere’s oldest working harbours and among the most visited destinations in Sub-Saharan Africa, Cape Town.
Image: Supplied.
Cape Town is levelling up its maritime game.
The V&A Waterfront has announced a R230 million investment into a dedicated superyacht marina, set to transform the city’s historic harbour into a premier global hub.
Scheduled for completion in October, the facility promises to be a powerful boost for the local economy and a win for travellers seeking world-class maritime infrastructure.
Located right in front of the upcoming Cape Town EDITION hotel, the Quay 7 Superyacht Marina offers iconic views of Table Mountain and the Atlantic Ocean.
"Superyacht visits have shown steady growth since 2009, with 35 vessels welcomed in the 2024/25 season alone," says V&A Waterfront CEO Graham Wood.
He explains that the marina is meeting increasing demand: "Many stay for extended periods - six months, sometimes a year - because Cape Town offers a unique combination: world-class tourism, reliable marine services, and access to adventure cruising routes that simply aren’t available in traditional yachting hubs."
The marina is set to be a dual-purpose powerhouse. During peak season, it will host magnificent superyachts (40-90 meters), while in the off-season, it will support Cape Town’s thriving catamaran export industry.
Andre Blaine, executive of Marine and Industrial Property, highlights the local impact: "This isn’t only a leisure marina, it’s economic infrastructure."
"It creates sustained demand for fuel suppliers, provisioning companies, marine engineers, crew training facilities, and logistics operators. It supports local manufacturers who need berthing space for commissioning. And it positions Cape Town as a credible technical hub, not just a beautiful harbour."
The marina is part of the broader V&A precinct expansion, which includes the Cape Town EDITION hotel, the newly refurbished Intercontinental Table Bay Cape Town and the East Pier Helistop.
Meanwhile, CEO Wood emphasises the high-value, low-volume tourism model that the basin represents.
“A superyacht visit generates exponentially more economic activity per visitor than mass tourism."
Blaine adds: "These vessels refuel with hundreds of thousands of litres at a time. They source fresh provisions at scale. They employ local marine contractors for repair work. The spend is substantial, the volume is manageable, and the economic benefit stays local."
The development will also reinforces Cape Town’s credentials in sustainability and responsible maritime management.
The basin will pursue Gold Anchor accreditation, an internationally recognised standard for marina excellence, and will incorporate environmental management systems aligned with the V&A Waterfront’s broader sustainability commitments.
"More than 30,000 vessels pass the Cape annually for trade and tourism. The cruise season has extended from seven to nine months. Marine training, repair and manufacturing sectors are already well-established.
"This new marina formalises what the market has been signalling for years: Cape Town belongs on the global maritime circuit,” says Blaine.
Meanwhile Wood says: "We’re not chasing prestige. We’re responding to demonstrated demand with infrastructure that works year-round, supports local industry, and strengthens Cape Town’s competitiveness. This is about building on what we already do well, and doing it better."