MDL Upgrades Southampton's Ocean Village Marina

One of Europe’s largest marina groups, MDL confirmed a £2.2 million investment in its flagship Ocean Village Marina in Southampton. This significant investment has enabled the complete replacement of all pontoons along the south side of the marina and the introduction of new smart electric technology.

Commencing in mid-October 2023, the upgrade works involved installing brand-new pontoons from F through to L (inclusive). This consisted of removing some of the piles, dredging, reinstating the piles and then installing brand-new pontoons, while maintaining the overall configuration of most of the pontoons.

The project was completed in phases throughout May and June. F and G pontoons were the first to be completed and were opened on 10 May, celebrated with a bottle of bubbly to welcome customers back.

In addition to the new pontoons, smart meters have been installed across the marina. These meters provide customers with complete control of their electricity accounts, offering 24/7 access for online payments and automatic notifications of any interruptions to their power supply.

Furthermore, the five superyacht berths, which can accommodate boats from 25m to 50m, have been upgraded with new concrete pontoons, new decking and smart meters supplying 3-phase electricity.

MDL Marinas also commissioned works to include enhanced wave attenuation at the entrance to the marina, which acts to dissipate the waves to create a calmer and more comfortable environment for a premium berthing experience for its users.

The concrete pontoon sections were transported by land from Ireland to MDL’s Saxon Wharf and then towed to Ocean Village. The old pontoons and floats were taken away for re-use or recycling, underscoring MDL Marinas’ commitment to sustainability.

Everything spent on these upgrades is focused on maintaining and improving the quality of the customer experience and safeguarding the environment where MDL’s loyal customers come to enjoy their leisure time.

“Our commitment to investing in our marinas is crucial to ensure we are always delivering the highest level of excellence that our berth holders, visitors and tenants have come to expect,” says Lauren McCann, Manager of Ocean Village Marina.

“We also would like to take this opportunity to extend a huge thank you to all our berth holders and staff who have been incredibly patient and accommodating throughout the project. The team has done an amazing job managing logistics during the works, which included hosting a successful South Coast & Green Tech Boat Show without a hitch.”

With the upgrades complete, Ocean village Marina can now accommodate all boat sizes from 8m to 80 metres, enabling small and large boats to enjoy the luxury marina experience year-round.

Ocean Village Summer Celebration
To celebrate the opening of the new pontoons, Ocean Village hosted a Summer Celebration, which took place on its brand-new south side pontoons last weekend.

Hosted in conjunction with Approved Boats, the event featured live music, a free barbecue and complimentary hospitality aboard a selection of impressive boats. Attendees also enjoyed boat demonstrations on the latest models from the Fairline Yachts range and other quality new and used boats.

As part of the package, Approved Boats offered a free annual berth at Ocean Village Marina for any Fairline purchased at the event, which they have confirmed will be extended until the end of July for those who were unable to attend the weekend celebration event.

Ocean Village Marina
A 362-berth marina, Ocean Village is the UK’s first and only 5-star marina. Within easy reach of the renowned waters of the Solent, the marina is home to a £50m luxury spa hotel complex and is surrounded by shops, bars, restaurants and a cinema.

The people’s choice, Ocean Village Marina was voted ‘Marina of the Year’ at the British Yachting Awards in November for its exemplary level of customer service providing an excellent customer experience for berth holders and visitors alike.