Superyacht marina complex planned for San Juan, Puerto Rico

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – The Puerto Rico Ports Authority (PRPA), a public corporation and government instrumentality of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, has issued a request for proposal (RFP) for the leasing, design, construction, operation and financing of the rehabilitation, improvement and operation of the Isla Grande Dry Dock (“IGDD”) in the City of San Juan, Puerto Rico, and the design, construction, financing, and development of a superyacht marina complex.

The PRPA is seeking comprehensive proposals from highly qualified developers and operators of luxury marinas and vessel maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities.

Ingrid C. Colberg-Rodríguez, executive director of the PRPA, said “Puerto Rico is going to be the premier destination in the Caribbean for maintenance, repair and overhaul services of luxury vessels, while further fostering the growth of the service and tourism industries on the island. The RFP seeks to obtain proposals to transform the IGFF into a leading maritime-industrial center for yacht and superyacht maintenance, and develop a Marina Site to provide services and luxury shopping, dining and accommodations for the yachting community.”

Meanwhile, Alberto Baco-Bague, secretary of the Puerto Rico Department of Economic Development and Commerce, said that “our fiscal advantages, diversified economy, physical infrastructure, human capital, and privileged location in the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea, make Puerto Rico an ideal spot for a first-class marina and a facility for maintenance, repair and overhaul of leisure vessels and superyachts.”

The RFP Project is adjacent to the Puerto Rico Convention Center District, home to one of the largest convention center facilities in the region, with an area of 600,00 square feet, and the Isla Grande Airport (SIG), a regional airport owned by the PRPA with the capacity to receive private jets, charters and fixed-based operators. The Project is also centrically located with easy access to major highways.

The RFP Project would be part of the Port of San Juan, the busiest ocean terminal in the Caribbean, and one of the leading cruise ports in the Western Hemisphere. Over the last five years, the Port of San Juan has received on average close to 500 cruise ships on 14 cruise lines, 1.4 million passengers, and 2,340 cargo ships moving approximately 8.3 million short tons of cargo per year.

As a Commonwealth of the United States, Puerto Rico shares a common military defense, market, currency and citizenship with the United States. The Commonwealth exercises virtually the same control over its internal affairs as is the case for any of the 50 United States.