Projects to manufacture floating docks in the UAE and Oman are propelling Sharjah-based Septech Emirates into the big league of marina industry players.

Septech Emirates has accomplished eight berth installations on The Palm, a spectacular man-made island taking shape in Dubai, while in Oman it has designed and built a floating dock in Al Asharaka, south of Muscat, and is in the process of building a similar facility in Lima in the Sultanate’s Khasab region.
The company, which is also a leading wastewater management specialist, is set to capture a substantial share of the marina market following a licensing agreement it signed with Bellingham Marine Australia (BMA), the world’s oldest and largest marina design and construction company.
Under the agreement, Septech Emirates will market, manufacture and install the BMA-trademarked Unifloat concrete floatation dock system.
The tailor-made marina products include the Unideck aluminium floatation system, Unistack, Unifloat wave attenuators and service pedestals and fire stations.
The Unifloat concrete floatation system is renowned for its strength, durability and stability and has already been installed by Septech Emirates in Oman and the UAE.
All Unideck metal components are marine-grade aluminium and the end result is a lightweight and affordable system, perfectly suited for marinas in sheltered waters.
Unistack is a dry stack system and has been developed to handle customer demands for cost-effective storage for boats and has the capacity to store up to 40 ft vessels. Unifloat wave attenuators are individually designed and engineered to significantly reduce wave action entering a marina basin.
While BMA previously exported its Unifloat system to the Middle East from Australia, the relationship with Septech Emirates means faster and better all-round service for marina developers.
Septech Emirates joined forces with BMA based on its expertise in pre-cast concrete and a projects list, which included the recently completed berths at The Palm development.
A concrete floatation dock system is the preferred system in most countries around the world for a number of very good reasons and marina developers will be delighted to find the product is now available right on their doorstep,” said David Hefferman, managing director of Septech Emirates.
“Because of the size of boats in this region and the need for public access, concrete floatation systems, such as the Unifloat, are essential because they’re stronger and more stable.”
John Spragg, general manager of Bellingham Marine Australia, said: “We needed to establish a reliable partner in the Gulf to meet the growing demand for the region’s marine industry.
“Septech Emirates’ infrastructure and expertise in pre-case concrete means we can now purpose-build floating concrete marinas in the Middle East for the first time. This creates cost advantages at the build stage of the development, while giving the added benefits of lower maintenance costs in the future for the owner.”
Hefferman stressed that concrete floating marinas were environment friendly, saying growth on concrete pontoons promoted marine life and a marine cycle that wasn’t there before.
“There is only a minor disturbance to the sea bed because the entire structure floats. The growth of marine life also adds protection to the pontoons, providing another impenetrable layer.”
The partnership with BMA comes at a time when the UAE and the rest of the GCC region are experiencing a boom in the marina industry.
Hefferman points out that the market for locally manufactured marinas such as the ones Septech Emirates can develop is substantial. He adds that his company is able to offer cost advantages and better service by custom building marinas in the Middle East.
“Importantly, concrete floatation systems, such as the Unifloat that we supply are preferable because they are stronger and more stable,” said Hefferman.  Septech Emirates has said its floating dock systems are designed and custom built to suit the unique aspects of each site and to withstand extreme weather conditions.
They underline that wind loading, wind climates and heavy boats all impact on the docks so engineering becomes a critical factor in ensuring durability and safety.