The modernized Mercator Marina marina has officially reopened in Ostend. The works took four months. This involves an investment of 600,000 euros, which is entirely borne by the marina itself. In the Mercator dock, where the three-masted museum sailing ship is also moored, there is room for 130 permanent and 50 temporary berths, for both sailing boats and motor yachts. The biggest asset is that the Ostend marina is located behind the locks, so no tides play a role.
“The old pontoons were installed in 1974, so it was time for them to be replaced,” says Hubert Rubbens, chairman of the Mercator Marina. “675 meters of new pontoon, but also 3.5 tons of new cables, electricity cables and water. Everything has been renewed down to the smallest detail. I am actually happy that it all got there just in time, because it is not that obvious. Your ships have to go, they have been gone since February. New poles had to be set out. The old ones have been demolished, seven of the eight have been demolished. These are all things that were not foreseen.”