THE MOORING STAR by PORALU MARINE

On-Demand Berthing Capacity for New Zealand Marinas

Every marina manager in New Zealand knows the feeling. Summer arrives, cruising traffic builds, and the phone does not stop ringing. Visitor enquiries increase, events are locked into the calendar, and suddenly a well-run marina is operating at full stretch.

Berths fill quickly. Late arrivals need space. Turning boats away becomes a regular conversation, and never a comfortable one. It affects revenue, reputation, and the experience of boaters who may not have many alternatives along the coast.

Permanent expansion might sound like the obvious answer, but in reality it rarely is. Consenting can be slow. Capital costs are high. And in many cases, the peak only lasts a few weeks each year. For most marinas, the issue is not expansion, but the ability to respond to short-term pressure.

A Different Way to Think About Capacity

That reality is changing the way operators think about capacity.

The Mooring Star was developed by Poralu Marine for precisely these situations. When a marina needs extra berthing for a limited period, without committing to permanent infrastructure, it offers a practical alternative. Rather than extending pontoons or reshaping a basin, the Mooring Star introduces a compact floating platform that creates up to eight additional berths around a central hub. It can be installed during busy periods, then removed and stored once demand eases. This simple idea shifts the conversation. Capacity no longer has to be fixed. It becomes something that can be deployed when it is needed, and stepped back when it is not.

The Mooring Star: Built for Operational Reality

From an operational point of view, the system is intentionally straightforward. Built from marine-grade aluminium and fitted with durable, low-maintenance decking, it is designed for repeated deployment. Installation is quick. Removal is just as efficient. Storage does not require complex handling or dedicated facilities. For marina teams managing seasonal peaks or unplanned disruptions, that practicality matters.

Safety has not been treated as an afterthought. The Mooring Star features rounded edges, full fender protection, non-slip surfaces, and generous mooring points. For visiting boaters, the layout is easy to understand and comfortable to use. For marina staff, it reduces risk and pressure during the busiest periods of the year.

A Natural Fit for New Zealand’s Coastlines

New Zealand’s coastal environment brings its own set of challenges. Many marinas operate in sensitive harbours where seabed disturbance, visual impact, and environmental performance are closely monitored. The Mooring Star has been designed with these conditions in mind. In addition to conventional anchoring, it can be installed using seabed-friendly anchoring screws, limiting impact and making it suitable for protected or shallow areas. Its compact footprint allows it to integrate naturally into existing marina layouts, without disrupting navigation or the character of the basin.

More Than Overflow Berthing

While seasonal overflow berthing is the most obvious use, the Mooring Star often proves its value in other situations. During maintenance works, it can act as a temporary holding area, keeping boats safely accommodated while parts of a marina are offline. During regattas, sailing weeks, or special events, it provides controlled additional capacity without stretching existing infrastructure. In some locations, it supports temporary anchorages linked to coastal tourism routes, extending the marina’s reach beyond its permanent footprint. In every case, the benefit is the same. Flexibility replaces constraint.

A Tool for Modern Marina Management

The Mooring Star works alongside existing berths, providing additional capacity without altering the core layout of a marina. It is not designed to replace traditional infrastructure, but to complement it, allowing operators to scale capacity up or down in line with real demand. For marina operators balancing commercial performance, environmental responsibility, and community expectations, adaptability is becoming a defining factor. Solutions that offer flexibility without long-term commitment provide a practical way forward.

In a New Zealand context, where space is limited and expectations are high, the smartest growth is not always about building more. Sometimes, it is about managing capacity better.

About Poralu Marine

Poralu Marine is part of Wearth Group, an international marina and waterfront specialist active across multiple regions. From early feasibility and design through to construction and advisory support, the group works alongside marina owners and developers to deliver practical, long-lasting solutions.

www.poralu.com

Poralu is a Gold Partner to NZMOA. This is a NZMOA Promotional Feature by Ekrem Reyhancioglu, Asia Pacific Director Poralu Marine