A shortage of places to park the world’s growing fleet of luxury vessels is driving up prices — and turning marinas into a hot new asset class for investors. The Gouvia marina in Corfu, Greece, one of about 400 premium Mediterranean marinas, is operating at near-full capacity, with demand vastly outstripping supply. Oliver Dörschuck, CEO of D-Marin, which owns Gouvia and over 20 other regional ports, notes three to four boats inquiring for every available berth.
Regulatory barriers, environmental restrictions, and limited coastal land make new marina construction difficult, intensifying scarcity. This mismatch has attracted major investment: D-Marin was sold by CVC to Infra Via for over €1bn in 2026, signaling strong investor confidence. With the global fleet of yachts over 12 meters nearing 210,000, berthing has become a high-stakes competition among the super-rich.
Josephine De Luca, a boat owner consultant, reports that fees have doubled in a decade and availability is now the real challenge. As yacht sizes grow, securing prime berths is increasingly difficult, frustrating wealthy owners unaccustomed to constraints.
Source: Financial Times Companies · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing