The best, brightest and proudest of the marina industry were recognised at the 2025 Nautilus Marine Insurance Marina of the Year Awards, held at Sydney’s picturesque Middle Harbour Skiff Club.
Opening the evening, Marina Industries Association (MIA) President and Master of Ceremonies, Andrew Chapman CMM remarked, “This is another incredibly successful celebration of our industry. The Awards attracted record entries across several categories, with over 110 guests and finalists gathering from across Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, the UAE and Singapore.”
Andrew Mulholland, Marketing Director / Commercial Partnerships Manager of event partner Nautilus Marine Insurance (NMI), echoed the sentiment, adding, “These Awards honour all entrants and finalists who consistently raise the bar and set new standards in our industry. While outstanding facilities are important, it’s the people who deliver the excellence we celebrate tonight.” Drawing a parallel with the Nautilus Marine Insurance values, Mullholland went on to say, “It’s about putting your customers at the core of everything you do and building trust through integrity and reliability.”
While the Awards have traditionally focused on facilities, 2025 saw the introduction of two new categories designed to spotlight and promote the achievements of individual contributions and rising talent. The inaugural Emerging Talent Award recognised future leaders under 35, with Jacob Morris, Director at Marine Structures, taking home the honour from a strong field. The new Industry Woman of the Year Award also made a strong debut, receiving a wave of impressive nominations. The winner, Stephanie Trounce, WHS Property and Compliance Manager at Gold Coast City Marina & Shipyard, was acknowledged for her deep expertise in safety systems and her leadership in maintaining high standards of property and compliance.
The flagship Marina of the Year categories were more competitive than ever. The recently redeveloped Jones Bay Superyacht Marina in Pyrmont, Sydney, emerged victorious as the Marina of the Year under 140 boats. It was a standout night for Gold Coast City Marina & Shipyard (GCCM), which claimed the Marina of the Year Award (over 140 boats), Boatyard of the Year (over 20 boats) and Dry Stack Facility Award. Celebrating 25 years of trailblazing excellence, GCCM has transformed former farming paddocks into a world-class marina and shipyard, playing a pivotal role in the development of the Coomera marine precinct.
Innovation was also in the spotlight this year, with Bellingham Marine taking home the Industry Innovation of the Year Award for its reimagined Unifloat system. The Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron (RQYS) once again claimed the coveted Club of the Year Award.
The competition in the Boatyard of the Year category for yards servicing under 20 boats was also strong, with White Bay 6 Marine Park taking the win. Industry veteran Lorraine Yates CMP reflected on the honour, “We’re grateful for industry recognition through awards like these. We have a beautiful facility in a stunning location, and I’m privileged that the owners trust us to manage it every day.”
The full list of Award winners for are 2025:
- Best Commercial Marina (Over 140 Boats): Gold Coast City Marina & Shipyard (GCCM), QLD
- Best Commercial Marina (Under 140 Boats): Jones Bay Superyacht Marina, NSW
- Club of the Year: Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron, QLD
- International Marina of the Year: Dubai Harbour Marina, UAE
- Dry Stack Storage Facility of the Year: Gold Coast City Marina & Shipyard, QLD
- Best Boat Yard (Under 20 Boats): White Bay 6 Marine Park, NSW
- Best Boat Yard (Over 20 Boats): Gold Coast City Marina & Shipyard, QLD
- Emerging Talent of the Year: Jacob Morris, QLD
- Industry Women of the Year: Stephanie Trounce, QLD
- MIA Environmental Award: Royal Phuket Marina, Thailand
- Industry Innovation Award: Bellingham Marine Australia, QLD
- Hall of Fame International Marina: ONE°15 Marina Sentosa Cove, Singapore
- Hall of Fame Dry Stack Storage Facility: Sydney Harbour Boat Storage
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