Despite plans for a significant multi-million-pound investment in marine leisure in the Isle of Man, plans for a marina in Ramsey to be known as the 'marina at the crossroads of the Irish Sea' have met with significant objections.

As regular Afloat readers will know, Ramsey Marina Limited (“RML”) opened registration for expressions of interest for berths at the proposed site in February.

"The beach is a marine conservation area, a very sandy much loved free communal beach and is subject to fierce waves in the autumn/ winter months. 65,000 signed a petition opposing the plans", Ramsey Resident Ruth Gale told Afloat. 

"I appreciate the benefits that added tourism could bring to the town but not at the cost of one of the nicest public beaches on the island", she said.

A petition to save Ramsey South Beach and the Marine Nature Reserve from destruction has raised 65,000 signatures.

The petition, entitled ’Stop the Destruction of the Ramsey Bay Marine Nature Reserve’ was launched by Facebook group ’South Beach Ramsey - Save the Bay’, after it was discovered the marina proposal was due to be re-launched last year.

The Ramsey Marina proposal would see full-scale dredging of Ramsey Bay, with reclaimed land used for the construction of a housing estate and marina on the public beach.

According to a 2019 DEFA survey, it is home to many important species of fish and aquatic plants, including eel grass, which thrives in the area and is 35 more times effective at carbon capture than rainforest trees.

The plans would see the beach between the historic Queen’s Pier and the Stone Pier given to private development.

Another resident, Josephine Sebastian told Afloat "the overwhelming majority of the residents of Ramsey do not want this marina.  RML are proposing to build this abomination on most of the beautiful shallow sandy bay called south beach.
It’s the wrong place…in every sense". 

The petition is here

Ramsey Marina Limited (“RML”) to be known as the 'marina at the crossroads of the Irish Sea' has opened registration for expressions of interest for berths at the proposed Ramsey Bay Marina on the Isle of Man.

It's a welcome development given the Isle of Man lies at the epicentre of significant multi-million-pound investment in marine leisure by the Governments of Scotland, Ireland, Wales and Northern Ireland yet in terms of marine leisure facilities, the Island is conspicuous by its lack of similar investment.

Promoters say Ramsey Bay Marina will be a 24/7 all-weather marina located immediately to the south of the entrance to the historic port of Ramsey on the Isle of Man. It will have 400 berths with a minimum depth of 3m. The berths for larger vessels, up to a maximum of 25m, will have between 5 and 6m depth. RML plans to keep 20% of the berths set aside for visitors.

Located at the crossroads of the northern Irish Sea, Ramsey is ideally suited for cruising the coasts of England, Scotland and Ireland. The Isle of Man itself (the only whole nation to become a UNESCO Biosphere) provides a lovely cruising ground for visiting yachts, with many ports under a day’s sail from Ramsey. In addition, Ramsey is an ideal “stopping off” point for those yachts transiting the Irish Sea.

Ramsey Marina will have full amenities and access to repair and maintenance facilities, as well as a wide range of shops offering everything from chandlery to local artisan foods.

Alongside the marina will be a mixed-use residential/commercial development. The residential units will range from 1 bedroom apartments to 3-4 bedroom townhouses. These will be ideal pieds-à-terres for yachtsmen who would like to keep their vessels in Ramsey on a permanent basis.

Berthing fees will be on a par with other similar marinas in the Irish Sea.

The overall investment in building the marina will be in the region of £100m, which includes roughly £50m to build the marina itself and the other £50m to cover the cost of building the associated mixed use commercial/residential development.

RML is also planning to set up the Island’s “National Maritime Sports Centre” which will apply for full accreditation with the RYA, British Canoeing and others to provide courses catering for beginners through to professional qualifications. Similar to other centres it will offer accommodation.

The marina will host a range of bars and restaurants in addition to those already in the town of Ramsey. It will also include a boutique hotel that will showcase the Island’s local food, including its world-renowned shellfish.

Further details of the proposed marina can be found at www.ramseymarina.com.

To register an interest in a berth, download and complete the form from the website. Once completed please submit to: [email protected]. Respondents will receive a formal acknowledgement of receipt of the forms by RML. Priority will be given strictly on a “first come, first served” basis.