An updated Memorandum of Incorporation was adopted in September 2017 and states that: “The Object of Port Owen Marina Authority NPC is to Maintain and Control the Waterways, Boating and Ancillary Facilities at Port Owen Marina, and to serve the Local Community while operating as a Non-Profit Company”.

1.) What is POMA required to do in terms of maintenance?

Maintenance of the waterways.

• The waterways and yacht basin cover an area of approximately 20 hectares. This is the area where effective water depth is important and siltation requires constant dredging.
• Due to the influence of wave, wake and tide action, the embankments need constant attention.
• The length of the waterway embankments total approximately 6800 meters. These consist of concrete embankments in the “Loop” section of the marina and in certain areas of the main basin as well as the walkway around the Main Basin.
• Removal of excessive/dead seaweed from the waterways. This is  normally needed during the hot summer months when the water salinity is high.

Maintenance of the walkways.

• The public walkway round the Main Basin of the marina covers a distance of approximately 1200 meters and is also effectively the embankment in these protected waters.

Maintenance of public open spaces.

• There are 19 public open spaces scattered around the waterways and Marina. The largest area is situated at the Eastern Basin in the Loop. POMA’s responsibility is to keep these areas neat and tidy and when water is freely available, to cut the grass and trim the trees.

Maintenance of POMA-owned jetties

• All the jetties in the yacht basin are POMA owned and these structures need constant maintenance. The berths in the yacht basin are all supplied with potable water and electricity for the convenience of owners.

Removal of refuse from bins situated along the walkway bordering the yacht basin.

• These bins are supplied for the use of yachtsmen with vessels moored in the yacht basin and are emptied once a week.

Maintenance of the public slipway.

• The slipway is an essential part of the marina infrastructure and needs constant attention because it is exposed to the tides and utilisation is high.

Maintenance of lighting in the marina.

• Walkway lights and navigation lights need to be in perfect working order and unfortunately, frequently get vandalised.

2.) What is POMA required to do in terms of
control?

Controlling the sale and leasing of berthing space alongside POMA-owned jetties.

• Berthing space is either sold or leased on short term contracts. Both these transactions are completed by the client signing a Berthing Agreement.
• In the case of sold berths, the contract determines that a Candoc floating jetty is supplied. POMA will supply and install all the requisite hardware required for permanent berthing.
• Leased berths are all situated alongside the existing wooden finger jetties in the yacht basin. Individual contracts determine the duration and any special arrangement the client might require. 

Controlling the installation of privately owned jetties.

• There are specific properties in Port Owen that have private jetty rights. Some of the locations require co-owned jetties (panhandle properties). POMA has to agree on the placement as well as the anchoring system of each private jetty installed.
• Every private jetty installation has to be backed by a private jetty agreement. The jetty specification, number and size of boat has to be agreed up front.

Controlling the issue of slipway launching permits.

• POMA clients are issued with free launching permits.
• Annual permits for regular users are available at a fee.
• Casual users are charged a launching fee per launch/retrieve

Controlling the issue of Live-Aboard agreements

• Long-term live-aboard permits (continous duration of more than six days) are issued as per POMA policy. The client has to pay the live-aboard fee as applicable.

The formilisation and publication of policies, procedures and regulations.

• The Marina rules and regulations deal with the requirements for orderly conduct of Marina users. Speed limits, angling rules, swimming in the Marina, noise and general recreation limits are examples.
• Policies and procedures are formulated to ensure consistency and predictability of decision-making.

3.) How is POMA FUNDED?

POMA has two main sources of funding:

• Fees for private jetties, berthing space in the yacht basin, the use of the slipway and live-aboard levies. This represents approximately 60% of the total annual income.
• An annual Municipal grant is recieved from Berg River Municipality and represents approximately 40% of the annual income.

4.) How does POMA serve the Community?

POMA has formally adopted the guidelines of the KING IV Code of Practice and therefore recognises the interest and rights of a very wide stakeholder basis. 

As can be seen from the sources of funding above, POMA follows a “User Pays” policy, that is, people making use of the facilities available, pay for it. 

Not all the property owners in Port Owen make use of the available facilities, but may enjoy the marina environment because of a waterfront property or a property situated next to the well kept public open spaces.

These property owners are not direct clients of POMA, but do contribute to the funding via the Municipal grant. Locally based suppliers and contractors are used exclusively, except in cases where the service is not available locally, i.e., dredging. 

Permanent and temporary staff is recruited locally. 

The facilities are made available for community projects such as the Velddrif Mile Swim and other yachting regattas. 

Visitors, launching their boats elsewhere, may use the waterways freely.