Investment Plan
Boston Harbor Shipyard & Marina has prepared this page to inform the public of our investment plan details to improve the East Boston shipyard and better serve our marina Guests, Shipyard tenants, the East Boston Community, and the city of Boston.
The Boston Harbor Shipyard & Marina has developed this Investment Plan, outlining our goals for the shipyard and marina in the years to come. For nearly two centuries, this has been a site with rich maritime history, and we intend to honor that by evolving to continue to support Boston Harbor and its changing needs. Read more about our history
The shipyard infrastructure is over 100 years old and has received little investment in many decades. Investment in costly waterfront infrastructure upgrades is critical to future success as a marine industrial facility. Being located within a Designated Port Area (DPA), we are committed to supporting these marine industrial operations. Read more about DPAs
Renovations of existing buildings are needed to ensure preservation and to remain functional, and new buildings are required to meet demand for current marine industrial needs. Public access needs to be improved and expanded to connect the community with the East Boston waterfront and public art will continue to be supported. The Investment Plan seeks to grow the local economy, promote water dependent uses, upgrade the dated infrastructure and equipment, and further establish the shipyard as a place for the community.
The investment plan includes infrastructure repairs, investment in new boat lifts and equipment, construction of new buildings, investment and expansion of the marina, designated pedestrian and bike access, and a new harborwalk.
Infrastructure Repairs
Investment in the infrastructure at the site is necessary to improve ground conditions and make the site more resilient. The boat lift and hauling piers need to be replaced for improved capacity and efficiency. The seawalls and bulkheads need upgrades to be more resilient against climate and wave action. The graving dock will be filled in and building 17 will be demolished.
Travel Lifts
A travel lift is a piece of equipment used to haul boats in and out of the water, as well as maneuver them around a boat yard. Currently, Boston Harbor Shipyard and Marina has a 50-ton travel lift. With new 75-ton and 300-ton travel lifts, Boston Harbor Shipyard and Marina will be able to haul larger vessels out of the water for maintenance, storage, and repair. The travel lifts are very large in size to support these kinds of vessels, and require a certain building height in order to maneuver into the bays.
The Salacia is the Provincetown Fast Ferry, measuring in at 127 feet in length. To service a vessel of this size, plenty of room for maneuvering in the yard is required, as well as a large maintenance shop space in which to perform repairs.
New Buildings
Four new buildings will be constructed in the East lot of the shipyard. These will serve as tenant shop spaces and will mostly be used for vessel maintenance and repair. The proposed placement of each of the four buildings is outlined in the image below. The exact location and sizes of each of the buildings are subject to change due to flood plains, architectural designs, as well as the information collected through the completion of geotechnical analysis.
Building 1: Travel Lift and shipyard maintenance shop
Building 2: First floor shop spaces with supporting offices
Building 3: Shop spaces with mezzanine offices providing direct access to vessel repair yard
Building 4: Vessel maintenance and repair shed with travel lift access
Marina Investment
In addition to improving the existing marina with improved docks and utilities, we will construct a marina expansion to add 150 new boat slips. The new marina will include a wave attenuation system, in-slip vessel charging stations, and a designated water transportation dock.
Harbor walk
The Boston Harborwalk is the 43-mile long park along Boston’s shoreline that connects the community to the waterfront. The investment plan will add 650 feet of new, public harborwalk complete with furniture, greenery, and light fixtures. The new harborwalk will connect the shipyard with Piers Park.
Public Access
A sidewalk will be installed between Piers Park and the shipyard entrance. There will be greenery along the sidewalk and in other areas of the shipyard. Designated pedestrian and bike lanes will be added as well as a new pedestrian entrance to the shipyard.