The Royal Bermuda Yacht Club (RBYC) is incorporating a company to oversee what could be the year-long development of Bermuda's newest private marina in Hamilton Harbour.

RBYC has applied to incorporate a local company with limited liability, to be called Point Pleasant Dock Corp. Ltd.

The stated aim of the company is to construct, maintain and operate docks, jetties and wharves, and to provide berths and moorings for all types of pleasure and recreational vessels.

Company objectives also include the potential purchase or lease holding, or acquisition in some way, of 1.25 hectares of land, comprising a portion of Hamilton Harbour situated immediately south of RBYC's existing docks and jetties. RBYC's lawyers for this development are Cox & Wilkinson.

The six-figure development can only begin, however, after final approval is granted by the Development Applications Board.

The DAB has already given agreement in principle to the scheme and the yacht club has submitted a final plan to the DAB.

Commodore Tom Miller said, "We certainly have the support of the membership and a great deal of the required number of subscriptions have already been taken up.

"The company has been set up basically as a vehicle to handle the whole thing. All told there are about 120 berths and it is already about 85 percent subscribed.

"This marina would take up the space where there are existing moorings that are owned by the club and it will be much more efficient use of the space.

Split moorings just take up too much room, and people would prefer to walk on and walk off their vessels, anyway.

"That is the biggest reason why it is preferable, together with the amount of space required per berth, compared to moorings.'' After some four years of discussion of the proposed plan, Commodore Miller said the development would represent a marked improvement.

He said, "Our expectations are that it will probably take close to a year to construct. We are hoping to begin work this fall in October. The work is to be done by a local firm, Dennis Correia of Correia Construction.'' Point Pleasant Dock Corp. Ltd. will initially be run by the executive of the club, and while control will always remain with the club, eventually the directors will be represented by the actual berth holders. The berths are only available to club members.

Additional revenue derived by the club from berthing fees will be used to help finance the cost of the development.