Bo Lerenius, ABP's chief executive, was extremely enthusiastic about the project and confirmed that while ABP will always give full attention to its core business of cargo handling and commercial port management, the Ipswich experience has given ABP the confidence and enthusiasm to invest in leisure boating facilities in its extensive harbour landholdings.

For boating people the idea that Britain's biggest port owner and operator is actively participating in our industry should be a real comfort.

The marina, built on the redundant site of a former electronics factory, already has impressive facilities: a brand new purpose-designed building houses excellent administration and customer facilities including a sales/brokerage office already occupied by Fox's Yacht Sales.

Planning permission has recently been obtained for a very large boat building/repair shop of 1,115 sq m, which will have two bays each 25m wide and 35m long and with 8m doors through which the superb new 70 ton boat hoist already on site will be able to pass. This investment is being undertaken by boatyard and hire fleet operator JPC of Wroxham, which has obtained exclusive rights to carry out repair and engineering work at the new marina.

JPC boss Anthony Trafford told BB: "There's immense scope for development of boating activity in Lowestoft and we are fully confident that the new Haven Marina will be a major success."

By committing to the new repair and workshop facility, which represents very major investment, we are demonstrating our faith in the marina and in the prospects of the boating business in East Anglia as a whole, he added.

JPC says it will operate its existing agencies for Webasto Heaters and Sidepower thrusters from the new facility.

If the new marina proves successful as expected ABP have further plans to develop marina berthing in the Hamilton Dock, seaward of the bridge.

Getting the venture off to a flying start, guests at the lunchtime reception learned that Lowestoft Haven Marina has already won the Yacht Harbour Association Four Gold Anchor Award. Presenting the award to Bo Lerenius, YHA president Sam Bourne emphasised ABP's achievement by reminding those present that the Haven Marina is believed to be the last new marina development to have full planning consent anywhere around UK coast and that the restrictions on marina development, urged principally by the environmental lobby, represent a serious potential problem for the UK boat industry.