Civil engineering firm Arch Henderson sees a business case for a marina in the Falkland Islands, publishes summary report on findings.
A marina at Stanley has a credible strategic rationale and should progress to the next stage of development, was the conclusion of U.K.-based maritime civil, structural, architectural, and environmental engineering services company Arch Henderson (a company of Haskoning), which recently produced an initial feasibility study on behalf of the Falkland Islands Development Corporation (FIDC).
Based on several factors – including a market assessment, technical feasibility, interviews with user groups, and socio-economic impacts – the summary report from Arch Henderson envisions a protected marina with a berth mix designed around expected peak-season day demand, with a layout that prioritises shelter, manoeuvrability, flexibility, and operational resilience.
According to the report, Stanley’s potential strength lies in its geographic position between southern South America, South Georgia, and the wider South Atlantic route network. It also benefits from political stability, regulatory clarity, existing harbour procedures, provisioning capability, and its established role as the first port of call for visiting yachts entering the Falkland Islands.
The report from Arch Henderson suggests that Stanley could position itself as a specialist intermediate marina node rather than a direct competitor to larger Antarctic gateways.
“FIDC is pleased to see the report from Arch Henderson, who have delivered on making the business case for a marina in Stanley harbour,” said Zachary Franklin, managing director for FIDC. “This is a first step for FIDC and the Falkland Islands in terms of justifying a marina, but it is an important step that needs to be taken to demonstrate viability of a bigger, more impactful economic project.”
Beginning in January 2026, Arch Henderson undertook the initial feasibility study work on behalf of FIDC, which saw representatives from the company visit the Falkland Islands in February to interview stakeholder groups. Based on feedback and available market information, in August 2026, Arch Henderson delivered its initial feasibility report to the FIDC Board.
Emma Hick, (Principal Engineer, Haskoning) Mark Gilbert, (Structural Engineer, AJAX Engineering)
“We are pleased to have completed the technical feasibility study and outline business case for the proposed marina on behalf of Falkland Islands Development Corporation. The study has demonstrated that the project is technically feasible and has the potential to generate additional revenue and further socio-economic value for the Falkland Islands,” said Kevin Fettes, project director for Arch Henderson. “Through the study, Arch Henderson & our Haskoning NL team has brought together technical, operational and commercial considerations to provide FIDC with a robust evidence base from which to consider the future development of the project.”
“We believe the project has significant potential and would welcome the opportunity to see it progress to the next stage,” Kevin continued. “Further development work, including confirmation of the key technical assumptions and detailed market studies, will be important in building on the findings of this study and helping to bring the proposed marina closer to reality.”
The summary report made public by FIDC notes the next stage would require further technical investigation, design refinement, and confirmation of affordability through a full business case.
The report has since been shared with key stakeholders, including the FIDC Board, Falkland Islands Museum & National Trust (FIM&NT), and Falkland Islands Maritime Authority (FIMA), the latter two would need to buy into the report’s conclusions in order for FIDC to progress to the next stage.
In July 2026, the marina feasibility study project and the potential development in Stanley Harbour received a five-page article in the latest edition of international business publication Marina World Magazine, a quarterly magazine dedicated to the global marina and waterfront industry.
The article covered the history of interest in developing the waterfront area around Stanley, where previous iterations and discussions included the idea of a marina, the growing demand for marina services in the region from global associative bodies such as the International Association for Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO), and FIDC’s contracting of Arch Henderson at the end of 2025 calendar year to assess the feasibility of a marina in Stanley Harbour.
To download the summary report from Arch Henderson, click on the link below.
