Marine and Safety Tasmania (MAST) will manage and operate a floating marina and transfer ownership to Hobart City Council.

The marina will be built at Sullivans Cove near Elizabeth Street Pier and the Kings Pier Marina for general public use for short term recreational boat and yacht berthing.

MAST is conducting a tender evaluation process to determine the contractor who will construct the marina.

Hobart Mayor Damon Thomas said MAST will fund the $400000 installation of the marina.

According to Mr Thomas, MAST intends to hand over ownership of the marina to the council who in turn will sign a long term lease with TasPorts.

“Daily usage of the marina will be monitored by the council’s parking and information officers who are currently contracted by TasPorts to patrol all of the waterfront areas in Sullivans Cove,” Mr Thomas said.

He said the marina has been designed to provide berthing for 12 vessels, depending on size, with private berths to be set aside for the operation of Pennicott’s Wilderness Journeys, which will have no impact on the public facility.

“While the facility will be free to the recreational boaters, there will be a time limit applying to vessels berthing,” he said.

He said this is to ensure there is adequate provision for further turnover should the marina prove to be popular.

Construction on the marina will begin within the next two months.