Horizon City Marina Receives Taiwan’s First Certified Marina Operator License

Marina Manager Eve Kung becomes world’s first Chinese woman to acquire the accreditation

Horizon Group’s private international marina adds the Certified Marina Operator (CMO) license to its growing list of achievements and accreditations. Issued by the Marina Industries Association (MIA) serving Australia and the entire Asia Pacific region, the CMO certification is the latest milestone for the growing marina, which also received Taiwan’s first Gold Anchor Global Marina Accreditation in 2016.

 Horizon City Marina received Taiwan’s first Gold Anchor Global Marina Accreditation in 2016 

Horizon Group’s private international marina adds the Certified Marina Operator (CMO) license to its growing list of achievements and accreditations. Issued by the Marina Industries Association (MIA) serving Australia and the entire Asia Pacific region, the CMO certification is the latest milestone for the growing marina, which also received Taiwan’s first Gold Anchor Global Marina Accreditation in 2016.
Horizon City Marina received Taiwan’s first Gold Anchor Global Marina Accreditation in 2016

Founded in 2013, the Horizon City Marina is located in the port of Kaohsiung on the southwest coast of Taiwan. Accommodating vessels up to 200 feet in length, the 10,000m2 marina is conveniently situated in the heart of the city’s developing “Asia New Bay Area” and is Taiwan’s only professional city-center providing water and shorepower services as well as maintenance, provisioning and restaurant options.

Horizon City Marina is Taiwan’s only full-service, city-center marina

Established by the British Marine Federation and the MIA, the CMO license is granted to marina operators with at least 50 slips, a minimum AUD$500,000 in gross annual revenues, and at least six marina employees. Applicants must also demonstrate sound strategy, finance, regulation, operation, hardware, supply chain and human resource experience and capabilities.

Marina Manager Eve Kung becomes the world’s 58th as well as the first Chinese woman to be awarded the CMO certification

In another exciting first, Horizon City Marina Manager Eve Kung received the official disclosure from MIA president Andrew Chapman that she is now the 58th certified marina operator in the world, as well as the first Chinese woman to be awarded the certification. Eve has seven years of marina operations experience and has successfully completed Intermediate Marina Management and Advanced Marina Management courses alongside classmates hailing from Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Mainland China, Hong Kong, Qatar and other Asia Pacific regions.

Continuous innovation and development is a core focus for the Horizon Group. Not only has the company established international standards in marina hardware and software capabilities, Horizon applied environmental-friendly and innovative construction methods to the build of pillar-less floating docks in Kaohsiung’s commercial port eight years ago. The Horizon City Marina is an accredited, vertically-integrated, internationally-focused brand aimed at propelling Taiwan’s marina industry to the next level.

Since its establishment in 2013, the Horizon City Marina has accommodated yachts and guests from around the world, from several large fleets to a 184ft luxury motor yacht and a 1974 classic wooden sailing boat. The full-service marina is readily equipped to serve boats and yachts from around the world and hosts the Taiwan International Boat Show, as well as launching events and delivery ceremonies for various yacht brands. It also serves as the backdrop for sister cities’ signing ceremonies and a landmark for greeting state and foreign visitors. The CMO certification will serve to further enhance Taiwan’s reputation globally and will attract more yachts and their owners to the vibrant city of Kaohsiung.

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen greets state visitors at the Horizon City Marina.

“The development of Taiwan’s yachting facilities and services may have had a late start,” says Horizon City Marina Manager Eve Kung, “but we have gained invaluable knowledge and experience through international seminars and communication with marina managers from other countries. Receiving the CMO certification allows us to pursue and continue the multi-faceted development of the yachting industry and lifestyle in Taiwan.”

For more information on the Horizon City Marina, please contact [email protected].