Gladstone Marina in Queensland, Australia, was awarded four Golden Anchors under the Global Gold Anchor accreditation scheme at a presentation attended by Marina Industries Association and Gladstone Ports Corp. representatives.

Global Gold Anchor accreditation is a customer-focused program that rates marinas according to their level of services and facilities. The assessment process includes surveying a sample of the marina’s berth holders. Ratings range from 2 to 5, with a provision for 5 Platinum in exceptional circumstances.

MIA director John Spragg, CMP, presented the Global Gold Anchor certificate and flag to Gladstone Ports Corp. CEO Peter O’Sullivan.

“The marina and its surrounds are a great asset for the Gladstone community,” Spragg said in a statement. “The Gold Anchor Assessor highlighted the very positive comments made by berth holders relating to the marina and its staff. The setting of the marina in a safe harbor and within extensive parklands is a credit to GPC.”

“GPC is committed to continually improving the facilities and services at Gladstone Marina to meet the needs to its users and our community,” O’Sullivan said. “In 2014 we received a 3.5 Gold Anchor rating, which made us the first marina in Queensland to receive such accreditation. Since then it has been a focus and commitment of our Gladstone Marina staff and parks and gardens teams to increase this rating, which we have now achieved.”

“The Gladstone Marina provides a high level of customer service, clean facilities and pristine parklands; the Gold Anchor rating provides us with a benchmark to continually improve these,” he said. “This increased rating can be attributed to the hard work of the GPC team which work at the marina and surrounds.”

There are about 300 accredited Gold Anchor marinas extending from Australia through Asia, the Middle East, Europe and the Caribbean.

The Marina Industries Association and The Yacht Harbours Association, based in the UK, administer the accreditation with the objectives of boosting industry standards and promoting customer-focused marinas.