Inside IGY Savannah Harbor Marina With GM Jedison Knowles

IGY Savannah Harbor Marina opened in late May 2025 with an inner-basin layout designed to give boaters closer access to historic downtown Savannah, according to the marina’s general manager, Jedison Knowles.

Knowles discussed the project in a Dockside Chat interview with Marina Dockage editor Kristy Kleiner. He said the marina sits near downtown and is positioned to serve transient traffic, including Loopers and vessels moving along the Intracoastal Waterway, as well as customers headed to nearby service providers such as Savannah Yacht Center and Thunderbolt Marine.

Knowles said planning for the site predated IGY’s involvement, describing years of work by project partners tied to land ownership, permitting and coordination among multiple stakeholders. He said the permitting process involved the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Chatham County and the city of Savannah, along with utilities and other parties connected to the property.

Once key approvals and ownership issues were resolved, Knowles said construction ran about 18 months, including dredging, dock installation and operational setup.

The facility includes 105 slips in the inner basin, ranging from 30 to 70 feet, with 30-, 50- and 100-amp service, water at each slip and Wi-Fi across the property, Knowles said.

In addition, Knowles said the marina’s river dock spans about 1,300 linear feet and is designed to handle vessels up to about 800 feet. He said the site has no air draft restrictions and no draft restrictions, with the inner basin about 14 feet deep and the river dock area about 50 feet deep. He attributed the depth along the river dock to the marina’s location on a shipping channel where dredging is routinely performed.

Knowles said the marina’s basin layout offers protection from wind and wave energy. He described the site as set within a basin surrounded by seawalls on three sides, with tide swings of about 7 to 8 feet.

For construction, Knowles said Wahoo Docks provided aluminum-frame docks for the inner basin, with a heavier 12-inch aluminum frame specification than typical installations. He said Marine Tech was responsible for the river dock, describing it as floating concrete units built in Croatia and shipped into the Port of Savannah for installation. He said the river dock system weighed about 900 tons and was installed with support from Merrick Marine, which he identified as the construction company for the project.

Current on-site amenities include showers and restrooms, plus gasoline and diesel fueling, Knowles said. He also pointed to nearby recreational options adjacent to the property, including access to golf, pickleball, tennis, a spa and fitness facilities, and pool access through a neighboring resort.

Knowles said the broader development surrounding the marina is still underway. He said an office building is under development and plans call for a new marina office with a market and short-term rentals, followed by a boutique hotel, event pavilion and food and beverage concepts in later phases.

During its first season, Knowles said the marina saw early transient demand soon after opening. He said the marina had about 40 to 50 transient reservations within its first month and has built a base of 30 to 40 annual or seasonal customers.

Knowles said the marina partners with local events and plans programming tied to Savannah’s calendar, including St. Patrick’s Day, July 4 and New Year’s Eve. He also cited opportunities connected to local sports and entertainment, including the Savannah Ghost Pirates and the Savannah Bananas.

Knowles said the marina encourages customer feedback and uses surveys to identify operational changes. Looking ahead, he said the marina’s focus is on building occupancy and continuing to serve a mix of smaller recreational boats and larger yachts.