PIANC established the Jack Nichol Award to recognize outstanding marina design in memory of the late Jack Nichol, distinguished member of the PIANC Recreational Navigation Commission. For the Jack Nichol Award 2006, the following applications were received :

1. Charleston City Marina, located in Charleston, South Carolina, USA
2. Marina de Portimão, located in the Algarve province, Portugal
   
   

The applicants were all of a high character and broadly satisfied the award eligibility requirements. Both marinas showed strong evidence and awareness of concern for the environment and innovative engineering planning and design.

Marina de Portimão took advantage of the natural topography and setting in the river channel to create a modern first class marina. Rather than construct a 5 meter high seawall, a beach was designed to dissipate wave energy from the south which contributed to the more natural beauty of the area. The facility has created significant economic benefits, both in job creation and income to the region.

Charleston City Marina was a redevelopment of an existing marina that was in a state of disrepair, and was considered to be obsolete, and a liability. An innovative engineering solution to an existing siltation problem consisted of removal of sections of an existing breakwater to take advantage of local tidal currents to maintain navigable depths at the slips and minimize impacts to adjacent tidal marshes, while not impeding safe navigation of small vessels.

After due consideration by the selection committee, the Recreational Navigation Commission awarded the Jack Nichol Award 2006 to Marina de Portimão, Portugal for the following reasons.

• The marina dock layout is very efficient and both landside and waterside facilities blend in well with the natural surroundings, including the architectural design of the buildings. The floating dock system has sufficiently wide fingers and allows for high freeboard providing easy access to the larger vessels.
  
  

• Boat navigation access to the marina is excellent and the entire basin is well protected from waves by floating and fixed breakwaters and beaches.
  
  

• Available utilities at the berths include water, electrical power, pump-out, wi-fi, and satellite television. Landside amenities include restrooms and showers, fueling facility, boat haulout and storage, car parking, restaurants, bars, shops, yacht broker, catering services, yacht club, boat repair facilities, and 24-hour security system with access control cards for the marina gates and vehicles. The marina was designed for easy access by persons with disabilities.
  
  

• Overall, the marina was designed and continues to operate in a functionally effective and environmentally-friendly manner.