NPM Venture LLC, operating as Navy Pier Marina (NPM), has begun construction in anticipation of its grand opening during the 2025 boating season. The Navy Pier Marina will provide a home in the heart of Chicago for boaters across the city and suburbs and around the Great Lakes. It will be a rendezvous for boating groups seeking unique and modern mooring facilities.
Rebel Republic, producer of the Newport Beach International Boat Show and San Diego International Boat Show, recently announced plans to expand its highly successful In-Water Boat Show Series to include a new Chicago International Boat Show at Navy Pier Marina from August 21 to 24, 2025. The event will feature an exclusive lineup of luxury boats, yachts, and watercraft, alongside curated showcases from luxury automotive brands, private aviation, and world-class culinary experiences.
“The years of hard work, perseverance, and dedication to this project have come to fruition with this major milestone,” said Randy D. Podolsky, developer of Navy Pier Marina. “Believing in a dream and making it a reality makes it all worthwhile to bring recreational boater access to Navy Pier. Navy Pier Marina will offer limited availability to seasonal commercial vessels, including fishing, sailing, dive and social charters, boat clubs, cruises, dealers, and other boat-share operations, in addition to prolific transient access via our easy-to-use online reservation system,” he added.
Navy Pier Marina Amenities
Navy Pier Marina will offer lunch and dinner hourly tie-ups as well as overnight stays. Boaters can moor up with friends and family to eat, ride the Centennial Wheel, experience Flyover Chicago and the Chicago Children’s Museum, or enjoy scores of other attractions at Navy Pier and its surrounding neighborhoods.
The privately funded and entrepreneurially operated Navy Pier Marina will offer broadside (side-tie) mooring for vessels up to 183 feet in length on modern floating piers. The flexible dock design even allows cleats to be repositioned for vessel tie-up. Marina amenities will include concierge-quality service, power and water hookups, Wi-Fi, and pump-out service.
A unique two-story boater amenities building will be constructed from single-use shipping containers. It will be a pet-friendly environment that houses the marina office, ship’s store, restrooms, showers, boater’s lounge, bicycle repair station, and pet relief station.
The building was designed to fit in harmony with Navy Pier, providing a modern facility with a retro look while utilizing shipping containers, which are traditionally single-use and a burden on the environment unless repurposed. SI Container Builds is the container contractor for the marina amenities building.
JF Brennan has been selected as the general contractor. Structurmarine will provide the robust aluminum pier infrastructure, while Marina Electrical Equipment will supply the marina electrical components.
More About the Chicago International Boat Show at Navy Pier Marina
Revel Republic’s In-Water Boat Show Series is distinct in its approach to modernizing the traditional boat show format. Beyond showcasing luxury yachts and boats, the events integrate elements from industries such as exotic cars, private aviation, fine jewelry, gourmet cuisine, and VIP entertainment to create a multifaceted experience that makes the boating lifestyle accessible and exciting for everyone. With direct access to Navy Pier’s many restaurants, attractions, and amenities, the Chicago International Boat Show at Navy Pier Marina will be an event for the entire family. For more information, visit www.officialchibs.com.
The Fulfillment of a Dream
“This is a dream years in the making,” said Marilynn Gardner, President and CEO of Navy Pier. “Opening up boater access to Chicago’s front porch is not only a tremendous amenity for the local and regional boating community but also a dynamic opportunity for the 70-plus businesses that call Navy Pier home. I want to extend a personal note of gratitude to our partners at the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, Chicago Department of Transportation, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Coast Guard, and the Illinois Office of Tourism for their support throughout this process.”
Visit the marina’s new website at navypiermarina.com for construction updates and upcoming reservation information. Follow Navy Pier Marina on Instagram and Facebook.
Navy Pier Marina was designed and engineered by Michigan-based Edgewater Resources.
ABOUT NPM VENTURE
NPM Venture LLC was formed by Chicago native Randy D. Podolsky. Since he started his boating adventures in 1983, Randy has envisioned a recreational marina at Navy Pier, which would provide unprecedented waterborne access to the People’s Pier. Randy has been an active member of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary since 1991 and served as the elected District Commodore of the Ninth District Western Region in 2009 and 2010, overseeing the operations of more than 1,100 uniformed volunteer Coast Guard Auxiliary members. To provide financial and physical resources for local Auxiliary units, Randy formed the NFP Waukegan Water Safety Association in 2001. Randy has been an active member of the Chicago-area commercial real estate scene since 1976 when we started his career at Arthur Rubloff & Co. Since 1979, he has headed Podolsky & Associates in Riverwoods, IL. He has been working on the development of Navy Pier Marina since 2016 and is excited to turn his vision into a reality for all recreational boaters interested in an easy-to-reserve transient mooring in the heart of Chicago.
ABOUT NAVY PIER
Located on Lake Michigan, Navy Pier is the top nonprofit tourism destination in the Midwest, stretching more than six city blocks and typically welcoming nearly 9 million annual guests. Originally opened in 1916 as a shipping and recreation facility, this Chicago landmark showcases more than 50 acres of parks, restaurants, attractions, retail shops, sightseeing and dining cruise boats, exposition facilities, and more. The Pier celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2016 with the unveiling of the iconic Centennial Wheel, Polk Bros Park, Family Pavilion, and Peoples Energy Welcome Pavilion. Today, Navy Pier continues to usher in its second century with ongoing Pier-wide redevelopment efforts—including Sable, a 223-room Hilton hotel, new restaurant and retail partnerships, and thrilling new attractions such as Flyover Chicago and Illuminarium. The Pier is proud to present free, year-round cultural programming designed to inspire, educate, and connect communities across the city and globe. Click here to donate to Navy Pier, a mission-driven 501(c)(3) organization. For more information, visit NavyPier.org.
ABOUT OUR PARTNERS
• Edgewater Resources: edgewaterresources.com
• JF Brennan: jfbrennan.com
• SI Container Builds: sicontainerbuilds.com
• Structurmarine: structurmarine.com
• Marina Electrical Equipment: marinaee.com