SAN DIEGO, Calif. — The largest mega yacht marina facility on the west coast of the Americas will soon put down anchor at "Porto Hussong" in the port city of Ensenada, Baja California, providing much-needed and long-awaited slips for luxury mega yachts.

In addition to the coastline condominiums and boutique hotel, the centerpiece of the 16-acre world-class Porto Hussong resort will be a 290-slip marina with 76 recreational vessel berths capable of handling mega yachts up to 400 feet in length.

"We're already receiving inquiries and reservation requests from affluent yachters around the world," says Doug Bowers, director of marketing for Meridian Development Group, LLC (MDG) building Porto Hussong. "From this early response and the pent-up demand, we anticipate that the marina will quickly become one of the most popular yachting destinations on the western seaboard."

In the last several years there's been a worldwide boom in the construction of mega yachts — private and corporate boats boasting 100 feet or longer. Here on the west coast in waters from Alaska to Baja, yachts ranging from 200 to 400 feet and priced from $50 million plus are not unusual.

But according to international marina designer John Corrough of The Corrough Consulting Group, it isn't all smooth sailing for millionaire mariners.

"There's been an extreme shortage of docks big enough to handle these very large high-end yachts, especially here in Southern California, Baja California and mainland Mexico south," said Corrough, whose Newport Beach, California-based company is designing the exclusive Porto Hussong mega yacht marina and plush yacht club.

"There are greatly-increasing numbers of these mega yachts being built and so few berths currently available or under construction on the west coast to try to balance supply and demand," he said. "This new ?purpose-built' marina at Porto Hussong, with full-service amenities for the yachting market, will provide much-needed docks, utilities and support services packages for vessels 80 to 400 feet long, as well as for those in the 40 to 80 foot range."

In addition to filling a portion of the regional slip shortage, the new marina will provide premium yacht accommodations not currently available in the Ensenada area: fuel, security, concierge, sales, brokerage, delivery and management services, in addition to a helipad for owners and guests to meet their yachts in harbor. Other marina amenities include charter fishing and diving, charter sailboats, boat rental, ferries and water taxis. The resort will also provide customs and immigration clearance services for those arriving by sea.

Construction on the marina is expected to begin summer 2008, with grand opening anticipated in summer 2009. Ground has already broken on the first phase of the $450-million project that will be a unique mixture of premier resort retreat and exclusive residential enclave.

First-class residential living and vacation opportunities at Porto Hussong will include 450 private oceanfront residential condominiums from the high $600,000s to $3 million; a 60-suite upscale boutique hotel with lavish interiors; and membership in "The Meridian Club" Private Residence Club: offering fractional ownership of opulent Penthouse and top floor vacation homes from 4,500 to 7,400 square feet, access to a 74' Viking yacht and exchange privileges at the world's elite private residence clubs for $230,000 to $300,000 for five weeks of use per year.

Amenities at the Porto Hussong resort will include a fitness center, pool, spa facilities, tennis courts, bicycle pathways and an 8,800-square-foot Marina Village with galleries, a caf?, bakery and market, and specialty boutique shops.