An early morning karakia and a sod turning ceremony this Thursday will mark the official beginning of the Marine Precinct construction phase.

The $10.4 million project replaces the 600-tonne slipway, disassembled in 2007 and sold to Nuku'alofa to make way for the construction of the second harbour bridge.

The marine precinct site.Photo: Google Maps.

The successful civil contractor will eventually build the sea wall, dock and a large concrete hardstand which will be the operating area for the precinct's key piece of infrastructure - the 350-tonne capacity Cimolai vessel hoist.

It will be the largest in the country when it begins operations sometime next winter.

The opening is about a year later than originally expected due to the Bay of Plenty Regional Council taking more than a year to hand over its $5 million share of the development, which it originally promised in October 2014.

Tauranga City Council was waiting on the money from the Regional Infrastructure Fund to settle land purchases, and didn't see the money until November 18, 2015.

And instead of just handing over the $5m, the regional council requires a monthly drawdown of the regional infrastructure funding, which is designed to align with the expected construction programme during the 2016/17 financial year.

Major tenants include Hutcheson Boatbuilders, which will be remaining on the site it has occupied for 18 years. Pachoud Yachts will be moving around from the shed in Cross Road, Sulphur Point where they have been specializing in composite power cats over recent years.

Other partners include marine contractor Pacific 7 Ltd. The company provides tug, barge and workboat services to central and local government, the oil and gas sector, the military and others.