NILES, Ill., January 15, 2002-Marina Dock Age, the leading marina business publication read by operators and owners across the country, named Osprey Marina its "2001 Marina of the Year." The award recognizes overall excellence in marina operation.

Elizabeth Altick McCarthy, Marina Dock Age Editorial Director, said, "After sorting through the applications for Marina of the Year, listening to expert advice and narrowing the field of candidates down to the best of the best, our selection committee had a tough decision to make: What marina equals our previous Marina of the Year winners in terms of environmental responsibility, customer satisfaction and commitment to its employees and the community at large? The answer: Osprey Marina.

(And this year, for the first time, the judges decided that two marinas were the best of the best, so the award also goes to Halifax Harbor Marina in Daytona Beach, Florida.)

Osprey Marina, owned by Carson Benton, is at mile marker 373 on the Intracoastal Waterway in Myrtle Beach. Osprey Marina offers a protected harbor 150 yards off the waterway accessible by a private deep water channel. Inside the basin, 96 wet slips are available for vessels up to 60 feet. Each slip is equipped with 30 and 50 amp power, water, and cable.

The ship's store offers 24-hour restrooms and laundry, an on-site short order grill, beer and wine sales, marine supplies, free local calls and Internet connection, and a small library.

Osprey Marina operates at 90 percent capacity year round. "We pride ourselves on our professionalism and customer service that keep people coming back again and again," says Osprey's Sherry Harrelson. "The Southern-style family-oriented marina tends to every detail of recreational boating. We make every attempt to make the customers' day on the water as easy, carefree, and enjoyable as possible."

"Our owners are dedicated to the community that has been so good to them. From donating used computers from the marina to schools and charity, to sponsoring youth athletic teams, it never seems that you can ever give enough," says Harrelson. Carson Benton donates considerable time and energy serving as the Chairman for the Grand Strand Solid Waste Authority Board.

Harrelson continues: "One of our biggest problems and a major concern among employees is keeping each and every customer as happy with our service as possible. Realistically, we understand that you can not please everyone, but we try our hardest anyway. Customer satisfaction is a top priority and is always stressed."

Marina Dock Age is a bi-monthly business magazine read by 17,000 marina industry professionals. It is published by Preston Publications, Niles, Illinois.

This program is sponsored by South Carolina's Department of Natural Resources.

It honors marinas that have excellent ratings in various categories. Some of the areas that are rated: Cleanliness of property and facilities; Water quality in the basin; Appropriate disposal of oil, gas and respective byproducts; Certified marine pump out station that is properly operated; A boater friendly and safe environment.

These standards in quality and service must be maintained for routine and surprise checkups. DNR reserves the right to revoke this certificate at failure of any checkup.