The third edition of the Monaco Smart & Sustainable Marina Rendezvous encouraged more than 250 participants from different sectors in yachting to congregate at the Yacht Club de Monaco (YCM) for key discussions and networking opportunities, followed by a prize-giving ceremony to honour different organisations.
This meeting gathered the entire ecosystem to share views and discover the latest innovative solutions and discuss their implementation at roundtables and networking sessions.
The event, which stands out for connecting marinas, architects and innovators including over 50 start-ups and scale-ups in the eco-transition drive underway for yachting destinations, was facilitated by M3 (Monaco Marina Management) under the umbrella of the YCM's Monaco, Advanced Capital of Yachting programme.
Participants at the event included H.E. Prince Saud Bin Turki Al Saud, director of strategic partnerships for the Saudi Red Sea Authority, H.E. Ana Elena Pinto Lozano, Costa Rica Ambassador for France and UNESCO, and Rear Admiral Reda Ahmen Ismail, head of maritime transport sector and minister of tourism and antiquities for the Arab Republic of Egypt.
Panel discussions covered key topics such as the new generation of yachts and their impact on marina infrastructures, including the adaptation of electric charging points in ports and harbours, sustainable tourism and its knock-on effects on the economic development of a destination and the key role played by public organisations and policy-makers.
Bernard d’Alessandri, YCM general secretary and president of Cluster Yachting Monaco, said that the industry had a responsibility to encourage all initiatives that lead to a more eco-responsible yachting sector. "A marina is an essential link in the chain, a living space to welcome yachts, their owners and crews, a micro-city looking to the future with strong interactions between land and marine environments. Yachting is an important component of tourism contributing to the attractiveness of a coastal destination and its economy," he pointed out.
The awards ceremony then shone the light on several organisations which were exhibiting at the event. In the marina category, Karpaz Gate Marina in North Cyprus tied for first place with fellow Cypriot marina Limassol. In the start-up category, Monaco-based EH2P Marine vied for first with Swiss desalination start-up Nereid Water.
"By contributing to these group think tanks we can speed up the adoption of innovative solutions and create a community committed to improving the future of our industry and conserving the oceans, in the same way the United Nations High Seas Treaty is starting now to see the first results in a decade,” said José Marco Casellini, CEO of M3.
The Monaco Capital of Advanced Yachting approach is already focussing on 2024 with several events including the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge (1-6 July 2024), the 13th Environmental Symposium, due to be held on 21 March 2024 before the YCM Explorers Awards by La Belle Classe Superyachts, two initiatives organised during the Monaco Ocean Week.