True to its mission of delegating public services, the Yacht Club de Monaco, presided over by H.S.H. Prince Albert II, intends to position the Principality as the spearhead of responsible yachting, in line with the United Nations’ sustainability objectives.
With this in mind, on September 24 and 25 it will be hosting the Monaco Smart & Sustainable Marina Rendezvous, a unique meeting place where financiers, politicians and innovators will come together to discuss concrete technological solutions applicable to marinas.
Organized by Monaco Marina Management (M3), a Monegasque consultancy specializing in the development, management and promotion of marinas, yacht clubs and sailing schools, the Monaco Smart and Sustainable Marina Rendezvous aims to present the latest advances in encouraging the construction and development of virtuous marinas.
The event is supported by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation and Extended Monaco, the digital transformation program of the Principality’s Government, as well as private partners Bombardier, MB92 Group, Xerjoff and Royal Caviar House.
“We’ve been working for several years on the concept of virtuous marinas. Faced with today’s environmental challenges, we believe that a global response from an international perspective is essential. We are convinced that there are many technological solutions today that could be deployed in marinas, which are important players in local economies,” confides José Marco Casellini, CEO of M3.
An E-catalogue of innovative solutions
Keen to bring out and showcase new, as yet little-known solutions, the organizers have published a catalog that can be consulted online on the event’s official website (https://sustainablesmartmarina.com/e-catalogue-2023).
This E-Catalogue lists 50 start-ups and scale-ups identified by the experts at Blumorpho, experts in positive-impact innovation, as well as some twenty marinas and architects from 26 countries from the Monaco Marina Management network.
“We define a marina as a forward-looking micro-city with a strong interaction between the terrestrial and marine environment. These are the basis for new models for the cities of tomorrow. We’re delighted to be collaborating with M3, a leader in the development of virtuous marinas, and to be able to help put forward innovative solutions with great potential. The aim is to meet the challenges of managing water, energy, waste and its recovery, mobility, safety, construction, port equipment and infrastructure in the face of climate change, not forgetting the protection and regeneration of biodiversity,” points out Géraldine A. Gustin, CEO of Blumorpho.
A unique opportunity for exchange
Entrepreneurs, industrialists, investors, marina operators and promoters, architects… more than 250 professionals from all over the world will be on hand to discover the latest innovative solutions, and to discuss their implementation at numerous round tables. Alongside start-ups and scale-ups, many marinas from all over the world (Saudi Arabia, Spain, Turkey, Dominican Republic, Bahamas, West Indies…) will be present. All will seize the opportunity to be put in direct contact with potential investors and players essential to their growth.
With this in mind, Olivier Darrasson, General Delegate of the Club des investisseurs de la Méditerranée du Futur, will present the PLIFF (PAMEx Local Investment Finance Facility), a tool for financing environmental projects in the Mediterranean, and will discuss a green electrification project in marinas, on Monday September 25, at the opening of the debates.
This will be followed by a panel discussion on the impact of the new generation of yachts on marina infrastructures. The aim: to highlight the levers to be developed to encourage the creation and operation of virtuous marinas. These discussions will be repeated throughout the workshops organized on Sunday September 24 and Monday September 25.
The marina, a tool of attractiveness
Sustainability is now an economic advantage and a major issue for politicians, as demonstrated by the presence at this 3rd edition of the Monaco Smart & Sustainable Marina Rendezvous of international government delegations, such as His Excellency Mohammed Al-Asiri, Acting Director General of the Saudi Red Sea Authority, Linos Voskarides, from the European Commission’s Directorate General for the Sea, Alessandra Priante, United Nation World Tourism Organization, along with a leader from PAMEx (Plan d’Action pour la Méditerranée Exemplaire) and Plan Bleu-Euromed. All of them will be coming to meet these players, convinced of the opportunities offered by luxury yachting. A niche market, whose growth is accompanied by the development of new destinations with the creation of marinas, undeniably attractive features and sources of economic, tourism and employment spin-offs for these regions.
Numerous representatives of international delegations will continue their exchanges on the theme of “eco-responsible tourism and attractiveness: the essential role of public organizations and policies”. An opportunity to demonstrate the support of public policies for the development of these marinas. The main points of the debate will be: what is being done; how to decipher financing; the situation of the European and non-European markets; how to manage the deadlines granted to “public financiers” (…).
Awards ceremony presided over by Jean-Michel Wilmotte
The event will conclude on September 25 with the International Smart & Sustainable Marina Awards, presented in the following categories: Start-up & Scale-up, Marina and Architect, as well as a new ideas competition designed to inspire architects and architecture students to create attractive, functional and sustainable waterfront projects. Renowned French architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte will preside over the jury to decide between the numerous projects.
To discover the full program: https://sustainablesmartmarina.com/programme-2023/
To enter: www.sustainablesmartmarina.com
Source: Yacht Club de Monaco: https://yacht-club-monaco.mc
