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EVENTS ACROSS ITALY HELD UNDER THE PATRONAGE OF THE ITALIAN MARINE INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION
WORLDRISE LAUNCHES THE “30X30 ITALIA” COMMUNICATION AND AWARENESS TOUR FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE SEA
THE “OLYMPICS RAID” AND “MEDITERRANEAN IN PINK” INITIATIVES
The 64th Genoa International Boat Show programme continued full speed ahead into the afternoon with a press conference illustrating all of the events organised throughout Italy under the patronage of the Italian Marine Industry Association – Confindustria Nautica, presented on the stage of the Forum24 Hall, on the Mezzanine Floor of the Blue Pavilion. The Genoa International Boat Show confirms its role as a fundamental reference point and a priority strategic tool for the entire international yachting industry, a crucial platform for the communication and promotion of initiatives devoted to the sector’s development. The Italian Marine Industry Association took this opportunity to demonstrate its constant commitment to the enhancement of projects aimed at satisfying the demands of the industry’s target audience, which with efficiency and competitiveness promote the Made in Italy brand worldwide.
Coordinating these initiatives, which have already demonstrated their capacity to boost the marine economy, was Vice President of the Italian Marine Industry Association Piero Formenti, who also moderated the round table. During the conference representatives from each local event took to the stage, presenting the initiatives sponsored by the Italian Marine Industry Association in Sicily with Seacily – Sicily Boat Show and Nauta – Catania, in Lombardy with the 6th Lake Maggiore Boat Show and the Electric Boat Show, in Campania with the Salerno Boat Show, in Lazio with the Santa Marinella Boat Days, in Abruzzo with Sottocosta – Middle Adriatic Boat Show, in Sardinia with the Sardinia Boat Show – Marina di Olbia, and in Apulia with SNIM Apulia Boat Show.
Piero Formenti, Vice President of the Italian Marine Industry Association, stated: “We began five years ago by networking the first regional boat shows, structuring an increasingly close cooperation between the consortium members, to which we eventually connected a patronage system aimed at ensuring these events could “team up.” The common objectives of this collaboration are to coordinate dates, safeguard the supply chain value and defend companies in each individual territory along with their connection to the respective industry events. Proof of this are the two events in Sicily, which instead of overlapping are now complementary. This, I believe, is the way to do business, to coordinate industry events designed to be at the service of businesses and not vice versa.”
The press conference was attended by: Angelo Colombo, General Manager of Fiera Nautica di Sardegna, at Marina di Olbia, now in its 4th edition; Giuseppe Meo, President of SNIM Puglia Boat Show, in its 20th edition; Alessandro Lanzafame, President of Nauta in Catania, 22nd edition; Bruno Santori, Director at Marina di Pescara of Sottocosta, in its 11th edition; Gianluca Napoli from Marina D’Arechi – Salerno Boat Show, in its 8th edition; Cristiano Lombardo for Seacily, Sicily Boat Show; Marco Diana for the 6th Boat Show at Lake Maggiore in Marina di Verbella; and Luciano De Fermo, President of Consorzio Mare Lazio – Santa Marinella Boat Days, now in its 4th edition.
As part of the event, Roberto Neglia, Head of Institutional Relations at the Italian Marine Industry Association, presented to those taking part the fourteen signatures that led to the approval of the Regulatory framework implementing the Italian Boating Code, published yesterday in Italy’s Official Gazette. Among the many simplifications that will streamline both the industry and yachting enthusiasts, Neglia mentioned the new introduction of a restricted boating licence for 16-year-olds, an initiative that will help the small-scale yachting industry and encourage young people to experience sea.
The sea, the local territory, professional training, and scientific communication were the central themes that took hold of the afternoon of Day 4 of the 64th Genoa International Boat Show. First, Worldrise set sail with the launch of its dedicated scientific communication and awareness tour “Un mare di Centri, insieme per il futuro del mare” (A Sea Full of Centres, together for the future of the sea) during the Genoa International Boat Show at the Eberhard & Co. Theatre. The initiative, organised by the European Commission’s Representation in Italy and Worldrise itself, with the cooperation of the Italian Marine Industry Association, captured the audience at the Boat Show, who were eager to learn about the realisation of projects devoted to supporting the protection of the sea and of the Italian territory included in the “30×30 Italy” project.
Creating an alliance to facilitate the protection of 30% of Italy’s marine environments by 2030 through the promotion and support of the establishment of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs): this is the goal that drives Worldrise, which began as a Campaign in 2020 and has now become an alliance of over 60 environmental protection associations and movements throughout Italy. Italy is aiming to apply this target across Italian waters, a goal that is as ambitious as it is necessary, one that can guarantee the functionality and productivity of the Mediterranean Sea.
At the meeting, which was attended by Stefano Pagani Isnardi, Head of the Italian Marine Industry Association’s Market Intelligence and Research Department, Mariasole Bianco, science communicator and President of Worldrise, discussed the crucial role of Marine Protected Areas for the protection of our sea and the ecological, social, and economic benefits they are able to generate if well managed. Bianco’s focus was aimed at unravelling the knots on how and what initiatives are needed to make the 30×30 goal possible and ongoing, through an active collaboration between the third sector, institutions and the private sector.
The programme of events at the Eberhard & Co. Theatre ended with the presentation of two initiatives on board an inflatable boat. The first featured the relay “Olympics Raid” that the Italian Club del Gommone organised with the aim of uniting the Summer Olympics in Paris 2024 with the Winter Olympics in Milan – Cortina 2026. The second was the all-female adventure “Mediterranean in Pink” promoted by Nuova Jolly Marine, which saw twelve women cross the Mediterranean to reach the Genoa International Boat Show. A total of 519 miles and eight stages saw women of different ages get involved to raise funds for the Lorenzo Perrone Association, which provides free services to cancer patients and their families.
DAY 5 – EVENTS PROGRAMME FOR MONDAY 23rd SEPTEMBER
BLUE PAVILION
11:00 am: NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON NAUTICAL TOURISM
Organised by the Italian Tourism Federation, in partnership with the Confederation of Italian Industry
Forum Hall
12:00 pm: 4th TECNO MARATHON
Organised by Amer Yachts, in partnership with the Italian Marine Industry Association
Levante Hall
2:30 pm: EUROPEAN SUSTAINABLE BOATING ROUNTABLE
Achieving Greener Boating and Nautical Tourism by 2030
Organised by EBI – European Boating Industry
Forum Hall
2:30 pm: HYBRID PROPULSION: SIMULATION AND DESIGN – Simulation systems for designing and managing hybrid propulsion solutions – Organised by ATENA Lombardia
Levante Hall
EBERHARD & CO. THEATRE
11:00 am: WATERFRONT LEVANTE Presentation
Organised by CDS
12:00 pm: GENOA IS SAILING
Presentation of the partnership between the Genoa Municipality and the Clipper Round the World Race 2025
5:00 pm: THE YACHTING SECTOR, A SYMBOL OF CULTRURE AND SUSTAINABILITY
A “Turin – Capital of Business Culture 2024” initiative
Organised by BPER Banca, in partnership with the Employers’ Association of Turin and the Italian Marine Industry Association.
OTHER TALKS AND EVENTS
SCIALLINO E NUOVA PLASTICA – All day event
“A project to safeguard the Cetacean Sanctuary”
Quay: P Stand: BP101
5.30 pm: VETUS MAXWELL – An event to celebrate the company’s achievements
Upper Floor, Blue Pavilion
Stand: TL10-TM09
