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FROM A CONFERENCE ON THE ITALIAN BOATING LICENCE TO THE SUSTAINABILITY-FOCUSED CHALLENGES FOR THE YACHTING INDUSTRY AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
THE NATIONAL PLAN FOR THE SEA APPROVED BY CIPOM: THIS IS THE STARTING POINT FOR A NEW AND FRUITFUL DRIVE FOR TOURISM
On the afternoon of the second day of the 63rd Genoa International Boat Show, several events took place to discuss topics of interest for the yachting sector. The halls of the Blue Pavilion hosted the conference entitled “Boating License Reform: two years later” organised by the Italian Marine Industry Association together with the Sustainable Mobility Department of the Italian Ministry for Transport and Infrastructures and the General Command of the Italian Harbour Offices Corps. The focus of the event was an in-depth analysis as well as a moment of reflection two years after the entry into force of the new decree concerning examination practices for obtaining a boating licence, a reform that, as highlighted by the speakers themselves, has been met with favourable opinions among users and operators in the sector.
The event took place in the form of a series of speeches and the report of the General Command of the Harbour Office, by Rear Admiral Captain (CP) Massimo Seno, Head of the Legal Affairs and Institute Services Department of the Command, who highlighted the main innovations and figures two years after the reform.
Taking part in the conference were Francesca Aielli, Sustainable Mobility Department of the Ministry of Infrastructures and Transport, Adolfo D’Angelo, National Secretary of the nautical section Confarca, and Tommaso Boccanfuso, National Manager of the Unasca Nautical Schools.
The in-depth discussion on the boating licence was followed by the National Conference on Coastal and Maritime Tourism, organised by Federturismo, Italy’s Tourism Federation, with the cooperation of the Italian Marine Industry Association. This was a key opportunity to present the National Plan for the Sea, as approved by CIPOM (the Interministerial Committee for Marine Policies) on 31st July.
The sea is indeed a fundamental resource for Italy: the sea economy is worth more than 24 billion, generates over 540 thousand jobs, and contributes 65 billion euros to the nation’s GDP. And it is precisely on the basis of these numbers, not to mention the fact that Italy is number one in the production of superyachts, in components, and that Italian design is appreciated all over the world, that the need was felt to enhance the maritime world in a truly profound way. Hence the request to the Government to tackle the relaunch of the marine and nautical tourism sector, one of the pillar sectors of the Italian economy and of our tourism that can best represent the excellence that is Made in Italy.
After the opening speech by Federturismo Confindustria’s President, Marina Lalli, Roberto Perocchio, President of Assomarinas, Tiziana Beghin, MEP for the Committee on International Trade, and Marco Campomenosi, MEP for the Committee on Transport and Tourism, took the floor. A perfect stage for a discussion on the themes of competitiveness, sustainability of the sea chain, and intervention priorities.
“With the National Plan for the Sea, the result of a valuable system work, we can look more closely at the maritime world and at the environmental, logistic, and economic enhancement of this fundamental resource that needs to be preserved and protected,” stated the Federturismo President, Marina Lalli. “Sustainability is an increasingly crucial factor, and for the yachting industry it has become a priority, an unavoidable aspect that must lead the way for serious and conscious planning. A challenge that looks to the future and to the development of this sector, with the aim of increasing the companies’ competitiveness“.
On the occasion of the National Conference on Coastal and Maritime Tourism, Assomarinas President Roberto Perocchio, re-launched to the Government and the Regions the request for a “New Deal” for tourist port businesses, despite the fact that the marina sector has shown a growth in turnover this year, “through a specific concessionary discipline for the remodulation of existing concessions, a quantification of state fees that revises the current ISTAT adjustment mechanisms, a balance and severance regulation that allows for the conclusion of the long disputes still underway, the cadastral classification of marinas in E1, and the simplification of dredging“.
The topic of sustainability, the main subject of the morning Forum programme, was also the focus of numerous events held in the halls of the Blue Pavilion. ‘Sustainability as a tool for territorial development’ was the conference organised by Spediporto, which for some time now has been pursuing the path of promotion, production innovation, and the use of new sustainable materials, as well as the efficiency of boats to look to the future of a zero-emission Made in Italy yachting industry.
Atena Lombardia, in cooperation with the Italian Marine Industry Association, also organised a conference entitled “Alternative fuels and their marine applications – the status quo and a view of the future” while, on the same theme but from a sporting point of view, RINA organised the event “A sea of sustainability: sport meets yachting”, which dealt with open-water sporting challenges and the latest developments in yachting with a common denominator: protecting and safeguarding the environment.
Inspired by the history and culture of the sea, the event organised at the Eberhard & Co. Theatre entitled “Business at sea: history, culture and art through the lens of historic securities. Value beyond the stock exchange”, organised by the Honourable Cristina Rossello. A deep dive into the archives and a tale of the present through the narration of naval bonds.
The second day of the 63rd Genoa International Boat Show closed with the prize-giving ceremony of the Design Innovation Award at the Palazzo della Borsa in Genoa. The fourth edition of the award established by the Italian Marine Industry Association and I Saloni Nautici, with the aim of promoting the very best of the yachting industry showcased at the event each year, aims to enhance companies’ commitment to innovation, research, formal and technical quality, and sustainability in their products displayed at the Genoa Boat Show. This evening the Awards were presented to ten categories of participants, as well as two Honourable Mentions and three Special Prizes for Outstanding Innovation, Career and Talent – joined by the Liguria International Award assigned by the Liguria Region to the Ligurian company that most stood out for innovation, materials and production process.
Tomorrow’s events – 23rd September 2023
FORUM23 – Blue Pavilion Terrace
10.00 am: UNIGE MEETS THE YACHTING INDUSTRY – (Organised by the Marine Centre – University of Genoa) – Forum Hall (invitation only)
10.30 am: TRAINING: THE CONSERVATORIA NAUTICA AND STED – (Organised by the Italian Marine Industry Association) –Innovation Hall
11.00 am: INNOVATIVE START-UPS IN THE YACHTING SECTOR – (Organised by the Italian Trade Agency and Italian Marine Industry Association) – Blue Pavilion Terrace
12.00 pm: START-UP & BLU ENTERPRISES: INNOVATION AND GROWTH IN LIGURIA – (Organised by the Liguria Regional Council and Liguria International) – Blue Pavilion Terrace
.30 pm: YACHT INTERIOR DESIGN – Design today, current trends and future prospects (Organised by the Marine Centre – University of Genoa) – Innovation Hall
EBERHARD &CO THEATRE
11.00 am – 12.00 pm: SAFETY AT SEA (Organised by Harken)
12.00 pm – 1.00 pm: NORTHERN LIGHT COMPOSITES (NLCOMP) PRESENTS THE ECORACER 30 AND THE NEW BRAND ECO YACHTS – (Organised by Northern Light)
1.00 – 4.00 pm: Events and presentations held by FIV – THE ITALIAN SAILING FEDERATION
4.00 – 5.00 pm: Tackling time and the sea (Organised by EBERHARD & Co)
SEA 2 SEE – A MOVIE EVENT DEDICATED TO THE SEA
Cloister of Palazzo Ducale – Genoa Movie projection: Chasing the thunder – Directed by Mark Benjamin, Marc Levin
