Highlights of the 2nd edition of the Monaco Smart & Sustainable Marina conference were ecosystems focusing on smart solutions for the future of marinas and the Blue Economy concept.

 

On 25-26 September 2022, a very special group of 250 people met at the Monaco Yacht Club to discuss ideas that will shape the future of the marina industry. For two days, designers, architects, engineers and other stakeholders of the marina industry who have innovative approaches to environmentally friendly, sustainable solutions exchanged ideas to produce concrete solutions to the environmental impacts of maritime, yachting or marina activities.

 

 

The focus of the conference was on water and energy efficiency, reducing waste and pollutants, analyzing by utilizing technological innovations, establishing energy systems that are environmentally friendly and having a positive impact on biodiversity, and using software that will increase operational efficiency by discovering innovative building materials. Another prominent concept at the conference was the "Blue Economy".

 

The blue economy is an economic model that prioritizes reducing risks to the oceans and other blue resources and promoting better management of these resources. The basis of the model is the sustainable use of water and thus the protection of human well-being. This economy model gives priority to issues such as climate change, resource depletion and pollution, while water resources are being economically exploited.

 

 

One of the aims of the Monaco Smart & Sustainable Marina conference was to contribute to the awareness of innovative approaches that will reduce the polluting effects caused by marine tourism to zero and create sustainable areas. For this purpose, many projects are awarded during the conference. This year, innovative approaches were awarded in three categories.

 

Israeli company Econcrete, which produces an innovative concrete that enables carbon storage and biodiversity conservation for marine construction, won the first prize in the start-up category.

 

Flisvos Marina in Athens won the "Smart Marina" award in the Marina category, and Porto Habacoa in the Bahamas won the "Coup de Coeur" award.

Awards in the category of Architect went to three different companies. On-A architecture company for the afforestation works in Barcelona Marina, the Austrian NBAX architectural company planning to use Canadian Timberwood for the Sanya Marina to be built in China, and Snøhetta architecture company, which designed the world's first underwater restaurant in Norway, won the awards in this category.

 

Deniz Enberker Karakış, Corporate Communications and Marketing Manager, who attended the conference on behalf of Setur Marinas, said, "We were hosted very well at the Monaco Yacht Club and had two very stimulating days. As Turkey's leading brand in marinas, we closely follow the innovations and trends in the marina industry in the world. We also care about taking part in such platforms in order for our brand to be recognized on international platforms and to create networks.” Setur Marinas Ayvalık Marina Manager Onur Kunduz summarized his views as follows: "Looking at our new investments, I think we have the same vision as the award-winning marinas here. I believe that by integrating the items containing the smart and sustainable marina concept into our new projects, we can become a candidate for an award in such platforms in the near future."

 

Photographs: Yacht Club de Monaco