Genoa, 2 October – Sustainability took centre stage on the second morning of the 66th Genoa International Boat Show, with two events that addressed the future of the boating industry from complementary perspectives: the 5th World Yachting Sustainability Forum, organised by IBI – International Boat Industry in collaboration with Confindustria Nautica – Italian Marine Industry Association, and the European Sustainable Boating Roundtable, organised by the European federation EBI – European Boating Industry.
Held in the Forum Hall of the Boat Show’s iconic Blue Pavilion, the World Yachting Sustainability Forum, entitled “From artificial intelligence to energy hubs: building the future of sustainable boating”, was moderated by Ed Slack, Editor of IBI magazine, and brought together experts and industry representatives to discuss the role of technological innovation in the industry’s transition towards sustainability.
Joining remotely from Boston, Paola Pisano, Professor of Economics and Innovation Management and former Minister for Technological Innovation, presented the findings of a study conducted in partnership with Northeastern University, the University of Oxford and Harvard Medical Centre, focusing on new business models and the ways in which AI can contribute to the transformation of businesses and the boating industry as whole.
The research showed how sustainability and artificial intelligence are capable of reinforcing each other while supporting business transformation, accessing new markets and value creation. “AI should be viewed as a new medicine for the organisation, capable of enhancing its ability to analyse, make decisions, learn and innovate. Investing in technology is essential, but it is equally crucial to invest in human skills in such a way as to make the best use of this technology, develop it and ensure the organisation’s resilience and distinctiveness. We need champions of humanity as much as champions of technology,” Pisano explained.
The discussion continued with Clément Himily of Beneteau Group, Giovanni Palama of SailADV and Rubén Carmona of MB92 Group, who explored the relationship between sustainability, digitalisation and AI, with a particular focus on data quality, cultural transformation and new business models.
Himily outlined Beneteau’s NEO and ReFit programmes, launched to extend product lifecycles and promote circularity. “It promotes circularity and makes it possible to attract new customers, extending the relationship with the user beyond the initial sale,” he emphasised.
Palama presented the experience of SailADV, which collects and analyses around 200 million data points a day from more than 100 yachts. “Data quality is important, as the effectiveness of generative AI depends on it,” he said.
Carmona also addressed digitalisation, emphasising the need to build a solid foundation of data and accompany the adoption of AI with cultural change. “It is essential to build a shared framework for collecting quality data that AI can use effectively,” he commented.
The morning continued with contributions focusing on decarbonisation and awareness. Simone de Marinis, of de Pinedo & Partners, presented the “Zero-Impact Shipyard“ model, aimed at improving energy efficiency and enabling shipyards to produce their own energy and water resources.
The Forum concluded with Dan Lenard, co-founder of the Nuvolari Lenard studio and a sailor, who presented the “Vela Code“ project and the foundation of the same name, with the aim of shifting the focus from product sustainability alone to educating users to adopt more responsible behaviour. “The boating sector is often perceived as an industry that consumes and wastes large amounts of resources, contributing to a misleading negative image. Yachting has an opportunity to gain a positive image by ‘reinventing’ its behaviour, rather than solely through product innovations (which are now standard in every industry). A simple but highly effective step is to eliminate single-use plastic on board, from the smallest dinghy to the largest superyacht,” Lenard commented.
The European Sustainable Boating Roundtable followed, organised by EBI – European Boating Industry in collaboration with Confindustria Nautica, shifting the focus to sustainability in boating tourism and opportunities for development in the Mediterranean. Following opening remarks by Confindustria Nautica President Piero Formenti, Robert Marx, President of EBI – European Boating Industry, highlighted sustainability as an opportunity for European industry, boating tourism and coastal and island communities.
“Europe is a manufacturing hub and the world’s leading destination for boating tourism. The latter acts as a connecting link, generating demand for boatbuilding, equipment, refitting, maintenance and local tourism,” Marx said.
Joining remotely from the Union for the Mediterranean, Deputy Secretary-General for Sustainable Development Nisreen Tamimi highlighted the link between prosperity, the ocean and tourism, stressing the need for development models that bring together economic, social and environmental needs.
“Tourism is a crucial sector for Mediterranean countries, contributing up to 20% of GDP in some nations. It is a vital source of income, employment and international cooperation. The Mediterranean is one of the world’s leading tourist destinations (accounting for around 30% of international tourism) and a key testing ground for the sustainable economy. The future of boating tourism will depend on the quality of destinations, the health of ecosystems, the welcome offered by marinas and supporting infrastructure. The aim is to move from ambition to implementation, from projects to coordinated impact and from pilot investments to solutions that can be scaled up across the region.”
The subsequent panel, featuring Joe Lynch, CEO of ICOMIA, Fabio Planamente, Vice President of Confindustria Nautica and EBI Special Representative for the Large Yacht Sector, Massimo Pronio, Head of Communication at the European Commission Representation in Italy, and Ruben Eiras, of Forum Oceano, addressed the main challenges and opportunities for boating tourism in the Mediterranean, from environmental sustainability and infrastructure development to the need for a harmonised regulatory framework.
Lynch highlighted the Mediterranean’s role as a model for the development of boating tourism in other regions of the world and pointed to the industry’s commitment to protecting Posidonia seagrass, including through high-resolution seabed mapping, to provide skippers and captains with more effective tools for responsible anchoring.
Fabio Planamente identified North Africa as a potential area for development, citing countries such as Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco and emphasising the importance of building new marinas to support the expansion of the boating market. “For us as boatbuilders, this probably also creates an opportunity to sell more, but support is needed from the EU and all other governments that can back these projects.” From Portugal, Ruben Eiras shared the experience of the Nautical Stations Network, a network developed in collaboration with the Portuguese Government that now comprises 51 stations and more than 3,000 operators across coastal and inland areas. “The aim is to make boating tourism more accessible and sustainable, creating an ecosystem in which businesses, regions and communities can grow together.” The project is now focusing on digitalisation and innovation, through a ticketing platform and initiatives to monitor the health of marine ecosystems and use artificial reefs in marinas.
Finally, Massimo Pronio outlined the European Commission’s work on a strategy for environmentally compatible tourism, with particular attention to decarbonisation, marine biodiversity and the circular economy, as well as the OceanEye initiative for monitoring ocean health.
The discussion highlighted the need for a holistic approach to sustainability, also based on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), capable of evaluating the entire lifecycle of a boat or component, from construction to disposal. This requires close collaboration between industry and European institutions to define realistic objectives, clear rules and harmonised standards, taking account of available technologies and the investment required.
The 6th edition of the World Yachting Sustainability Forum will take place at the 67th Genoa International Boat Show.
The day’s events: technology, AI, design and new prospects for boating
Technological innovation, artificial intelligence and the exchange of industrial expertise also characterised the other events on the second day of the Boat Show. The TechTrade Seminars, organised by Confindustria Nautica in collaboration with RINA Services, brought two concrete examples of collaboration between shipyards and suppliers to the Tech Hall of the Blue Pavilion: Azimut Seadeck 7 Hybrid, a project by Azimut-Benetti featuring Volvo Penta, and an examination of the application of artificial intelligence to boating through the project developed by Amer Yachts featuring Seamind and Daino Technologies. New avenues for innovation were also the focus of “Smart Yachting & Cross-Industry Innovation”, organised by ATENA Lombardia, which broadened the discussion to the transfer of technologies and expertise between boating and other industries.
Artificial intelligence was also the focus of “The boating industry changes course: AI in yachts and marinas”, the event promoted by Maritime Ventures with the support of CDP Venture Capital and the Municipality of Genoa, during which two new start-ups dedicated to boating innovation were presented.The Eberhard & Co. Theatre also hosted a discussion on the future of naval vessels with “Current and future prospects for the renewal of the Guardia di Finanza naval fleet”, followed by the event dedicated to the Liguria Region.
The day had begun in the morning with “The underwater domain as a strategic asset for the region and the country”, organised by the Liguria Region, while ENAVE held its Assembly. At the Power Village, the “Porto delle Grazie 2030 – Marina Dialogues” press conference presented Roccella Jonica’s vision for the future of boating tourism. High-performance sailing also featured with “Luna Rossa Edition – Talk with Ficili”, hosted in the Alfa Romeo Lounge, alongside the world of marinas with the D-Marin press event at the Eberhard & Co. Theatre.
SailGP is also looking ahead to Rome 2027 from the Genoa International Boat Show. Today at the Sailing House, the Red Bull Italy SailGP Team met the Italian Sailing Federation, with its President Francesco Ettorre, and Roma Capitale, represented by Councillor Alessandro Onorato, to present the event taking place on 11 and 12 September 2027 on the Roman coast. Representing the team were co-owners Assia Grazioli-Venier and Gian Luca Passi de Preposulo, together with athletes Andrea Tesei and Mattia Camboni. Rome will host the Italian leg of the 2027 Rolex SailGP Championship, marking the start of a three-year partnership with the capital.
The second day concluded on the Blue Pavilion Terrace with the awards ceremony for the 7th edition of the Design Innovation Award, the award established by Confindustria Nautica and the Genoa International Boat Show to acknowledge research, innovation and design quality in the boating industry.
ALL EVENTS FOR TOMORROW, SATURDAY 3 OCTOBER
FORUM26 – BLUE PAVILION
11:30: THE ECONOMY OF THE SEA AND THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF YACHTING Organised by Confindustria Economia del Mare and Confindustria Nautica, with the participation of Deloitte – Forum Hall
BLUE PAVILION TERRACE
15:00: START-UPS AND INNOVATIVE SMEs IN THE BOATING INDUSTRY Organised by Confindustria Nautica and the Italian Trade Agency -Blue Pavilion Terrace
EBERHARD & CO. THEATRE
11:00: STORMS AT SEA How to handle stormy seas Organised by Lega Navale Italiana and Solovela.net – Eberhard & Co. Theatre
12:00: EBERHARD EVENT – Eberhard & Co. Theatre
14:00: ITALIAN SAILING FEDERATION EVENTS – Eberhard & Co. Theatre
18:00: INCONTRI IN BLU – ITALY’S AMERICA’S CUP STORY, FROM AZZURRA TO LUNA ROSSA. A discussion between Bonadeo, Vice President of the Azzurra consortium and President of One Ocean Foundation, and Giulio Bertelli, Vice President of Luna Rossa – Eberhard & Co. Theatre
MEETINGS AND EVENTS
10:00: UNIGE YACHT DESIGN – STUDIES AND RESEARCH Organised by the University of Genoa – Sea Study Centre – Ponente Hall, Palasport Pavilion
13:30: CIIRCLE HACKATHON – CIRCULAR AND DIGITAL INNOVATION FOR THE BLUE ECONOMY
Organised by the Genoa Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with the Riviere di Liguria Chamber of Commerce, the Liguria Region and Filse, and with the support of Feat.Ventures Halls, – Palasport Pavilion
14:00: ORDER OF ENGINEERS EVENT – Ponente Hall, Palasport Pavilion
14:00: CIIRCLE HACKATHON – CIRCULAR AND DIGITAL INNOVATION FOR THE BLUE ECONOMY Palasport Pavilion Halls
15:00: “Yacht Product Design” Awards Ceremony – UNIGE × Apreamare – Quay: E Stand: YE61
