Monaco Smart & Sustainable Marina Rendezvous 2023: Celebrating Innovation and Sustainability

In a world increasingly focused on sustainability and innovation, the Monaco Smart & Sustainable Marina Rendezvous took center stage for its 3rd Edition, showcasing remarkable projects and ideas that promise a brighter, more sustainable future for the marine industry.

Organized by Monaco Marina Management (M3), this two-day event brought together nearly 250 representatives from various sectors, including investors, marina project promoters, marina managers, shipyards, startups, manufacturers, and shipowners, all driven by a shared commitment to smart and sustainable marinas.

Marina Slobodyanik with the General Manager of YCM Bernard D’Alessandri and H.H. Prince Saud Bin Turki Al Saud

The event, held at the prestigious Yacht Club de Monaco on September 24th and 25th, 2023, aimed to foster collaboration among key players in the industry while highlighting the sustainable initiatives of startups, marinas, and architects. This year’s gathering exceeded expectations, reaffirming Monaco’s status as a maritime innovation and sustainability hub.

Marco Casellini, CEO of M3, expressed the event’s mission succinctly:

“We created this event to bring together all the structures and young people who propose technological innovations that can be applied in the smart marinas of the future and in yacht clubs.”

A significant highlight of the Monaco Smart & Sustainable Marina Rendezvous was the International Smart & Sustainable Marina Awards, which recognized outstanding achievements in three categories: Startup & Scaleup, Marina, and Architects. These awards celebrated visionary projects and contributions to the field, shedding light on innovations that have the potential to revolutionize the maritime industry.

In the Startup & Scaleup category, ‘Nereid Water’ emerged as the winner with its sustainable seawater desalination system powered by solar energy, which notably does not release harmful brine into the ocean. Huy Ton That, CEO of ‘Nereid Water,’ spoke proudly of the recognition:

“We inaugurated our first plant near Toulon, and a few days later, we received this award. It means a lot to us because it is the consecration of all the work we have been carrying out for almost 15 years.”

Omniflow claimed the prize in the Scaleup section for its innovative smart IoT lamp post, powered by both wind and solar energy. Pedro Ruao, founder and CEO of Omniflow, explained the versatility of their creation, stating,

“A series of other applications can be installed inside it, such as security cameras, wifi, and artificial intelligence.”

Ruao expressed his joy at receiving the award, underscoring the importance of sustainable solutions for cities.

Karpaz Gate Marina in Northern Cyprus secured the top spot for the Marina category. With its 300 berths, beach club, and technical center, Karpaz Gate Marina demonstrated a commitment to sustainability and innovation. Liza Singer, managing director of Karpaz Gate Marina, emphasized the competition’s high standards, saying,

“We have seen here a high level of competition, with very capable and established marinas, and we are very proud to have won.”

Singer also highlighted their unique challenges in establishing a sustainable marina in a remote and underdeveloped area, emphasizing their aim to raise awareness of this new destination within the global yachting community.

Limassol Marina, located in Southern Cyprus, shared second place in the Marina category. Tom Lord, managing director of Limassol Marina, spoke of their dedication to integrating the latest technology and best practices into their project.

“We built this project from the ground up with a completely blank canvas, allowing us to integrate the latest technology and best practices. In terms of operation, we continue to invest in the latest technology to really show what can be done in marinas in terms of sustainable development.”

In the Architects category, Fresh Architectures, a Paris-based studio, captured the hearts of the jury with their project that combined preservation and water conservation. Ulisse Gnesda, one of the founders of Fresh Architectures, explained,

“In our project, there are two main themes: the first is the safeguarding of a part of the existing building, which seemed important to us, and the other is the recovery of rainwater and gray water. The project interprets these two themes, protecting the existing building while using inverted umbrellas to recover water.”

With 50 startups and scaleups, as well as 20 marinas and architects from 26 countries in attendance, the Monaco Smart & Sustainable Marina Rendezvous 2023 showcased the industry’s global reach and collaborative spirit. The renowned French architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte chaired the jury, underscoring the event’s international significance.

The Monaco Smart & Sustainable Marina Rendezvous continues to be a beacon of hope and inspiration for the marine industry, reinforcing the critical role of innovation and sustainability in shaping the future of our oceans and the communities that depend on them. This event celebrates past achievements and lights the way for future endeavors that will propel the maritime industry toward a greener and more sustainable future.

Marina Slobodyanik with Avv. José Marco Casellini, the CEO of Monaco Marina Management