Monaco Rendezvous: Smart and Sustainable Marinas 2024

Building on the success of past events, the Monaco Smart and Sustainable Marina Rendezvous, held at the Yacht Club de Monaco in September, brought together nearly 250 important players in the marina sector to explore how technology, finance and architecture can revolutionise marina operations, sustainability and the user experience.

Across two days of debates and networking, this year’s event showcased innovative solutions for managing marinas, practical ways to secure investment, and expert input on how to design marinas with environmental sustainability in mind.
In a session that explored optimising marina experiences through technology, moderated by Gino Battaglia, president of the Italian Yacht Masters Association, industry leaders discussed how technology is becoming a crucial component in improving marina management and user experience.
Captain Kelly J Gordon said practical tools like smart apps for dockage arrangements, fuel management and crew provisioning would be a great help to boaters. Such tools could reduce the reliance on informal communication channels like WhatsApp by consolidating essential information in one platform. She suggested that a single portal to guide boaters on everything from entrance requirements in the destination country to the local weather would be invaluable.
Maria Vera Vives, head of expansion and sustainable development at Spain’s Alcudiamar Marina, highlighted how technology is already being used in marinas to monitor energy consumption and water quality. Providing real-time data systems like these to help captains avoid unexpected bills and mistakes is essential for better resource management, she believes.
Stavros Katsikadis, president of the Greek Marinas Association, agrees, and added that it is important to source energy that is renewable, especially as the demand for power from megayachts and superyachts continues to grow. Sustainability is key, he said: “I like to use the Greek word, αιώνιος, which means eternal in Greek, everything we do, from the design to the building, we try to do it forever. This must be a law for all marinas.”
Randy Durband, CEO of South Korea’s Global Sustainable Tourism Council argued that before adopting advanced technologies, marinas should focus on developing robust data collection and analysis systems. Sharing data is essential for sustainable management and improving operational efficiency, he said.
Financial challenges
A second session focused on the financial challenges of marina development and the role of sustainability in securing investment was moderated by Pascale Ferry, deputy director at Monaco Statistics. Investors are increasingly prioritising projects that incorporate sustainability from the outset, according to Klaus Peters, CEO of Brazil’s InterMarinas. He said certification is a key factor, with higher levels of sustainability certification translating into tax incentives and better investment opportunities.
Property/real estate also plays a vital role in making marinas financially viable, added Ronnie Ben-Zur, founder and CEO of Habacoa Marina in the Bahamas, currently under construction and scheduled to open in late 2026. Combining marina facilities with real estate projects, such as hotels, creates a higher value for both components. For example, marinas not only provide access to the sea but also enhance the value of nearby properties.
Liza Singer, founder of Karpaz Gate Marina in North Cyprus, stressed that marinas must also consider local employment opportunities to gain incentives from governments. She noted that marinas are evolving from mere boat parking spaces to central hubs that contribute significantly to the local economy, further enhancing their appeal to investors. Governments are beginning to understand that the seafront is the most lucrative part of the city, she said.
The panel agreed that another critical factor for attracting investment is data transparency. Collecting and sharing comprehensive data, ranging from boat statistics to energy and water usage, allows for better feasibility studies and more informed decision-making by investors. There are no good feasibility studies on marinas yet, Ben-Zur ventured, because marinas in the US do not publish their rates and there is no obligation to store or collect information.
Sustainable architecture
A final session looked at the pivotal role architecture plays in the sustainable development of marinas. Moderator Oscar Siches opened the discussion by stressing that modern marinas must be considered from multiple perspectives, including those of users, promoters and government regulators. He noted that marinas have transitioned from being purely nautical businesses to becoming hubs of hospitality that welcome not only boaters but the broader public as well.
“You go [to a marina] to have a good time, you don’t necessarily have to have a boat to access them, you can access them by land, too,” Siches said. “There is a new social component in the marina that was not present 20 years ago.”
Janna Bystrykh, head of the architecture programme at the Academy of Architecture in the Netherlands, highlighted the need to address both climate and biodiversity goals in marina design. Marinas impact local ecosystems, such as nurseries and seabeds, making it essential to consider biodiversity during the planning and construction stages. She advocates for a holistic approach that considers the impact of materials, legislative requirements and the protection of local species. Siches agrees: “Doing something now, before something from above (the Government) will ask you to do it, is easier. The key is to act now.”
Collaboration between architects and engineers is vital, particularly when addressing environmental challenges such as carbon emissions and rising sea levels, noted Effie Nakajima, senior associate at the UK’s Zaha Hadid Architects. A client’s vision drives the design process, but architects must balance multiple viewpoints – from engineers to environmentalists – to create functional and sustainable marinas, she said.
New Zealand innovator and architect, Henry Glogau, said architects must deeply understand the local context to design marinas that are environmentally and culturally sensitive. This approach is especially important when adapting existing marinas to climate change or enhancing biodiversity.
Smart and Sustainable Awards
The event culminated in the presentation of the Smart and Sustainable Marina Awards 2024. The 744-berth Alcudiamar Marina in Mallorca, Spain won the category for most sustainable and intelligent marina. Mar Vera Vives was delighted to accept the award on behalf of the marina. “It has been a real pleasure to participate in these two days of intense networking and fellowship with such high-level professionals in the sector,” she said. “This award is a recognition of the hard work of the entire Alcudiamar team over many years, so I also thank each of them and the event organisers for this honour.”
In the innovation category, Clean Sea Solution won the start-up prize for its project aimed at reducing plastic waste in marinas and the ocean, while Ecocean won the scale-up prize for its strong involvement with biodiversity and scientifically proven help in regenerating life in marinas.
Germany’s Structurlab won in the architecture category for its lotus flower-inspired design of modular platforms for quick assembly and reconfiguration. Using recycled materials, solar power and rainwater collection systems, the design minimises ecological disruption while adapting to seasonal visitor flows. Its eco-friendly anchoring methods better protect the underwater ecosystem, while allowing larger boats to moor outside no-boat zones.
Bulgaria’s Arrogant Architects was the public’s favourite, winning the ‘Coup de Coeur’ award for its modular floating marina design project called ‘Modularity, Responsibility, Mediterranean’. The design includes the installation of artificial nurseries, thermal insulation improvements, seawater heat pumps and the use of prefabricated local materials to reduce CO₂ emissions.