Marina Port Valencia in Spain has launched Cátedra del Mar to support research, technological development and sustainable practices in the Mediterranean yachting sector. The launch took place on 25 November at the Edificio del Reloj, with representatives from academia, science, business and the marine industry.
The initiative is a collaboration between Marina Port Valencia, the Polytechnic University of Valencia, the University of Alicante and the Valencia Port Authority. It seeks to position the Mediterranean as a platform for applied research in environmental management and technological development related to yachting.
Cátedra del Mar will focus on projects in its initial phase, including mapping sustainable marine projects, producing a technical report to guide full decarbonisation in the yachting sector and running training programmes for industry leaders. In addition, the centre will launch a pilot eco-restoration project to enhance marine and terrestrial biodiversity and conduct a social perception study on sustainable yachting. The results of these initiatives will be compiled into an open-access manual of good practices.
The centre will be led by Associate Professor Jaime Lloret from the Polytechnic University of Valencia, who specialises in digitisation and telecommunications applied to the marine environment, and Associate Professor César Bordehore from the University of Alicante, a marine ecology specialist.
Further contributions will come from researchers including Dr. Belén Fouz Rodríguez, Dr. José Tena Medialdea, Dr. Esteban Morelle Hungría, Dr. Fernando de Rojas Martínez-Parets and professionals from Valencia Oceanarium.
The launch is part of Marina Port Valencia’s broader redevelopment plan, which includes specialised zones, co-working areas, lifestyle and dining spaces and an open refit yard.
Images courtesy of Marina Port Valencia.
