The Monaco Smart & Sustainable Marina Rendezvous returns to the Yacht Club de Monaco on 21 and 22 September 2025, marking five years of leading forward-thinking solutions for the future of marinas and coastal infrastructure. The event highlights the convergence between smart cities and waterfront development, which affirms pioneering projects through a series of awards and collaborative initiatives.
At the centre of the 2025 edition lies a trio of awards that reflect the growing role of marinas as active contributors to sustainable coastal ecosystems.
The Marina Award recognises achievements by marina operators and developers across sustainability, innovation and user experience. Selected marinas are those setting benchmarks for responsible coastal development. While participation in the award is optional, marinas are encouraged to engage with stakeholders including authorities, investors and innovators during the event. The process began in January 2025, with interviews concluding by August and a consensus meeting scheduled for 9 September ahead of the awards ceremony.
In parallel, the Innovation Award aims to accelerate startup-led solutions in operational areas such as energy efficiency, water and waste management, biodiversity and digital systems. Selected ventures will be assessed by a multidisciplinary jury of engineers, operators and investors, which will culminate in a final evaluation in early September. The initiative provides visibility for emerging technologies designed to meet real-world marina needs.
The Architecture Award, supported through the “Echoes of Venice” competition, invites design professionals to reimagine hospitality infrastructure in the Venetian Lagoon. Entries are expected to demonstrate climate resilience and sustainable integration with the coastal environment. The competition runs through July, with the final judging and award presentations aligning with the Rendezvous dates.
The 2025 Rendezvous also highlights the overlap between smart marinas and smart cities. As coastal areas are adopting data-driven operations and renewable technologies, marinas are growing as proving grounds for urban-scale innovation. In line with the United Nations' Ocean Conference goals, the event will host dialogues between public authorities, designers and developers to highlight the role of marinas in building cohesive, adaptive coastal systems.
One of the highlights for 2025 is the launch of SMART DOCK, a new initiative focused on transforming traditional pontoons into intelligent and sustainable floating platforms. The initiative is set as a workshop to gather startups, marina operators, designers and manufacturers to collaborate in making customisable and data-enabled dock systems that support efficient and environmentally aligned operations.
As the Monaco Smart & Sustainable Marina Rendezvous celebrates its fifth anniversary, it continues to position marinas as dynamic actors in the wider transition towards smarter and more resilient coastlines. The event aims to shape the standards for sustainable waterfront development in years to come.
