Marina development was the focus of the sixth Monaco Smart & Sustainable Marina Rendezvous, organised by M3 Monaco at Yacht Club de Monaco on 20-21 September 2026. The two-day event drew professionals from 30 nationalities to share projects and experiences on current marina needs, including infrastructure, investment, biodiversity, shore power, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.

On biodiversity, Dr. Megan Clampitt of PONANT’s PONT scientific programme shared how expedition ships can support research in hard-to-reach areas, while Gonca Melek Özkan of Setur Marinas discussed work with universities and experts to monitor species at its marinas. Sofía Sonsoles Doyágüez Sánchez of Go Bridge the Gap addressed funding for environmental solutions, while Luca Gamberini of Nemo’s Garden presented underwater greenhouses that combine agriculture, research and tourism.

José Valencia of Nauplia Capital, Rodrick T. Miller of the Miami-Dade Beacon Council, Marcos Pellejero Ibáñez of Mirazur Capital, Chris Wong of Airport Authority Hong Kong and Andreas Bäckman of InfraVia Capital Partners compared approaches to marina investment, as demand rises while supply remains limited and many facilities were designed decades ago for smaller vessels. Discussions covered changes to basins, berth layouts and services, as well as gaps in industry data, concession terms and public-private partnerships.

On marina design and engineering, Adrian Griffiths of Chapman Taylor, Haneen Alrawashdeh of AYLA OASIS and Joe Greene of MSEA Engineering discussed how existing facilities can be adapted as needs change. A project for Malta’s Grand Harbour retains port operations while reopening part of the waterfront to the public, while Ayla Oasis in Jordan uses regular water-quality monitoring as part of its environmental commitments. Workshops also covered electricity, water, data and connected equipment, practical uses of artificial intelligence in shipyards, marinas and on board, cybersecurity, and materials for pontoons, breakwaters and moorings.

The discussions also turned to national plans for maritime and coastal development, with H.E. Widiyanti Putri Wardhana, Minister of Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia, sharing the country’s plans for sustainable maritime tourism: “It is our vision to become a premier destination for maritime tourism, particularly yachts, supported by world-class facilities and a competitive tourism ecosystem. We see maritime tourism as an opportunity to further elevate Indonesia’s tourism offerings, maximise the potential of our marine destinations and generate greater benefits for local communities.”

Egypt also presented its ambitions for tourism and port infrastructure, with Dr. Tarek M. Dahroug, ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to France and permanent delegate of Egypt to UNESCO, highlighting a gap in specialist training. He said: “We don’t have an institute dedicated to the recreational boating sector”, and expressed a desire to “cooperate with Monaco and European countries” and benefit from their expertise.

The Monaco Smart & Sustainable Marina Awards concluded the event, with around 30 companies assessed on areas including biodiversity, energy, marina operations, waste, materials and water management. Innovation awards were divided by development stage for the first time: Switzerland’s Kolbev won the pre-revenue category for its mobile robotic charging solution, Finland’s The Warming Surfaces Company took the post-revenue award for its Halia® heating technology and Italy’s Seares won the revenue scaling category for its Seadamp mooring system, while Italy’s Nemo’s Garden received the Innovation Coup de Cœur for its underwater biospheres.

In the architecture competition, Germany’s Jasper Architects won for its Marina Hub proposal for the transformation of Opatija marina in Croatia’s Kvarner Bay, and Francesco Gruni of the University of Pavia in Italy received the Architecture Coup de Cœur in the student category. S3, or Smart & Sustainable Standard, certification also went to six marinas, yacht clubs and nautical centres in Monaco, France, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Qatar following assessments based on data, interviews and on-site audits.

The rendezvous also introduced the B2B Smart Marina Connect platform this year, giving companies, marina managers and project developers a way to stay in contact. Yacht Club de Monaco had also scheduled its 31st Captains’ Forum for 24 September and announced plans to launch the Superyachts Marina & Port Management Executive Masterclass through La Belle Classe Academy for industry professionals, captains and crew interested in shore-based roles.

“Bold, ambitious and creative”

Editor of Marina World, Patrick Norén, who attended both days of the Smart & Sustainable Marina Rendezvous along with sales manager, Brianna Johann, said that the event represented a "fantastic and inspiring cross-section of the many great developments and innovations in the marina industry”.

“The event excelled in providing the space and opportunity to connect with many different stakeholders, from national and local government officials to ambitious innovators that will drive the future of the marina industry. The audience was both diverse and highly focused, and the conference topics covered everything from private equity, to environmental considerations, to emerging destinations.

“Above all, I believe that the sixth Smart & Sustainable Marina Rendezvous represented the best of what the marina industry can be when the right stakeholders are united by the same energy and focus. It can be bold, ambitious and creative, with a genuine commitment to smart and sustainable solutions. The Rendezvous platforms and celebrates what is possible, with fresh ideas and perspectives emerging from every conversation.

“A particular thanks and recognition must be extended to Victor Meyer, events and sales manager at M3 Monaco, for his work in delivering the event. Marina World thoroughly looks forward to attending the seventh edition of the Smart & Sustainable Marina Rendezvous next year.”

M3 Monaco organised the 2026 edition with support from the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, ESA NanoTech, Bombardier, MB92 Group, Skytopia, Plus Marine, Italian Yacht Masters, Alcenza Properties and Raunautica. José-Marco Casellini, CEO of M3 Monaco, said: “In collaboration with YCM, we have an extensive network and expertise across the board in innovation and quality. We are well placed to help forge connections and links between start-ups, major companies and innovators to create better solutions for marinas and yacht clubs.”

Images courtesy of Yacht Club de Monaco.