World Boating Day, set for May 25th and 26th, is an international day dedicated to providing global access to the world of leisure boating, with a focus on the people behind the scenes and the lifestyle that yachting provides. It is organised by the Superyacht Life Foundation with the support of several stakeholders, such as EBI and ICOMIA.

It is mean to be a global initiative to encourage industry-wide involvement, prompting companies to organise local events and promote them under one umbrella.

If any EBI members has an event planned within these dates, World Boating Day provides a great opportunity to register it on its platform for further promotion. Registration is now open and free for all leisure boating companies.

Visit www.worldboatingday.com to register and learn more.

EBI and the International Council of Marine Industry Associations (ICOMIA) have recently solidified their collaboration through a new three-year strategic partnership agreement. Rooted in a shared commitment to promoting sustainability, innovation, and growth within the recreational boating sector, this partnership signifies a significant step forward for both associations.

EBI, representing Europe's boating and nautical tourism industry, will lead advocacy efforts within EU and wider European bodies, while ICOMIA will take the helm at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and on a global level. By sharing knowledge and resources, the associations aim to create maximum value for their members, fostering a stronger, more cohesive industry landscape.

You can find the full press release here.

The European Environment Agency (EEA) published its assessment of climate risks in Europe, which looks at how climate change will impact Europe. Europe is the fastest-warming continent in the world. Extreme heat is becoming more frequent while precipitation patterns are changing. Downpours and other extremes are increasing in severity, and recent years have seen catastrophic floods in various regions. At the same time, southern Europe can expect considerable declines in overall rainfall and more severe drought.

Among the areas of assessment is infrastructure and tourism: More frequent and extreme weather events increase the risks to Europe’s environment, including energy, water and transport. While coastal flood risks have been managed relatively well in Europe, rising sea levels and changes in storm patterns can cause devastating impacts on people, infrastructure and economic activities. In southern Europe, heat and droughts cause substantial risks.

On March 18, 2024, EBI organised the "EU Dialogue on End-of-life Recreational Craft" in Brussels, Belgium, in collaboration with the Belgian EU Presidency and the European Commission (EC). The event was attended by notable figures including Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Georges Gilkinet and Delilah Al Khudhairy, Director for Maritime Policy and Blue Economy at the EC, and was opened together with EBI President Robert Marx. The gathering gathered around 75 attendees, featuring 20 policy-makers and representatives from industry like EBI, Finnboat, HISWA-RECRON, NAUTIBEL, BVWW, TransEurope Marinas, Confindustria Nautica and APER.

The day's agenda included informative breakout sessions, addressing pivotal topics such as materials, financing, and European/national collaboration. These sessions highlighted pressing challenges and innovative solutions, stressing the urgency for a unified approach to boat registration, streamlined logistics in vessel collection systems, and the integration of eco-design principles. Panel discussions reinforced the necessity of industry standards, increased investment in research and development, and strengthened collaboration between industry stakeholders and policymakers.

The joint takeaways from the dialogue underscored a collective commitment to implementing work already done such as the European roadmap for circularity in the treatment of end-of-life boats, advocating for industry-wide standards, and fostering closer collaboration between industry and policymakers.

EBI agreed to working with the European Commission as a facilitator to sustain positive momentum to transform it into further action, leading a European network to address the End-of-Life recreational crafts challenge.

Read the full report upon request to the Secretariat. An official report by the Belgian EU Presidency will also be released in the next weeks and shared with members.

Since 2016, The SeaCleaners has been at the forefront of the battle against plastic pollution, working to reduce waste on land and at sea through awareness-raising activities, scientific research, and waste collection programs. EBI, representing the European boating and nautical tourism industry, advocates for a sustainable boating sector and works with industry and boaters to take an active role in combatting plastic pollution. With the publication of this guide, both organisations aim to empower boaters to take proactive steps in protecting marine ecosystems. The two organisations have been closely collaborating since 2020.

The Guide on Responsible Boating provides practical recommendations for boaters to minimise their environmental impact while enjoying their passion for water. From reducing plastic consumption to participating in waste collection efforts, they are encouraged to take an active role in preserving the oceans for future generations.

Stéphanie Poey, The SeaCleaners Education hub global manager: “We are proud to partner with EBI, a key player in the boating industry, to get this message across: recreational boating has an environmental impact that is often underestimated. Every trip out to sea has consequences for the marine ecosystem and the planet. By adopting the actions set out in this guide, boaters can help preserve the ocean and sail in a more sustainable and environmentally friendly way.”

Philip Easthill, Secretary-General at European Boating Industry commented. “We are proud to partner with The SeaCleaners in advocating for responsible boating practices. It is our duty to protect and preserve our marine environments for future generations to enjoy. With this guide, we provide a tool that charter companies, marinas and other companies can provide to their customers to advance their environmental protection efforts.”

The Guide to responsible boating can be downloaded here (also in French).

The event brought together stakeholders from across sectors, including industry representatives, policymakers, and related sectors. Among the distinguished attendees were representatives from the Belgian EU Presidency, European Commission, and EBI, who joined forces to underscore the urgency and necessity of cooperation in tackling this critical issue.

The political importance of the event was highlighted through opening speeches by Georges Gilkinet, Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Mobility, Delilah Al Khudhairy, Director for Maritime Policy and Blue Economy at the European Commission, and Robert Marx, President of EBI. The conference highlighted the readiness of technology and the willingness of the industry to collaborate in creating a robust European regulatory framework. Participants emphasized the importance of continued joint efforts between the private and public sectors to drive meaningful change.

A variety of perspectives were presented, highlighting the topic's complexity. Research presented during the conference included a wide range of topics, such as financial and legal frameworks, technical advancements in recycling, and environmental impact assessment. It provided significant insight on the challenges related to the recycling and disposal of recreational crafts.

The conference also recognized the role of innovation in addressing environmental challenges in the boating industry, as also presented in the EU Roadmap on the implementation of the circular economy for end-of-life recreational boats. Furthermore, ongoing research and innovation in composite materials and life cycle analysis will play a vital role in supporting a circular approach to boat-building and reducing its environmental footprint.

Robert Marx, President of EBI, commented, “As we move forward, it is imperative that the momentum generated by this conference translates into concrete action. The implementation of the EU Roadmap must be the key next step after the approaching EU elections. Industry is ready, the technology is ready, and we now need to set up the regulatory framework to make it happen. We are delighted to have the support of the European Commission and Belgian Council Presidency in this endeavor.”

The three-year strategic partnership agreement is based on the shared commitment of both associations to promote sustainability, innovation, and growth within the recreational boating industry. EBI, representing the European boating and nautical tourism industry, and ICOMIA, representing global marine industry associations, recognise the importance of cooperation in achieving their common goals.

The associations will collaborate closely on advocacy with EBI taking the lead in representing the industry in EU and wider European bodies while ICOMIA will take the lead at the IMO and global level. The associations will share knowledge to create maximum value for their members. This includes regular updates by EBI on EU and by ICOMIA global regulatory developments, as well as collaboration on technical standards and advocacy activities.

Commenting on the partnership, Robert Marx, President of EBI, stated, "We are excited to renew, once again this partnership with our partners ICOMIA, and place it on an even higher level. This represents a significant step forward in our efforts to strengthen the entire recreational boating industry. By working together, we can more effectively address common challenges and seize opportunities for growth and sustainability."

As Darren Vaux, President of ICOMIA highlights, “We are delighted to be renewing and refreshing this strategic partnership between ICOMIA and EBI. As the global voice of the recreational industry it is of vital importance that we collaborate closely with our European partners. Our members look to ICOMIA to inform and influence on all matters of regulatory developments in order to create the optimal conditions for growth.  This partnership enables our mutual goals of supporting our respective members globally. The spirit of collaboration between our organisations has never been stronger.”