The European Commission published the 2021 Blue Economy Report which summarises the key data from Eurostat and other sources from all blue economy sectors.

On Wednesday 19 May, EBI and its NGO partner, The SeaCleaners (TSC) held a webinar titled “Harnessing the potential of recreational boating industry against marine litter”. Joining the event were Yvan Bourgnon, President and Founder of The SeaCleaners, Andreea Strachinescu, Head of Unit at DG MARE, and Frédéric Silvert, Technical Director at TSC.

Mr Bourgnon introduced the NGO and credited his sailing journeys around the world as the key inspiration to take action against marine litter. In particular, after having sailed solo in 2014 in Indonesia, he saw how polluted those waters were. With The SeaCleaners, “we found a technical solution to collect plastics” he said, and the aim is to involve as many people as possible, as well as to raise awareness with politicians.

Then, Ms Strachinescu took the floor to introduce the EU focus on tackling marine litter. Around this topic, “there is place for projects and activities to be developed, there is additional funding to come” she revealed, adding “there is an important source of funding for all of your proposal in terms of addressing the litter. It can be either Horizon Europe, cross border projects through cohesion policies and R&D support”.

Mr Silvert subsequently introduced the Manta boat, “a vessel to clean our oceans, a driver of the circular economy, a learning and a scientific platform”. The Manta is a real giant of the seas, able to collect plastic waste and convert it in energy through a pyrolysis and energy recovery unit.

In closing the event Valérie Amant, Director of Communications at TSC, discussed what kind of opportunities for involvement there are for EBI members. “There is room for boaters. The Manta will be used as a workboat, and EBI members can provide expertise and know-how. Everybody is welcome to contact TSC”. Opportunities for in-kind sponsorship range from electrical systems, batteries and navigation equipment.

The presentations were followed by a lively Q&A, where the audience asked technical clarifications regarding the Manta project and how the recreational boating industry could be more involved.

Please find attached the presentation from Ms Amant, with a detailed list of opportunities for EBI members and the entire industry.

If you missed the webinar, you can watch it on YouTube at the link below.

Following a common understanding of the importance of the circular economy and aiming to find solutions for end-of-life composites, European Boating Industry (EBI) and European Composites Industry Association (EuCIA) agreed a formal partnership. The aim will be to find common approaches to the key issues of dismantling, recycling, and the future of composites in the recreational boating industry.

The partnership will also follow policy developments at EU level, such as the European Green Deal, the Circular Economy Action Plan, and the Working Group on End-of-Life boats co-chaired by EBI and the European Commission Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE). Cooperation will also extend to other composite use industries and related industries, such as the wind energy and the transportation segment.

Composites are the main material used for making hulls, decks and large components in boat building, estimated that 95% of all boats will have composite parts. Given that composite boats have been built already for several decades, the number of boats reaching their end-of-life is expected to increase in the coming years. Use of composites by the recreational boating industry is however estimated to around 3% of the global composite market with infrastructure, transportation, and the wind energy the largest use sectors.

Concrete cooperation activities between EuCIA and EBI will include:

• Cooperation in the End-of-Life boats Working Group co-chaired by EBI and DG MARE
• Exchange of information on dismantling, recycling, new materials, Life Cycle Analysis, and cross-sectoral cooperation
• Joint advocacy, communication activities and cooperation on projects at EU level

Speaking for EuCIA, Managing Director Ben Drogt said “The recreational boating industry was one of the first segments that recognized the advantages of composites as light and durable material. Now that the first generation of composite boats get to the end of their first use, EuCIA is convinced that the partnership with EBI will create a boost to further develop sustainable solutions to re-use the composite materials of these boats”. With partnerships like this, also in other applications areas such as the wind energy segment, EuCIA will seek for synergy and supports the development of economically viable re-use and recycle processes for composites.

Commenting on the agreement, Secretary-General of EBI Philip Easthill said “We are delighted to be closely cooperating with EuCIA and take on this important challenge through the partnership. It is crucial that our industries work together to develop the circular approach to composites that is environmentally and economically sustainable. While we have the challenge of end-of-life composites in our industry, it is only a small amount of the overall composite. This makes finding common solutions with other industry even more important.”

The first-ever study by European Boating Industry, Bundesverband Wassersportwirtschaft e.V., and boot Düsseldorf offers a unique insight into how the recreational boating industry in Europe fared in 2020 given the COVID-19 pandemic. Presented at the International Breakfast Meeting on 20 April and now published, the study shows a mixed impact on the industry in 2020 with a positive outlook for the next years and some clear trends.

The study, led by two graduates of the Jade University Wilhelmshaven in Germany (Amelie Cesar & Natascha Zwenke) is the result of a unique cooperation between European Boating Industry, Bundesverband Wassersportwirtschaft e.V. and boot Düsseldorf. The study analyses the impact of the pandemic in 2020 on a number of key indicators and the outlook of the industry. It is based on the responses of companies within EBI’s membership that were surveyed in late 2020 following the end of the summer season, as well as interviews with experts among EBI’s full members.

The study shows a varied picture of the impact of COVID-19 and the various restrictions at national level for 2020, with some countries and some sub-sectors more impacted than others. Some markets however also did exceptionally well with revenues increasing. A clear picture emerges for 2021 and beyond, showing a positive outlook for companies. It also demonstrates the need for political support measures at national and European level.

Some key messages from the study:

• Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs): Over 96 % of companies that responded were SMEs, and almost half were micro-SMEs.
• Revenue: A third of companies indicated an increase while more than half recorded a drop in revenues. Companies with their main activity in tourism and production have been hit harder than companies in the distribution sector and service sectors.
• Employment: 23 % of companies had to lay off employees while 22% increased employment. The impact on employment may be more significant in the long-term.
• Future trends: The interest in boating is seen as increasing in the short- and the long-term. Companies increasingly focus on digitalisation and partly also on environmental sustainability. Investments had to however be postponed in 2020 given the pandemic.
• Government support: In all countries, governments supported companies in difficulty. Government support however remains necessary on a national and European level with a focus on financial support, effective legislation, and promotion.
• Industry outlook: The outlook for businesses in the boating industry is perceived as positive for 2021 with only 23% seeing it as poor.

The full results of the study and analysis have been sent to EBI members. A limited version and executive summary can be downloaded here.

Commenting on the study Petros Michelidakis, boot Düsseldorf Project Director, said: “The result of this study is also essential for the further development of boot Düsseldorf. The international boating industry and the entire water sports have enormous potential. We will use this for boot Düsseldorf and continue to offer the water sports community a show that is unique worldwide and will be the reflection of the market. I am very pleased that we will already prove this at boot 2022, because the industry's interest in taking part and present to its audience again is very high.”

Karsten Stahlhut, Managing Director of BVWW commented “The study shows the great potential of the water sports industry. Together, we should do our utmost to always remain future-proof and innovative, also with regard to digitalisation and the upcoming technical transformation”

Philip Easthill, EBI Secretary-General, stated: “It is encouraging to see that our industry has been able to hold up well in 2020 and companies are positive for the future. This shows the resilience of our industry and hard work over the last year. Our industry is clearly very well positioned to take advantage of new consumer trends and benefit in the short- and long-term. Given the impact that the pandemic has nevertheless had, the study clearly shows the importance of effective policy at all levels of government to support recovery and help the industry return to growth in the next years.”

The 6^th edition of the International Breakfast Meeting (IBM), which was jointly organised by European Boating Industry (EBI) and boot Düsseldorf, was successfully held on 20 April. The event, which was held online for the first time, brought together high-level experts from the worlds of business and politics to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on the recreational boating industry, the industry’s recovery, and new trends and opportunities, under the title “A Corona reboot of tourism and recreation: What future for boating?”.

The event, which was moderated by EBI Secretary-General Philip Easthill and introduced by boot Düsseldorf Project Director Petros Michelidakis, included the participation through video message of European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, Virginijus Sinkevičius. This was the first time a Commissioner participated in IBM, showing the increasingly prominent presence of the boating industry in EU policy-making. Commissioner Sinkevičius stated that “the recreational boating industry will have an essential role to play to help us build back better”, and he referred to the European Green Deal and to the forthcoming Sustainable Blue Economy Strategy as key policies to ensure the protection and cleanliness of marine areas.

Also coming from the sphere of EU policy-making, Member of the European Parliament Ismail Ertug shared with participants the latest developments in EU tourism policy. Mr Ertug, who is member of the European Parliament’s Transport and Tourism Committee, stated that the sector is facing four main challenges: the first one is about security and safety; the second one is about economic competitiveness among Member States which have different regulatory, administrative and tax burdens; the third one is about technology, where businesses have to keep up with globalisation and digitalisation; and the fourth one is the growing demand for customised experiences. “We are in the middle of the pandemic and last year was the worst one ever, but this is also a big chance for tourism policy. In the past it was national competence of Member States, but now this is maybe a chance for harmonisation at the EU level.”

Next, Amelie Cesar and Natascha Zwenke, graduates from the Jade University of Applied Sciences, presented to attendees the study they conducted for EBI on the impact of COVID-19 on the boating industry. This study will be officially published on 27 April. Moreover, Lyublena Dimova, Research Manager at the European Travel Commission, gave insights into post-COVID-19 trends in the wider travel and tourism sector. Clearly visible are an increasing optimism among Europeans to travel, a preference for domestic and intra-regional destinations, as well as coastal getaways being extremely appealing for Western and Central Europeans. Luca Brancaleon, Deputy Director Manager of Groupe Beneteau, talked about the future direction of the industry. Finally, EBI President Jean-Pierre Goudant gave a closing speech.

The event was attended by 220 people. The livestream can be found here. Further information on IBM is available here.

Following the partnership announced in January 2021, EBI and The SeaCleaners will hold the webinar “Harnessing the potential of recreational boating against marine litter” on 19 May. The webinar will be an opportunity for boating industry stakeholders to discuss what role recreational boating can play in tackling marine pollution. The event will take place on the occasion of the 2021 European Maritime Day, an excellent chance for the European community to engage with maritime affairs and discuss potential developments.

Speaking at the event will be: Yvan Bourgnon, President and founder of The SeaCleaners; Frédéric Silvert, Technical Director at The SeaCleaners; Andreea Strachinescu, Head of Unit for Maritime Innovation, Marine Knowledge and Investment in the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries. EBI Secretary-General Philip Easthill and Valérie Amant, Director of Communications at The SeaCleaners, will then present diverse opportunities for support and involvement in The SeaCleaners’ mission.

The webinar is free and open to all participants, and it will take place on 19 May from 11:00 to 12:00.

Register here.

The Brussels-based media outlet EURACTIV held a webinar titled “Blue economy: the potential of our oceans to contribute to a green recovery”. Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius, in charge for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, spoke at the event and expressed his view that the need to adapt and mitigate climate change will create tangible opportunities for businesses across Europe.

Bernhard Friess, Director for Maritime Policy and Blue Economy at DG MARE also expressed its conviction that circular economy is a chance for technological developments and for businesses to create new value. Furthermore, answering to a question, Director Healthy Planet at DG RTD John Bell said that ports will play a critical role in the blue economy, in terms of job opportunities and servicing ecosystems.

MEP Claudia Monteiro de Aguiar, Member of the Transport and Tourism Committee spoke in favour of involving tourism stakeholders when talking about blue economy and new sustainable opportunities. She said that their involvement is crucial for every step of the economy chain.

As the Council is preparing to release its conclusions on the 2021 blue economy and the Commission Sustainable Blue Economy Strategy is expected soon, EBI will continue to monitor the developments. You can re-watch the webinar here.