The 35th installment of Metstrade, the world’s largest recreational marine equipment trade show, kicked off at RAI Amsterdam for a three-day run Nov. 15-17. The show was a success by all accounts, with organizers reporting a record 1,540 exhibitors and 18,630 visitors.
“It is an absolute privilege to have the heritage and strong bow wave of positive sentiment from 34 editions behind us, but we take nothing for granted,” Metstrade director Niels Klarenbeek stated in a press release. “The marine industry is moving at an incredible pace to address the many opportunities and challenges set before it. We were pleased to play our part for this 35th anniversary edition by offering several well-received new features targeted at sustainability, people, skills, inclusivity and innovation.”
New this year were a Foiling Pavilion to highlight the advancements in foiling technologies; a Young Professionals lounge for networking among new members of the marine trade; a Startup Pavilion that focused on funding services and product ideas; Croatia’s first nation pavilion; and the Yacht Racing Image awards.
Breakfast Briefing
The show got underway early Nov. 15 at the Metstrade Theater with a breakfast briefing addressing the global marine trade. “I’d like to be the first to welcome you to the 35th Metstrade,” Klarenbeek said. “We’re at capacity with 1,540 exhibitors, and we have a number of new pavilions for attendees to enjoy. This should be the best Metstrade we’ve ever seen.”
Darren Vaux, president of the International Council of Marine Industry Associations, spoke about the organization’s decarbonization study, which launched in September 2022. The study identifies the best available energy solutions for reducing greenhouse gases in recreational boating.
“The purpose of ICOMIA is facilitating an outcome that enriches people’s lives, and collaboration among [trade] members is the key to success,” Vaux said. “This study will help us develop pathways to decarbonization, and we’ll need collaboration among the industry to achieve success.”
Sanlorenzo CEO Massimo Perotti delivered the keynote address, which focused on his company’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions by utilizing green methanol and hydrogen fuel cells. The builder’s goal is to achieve carbon neutrality with its vessels by 2035. Sanlorenzo is partnering with Siemens to develop a fuel-cell system that utilizes methanol to deliver electric power to a Volvo Penta D8 hybrid system. The first complete system is expected to launch with Sanlorenzo’s 50Steel model this year. Lloyd’s shipping has certified the hybrid propulsion system.
DAME Awards
Launched in 1991, the awards program promotes design in all marine industry disciplines, and recognizes products displayed each year at Metstrade. An international jury of eight design and user experts examined 100 submissions, 53 of which were selected for nomination as standout examples of holistic design effort within the equipment sector.
“The efforts of companies who offer their products for such detailed scrutiny are always appreciated, and we are always mindful of the time, resources and passion required to bring each product to market,” DAME Design Awards jury chair Andre Hoek stated in a press release.
“This year, we shortlisted 53 out of 100 entries, the highest ratio of nominees since 2016. That is indicative of the quality we saw across a healthy mix of genuinely new concepts, as well as fresh design ideas for existing gear that has been with us for many years.”
This year’s overall winner was Oceanvolt’s HighPower ServoProp 25. Category winners included:
• Environmental Design: Maservis EcoCube
• Personal Equipment: Plastimo Zhik Seaboot 700
• Comfort and Entertainment Afloat: Scanstrut ATMOS 12-volt waterproof built-in air station
• Navigation and Communication: Raymarine Alpha performance display system
• Electronic and Electrical Systems: Vimar Spa Linea XT Platform
• Propulsion and Dynamics: Oceanvolt HighPower ServoProp 25
• Deck Equipment: Ronstan Orbit winch and Harken push/pull captive winch
• Security and Safety Aboard: Hall Spars LiMit collar
• Shoreside Equipment and Materials: Spot Zero Mobile Pro Mini water purifier
Pathways to Propulsion Decarbonization
ICOMIA’s two-year, $1 million research paper is designed to move the marine industry further toward decarbonization. The research was conducted by Ricardo, an environmental and engineering consultancy specializing in transport, energy and global climate agendas. Vaux, along with Frank Hugelmeyer, president of the National Marine Manufacturers Association, unveiled the research at the Metstrade Theater before a standing-room-only crowd.
“Our love for boating is fundamentally reliant on a healthy and sustainable marine environment, and we must take care of it to ensure the experiences boating provides can be enjoyed for generations to come,” Vaux said. “For the first time, we’ve united the global recreational marine industry around our most comprehensive, peer-reviewed research to explore opportunities that could reduce recreational boats’ carbon emissions, giving us the data we need to begin educating policymakers, our stakeholder community and boaters on the varied decarbonization solutions unique to our industry.”
The 558-page report, “Pathways to Propulsion Decarbonization for the Recreational Marine Industry,” looks at propulsion in boats smaller than 79 feet. The paper states that because of the boating environment, and the varied interests of boaters and the experiences they seek, a variety of solutions must be considered to continue reducing carbon emissions from boats.
“There is no silver bullet,” ICOMIA CEO Joe Lynch told Soundings Trade Only. “That’s a fact we need to get across to the industry, that this will require a multifaceted approach.”
According to an NMMA statement, decarbonization is the process of gradual reduction and/or neutralization of the footprint from fossil fuel carbon. Recreational boats account for less than 0.1% of global greenhouse gas emissions. In the past two decades, the U.S. marine industry alone has decreased engine emissions by more than 90% and increased fuel efficiency by more than 40%. Beyond this progress, the global marine industry remains committed to leading conservation efforts that protect the marine environment, and to identifying ways to expand its collective efforts.
Of note was the finding that most of a boat’s cradle-to-grave carbon footprint, regardless of size, is incurred during the manufacturing process. A further 40% of a boat’s carbon footprint comes from use during its lifespan. Only 10% can be attributed to the end-of-life disposal.
The research investigated propulsion technologies across nine common recreational watercraft to compare the impact of lifetime emissions, financial costs, usability, performance, range and infrastructure. The propulsion technologies investigated included battery electric (electric boats and watercraft); hybrid electric (internal combustion engines using liquid fuel and electricity); hydrogen (internal combustion engines or fuel cell); internal combustion engines with sustainable fuels (sustainably produced liquid substitute for conventional fossil fuel); and internal combustion engines with gasoline or diesel.
Off all these technologies, according to Ricardo’s research, sustainable fuels such as methanol and isobutanol are expected to be the most suitable to decarbonize boats by 2035 without compromising the distance a boat can travel or its performance. Of the approximately 30 million boats in use worldwide, with an average total life cycle of 40 to 50 years, the greatest potential for increased decarbonization is the widespread adoption of sustainable fuels, according to the report.
Ricardo’s research paves the way for the boating industry to begin educating global governments and boating stakeholders on the technologies and policies needed to further reduce carbon emissions. Key next steps include the adoption of a technology-neutral decarbonization approach for marine environments; an acceleration of the development and distribution of sustainable marine fuels and consumer education campaigns that support the adoption of these new fuels; consumer safety and government entities partnering with the marine industry to establish electric technology standards and consumer safety protocols; an expansion of R&D tax credits and investments to improve battery density, and hydrogen research that can be applied to the marine environment; and continued research to evaluate existing and emerging technologies and how to best apply them to the marine environment.
“Despite our progress over the past two decades, our industry recognizes and embraces the challenges and opportunities to create a sustainable future for recreational boating,” Vaux stated in a press release. “We are excited to support and encourage the latest innovations to create a better boating experience.
“Sustainable marine fuels allow boaters to act now while the industry continues innovating and investing in new technologies that push the boundaries of what’s possible,” he continued. “Through this research and a global education campaign, we’re uniting the recreational marine industry around a portfolio of solutions that creates positive change through multiple pathways and a framework to collectively move our industry forward.”
Women in the Industry
On the second day of the show, Soundings Trade Only hosted the second annual Women in the Marine Industry International panel discussion in collaboration with Metstrade, British Marine and Marine Industry News. The session was held in the Metstrade Theater at RAI Amsterdam with 200-plus attendees.
Moderated by Michele Goldsmith, vice president and general manager of the Soundings Trade Only Group, the global event focuses on female professionals in the marine industry. The event included a light breakfast followed by a panel discussion with Gemma Gonzalez, unit director, Gruppe Boero; Laurie Louvier, vice president of marketing, Dometic; Michelle Hildyard, vice president of product management and business development, Raymarine; Nicky Vaux, partner and business development manager, Empire Marinas Group; and Rachel Bridges, director and general manager, Cummins Global Marine.
“I would like to thank our partners Metstrade, Marine Industry News and British Marine, and the five extraordinary female executives on our panel who shared their wisdom, insights and experiences,” Goldsmith told Soundings Trade Only. “The panel covered topics from their leadership toolbox to the impact of AI to their visions for the future of the marine industry.”
Boat Builder Awards
International Boat Industry and Metstrade presented the Boat Builder Awards at the Amsterdam Maritime Museum on Nov. 16. The awards program accepted 90 nominations for final consideration across 11 categories, according to IBI. A total of 36 companies from 14 countries were shortlisted as finalists.
“The Boat Builder Awards has become a valuable part of the Metstrade community for nine years now,” Klarenbeek told IBI. “It unites all involved in yacht construction, allied trades, and the suppliers of equipment and materials on a shared platform where we can meet and celebrate often unsung achievements. The fact that we had a strong field of entries from four continents this year is a testament to the international recognition and esteem that the Boat Builder Awards enjoy.”
The winners and honorable mention recipients are:
• Customer of Tomorrow: Axopar x Agapi Boat Club
• Breakthrough Launch of the Year: HH Catamarans, HH44, and honorable mentions Prestige Yachts M-Line and Sunseeker International Superhawk 55
• Innovative Design Solution: TYDE, The Icon (glazing, flight control, digital helm, safety features and sound system)
• Supply Chain Collaboration, Production Boats: Nautique Boat Co. and Scanstrut, magnetic charger for 2024 ski boats, with honorable mentions Highfield Boats and ZeroJet, for EJET 330 electric RIB
• Supply Chain Collaboration, Superyachts: CRN, RINA Services and Weichai-Ballard, SUP-Y Sustainable Powered Yacht
• Sustainability Project of the Year: Beneteau Group, recycling fiberglass into new boats
• Designer of the Year: Christian Gott, Fairline Yachts
• Rising Star: Josie Maher, Edencraft, and Žiga Jarc, EJET
• Lifetime Achievement: Massimo Perotti, Sanlorenzo
That’s a Wrap
“Our team is committed to ensure that Metstrade facilitates the connections and business required for a successful year ahead,” Klarenbeek stated in a press release. “Without the underpinning creativity and enterprise of the supply chain, we have no marine industry. Our 2023 numbers are impressive, but they don’t tell the whole story. We are particularly grateful to have received so much positive feedback about the quality of the interactions between our audience and exhibitors over an extremely busy three days.”
Lynch, of ICOMIA, added: “When working day-to-day, you can be oblivious to the scale, variety, pace of innovation and new developments happening across the leisure marine sector. There is so much passion and enthusiasm within our industry, and to see it condensed in one place is very exciting. ICOMIA has been a partner of Metstrade since its first edition; as the global association representing marine industry associations around the world, this show also offers the welcome opportunity for our committees to meet and plan together.”
The show wound down with the announcement that Metstrade 2024 will run Nov. 19-21. n
This article was originally published in the January 2024 issue.
