ONE°15 Marina Sentosa Cove

The International Council of Marine Industry Associations (ICOMIA) will host the first ICOMIA Boating Industry Conference on April 23-24, ahead of the Yacht Style Awards on the evening of April 24 and the second Singapore Yachting Festival from April 25-28, all at ONE°15 Marina Sentosa Cove.

The Conference will focus on sustainable business practices essential for long-term growth and effective decarbonisation initiatives within the recreational marine industry. From cutting-edge research to advancements in propulsion systems and infrastructure development, the programme aims to explore strategies addressing the industry’s distinctive challenges in Asia’s evolving markets.

Joe Lynch, ICOMIA’s CEO, said: “We’ve worked hard to curate a unique conference programme that will appeal to everyone in our industry. Unlike conventional conferences that focus just on product sales and competitor activity, ICOMIA is proud to offer a Conference designed to stimulate discussions and actions that will ensure the collective success of everyone involved in boating.

“Sustainability is a key theme but in its widest possible interpretation. To be confident of a truly sustainable future, we need to be operating safely, environmentally responsibly and successfully as an industry. This Conference will deliver against these three themes, and we look forward to seeing everyone there in April.”

CONFERENCE RUNDOWN

Darren Vaux, ICOMIA’s President, will be a keynote speaker as he presents ICOMIA’s landmark research, ‘Pathways into Propulsion Decarbonisation in the Recreational Marine Industry’ on the first morning. Vaux will then be joined by Lynch, who is keen to support further industry engagement with the markets of Singapore, the rest of Southeast Asia and other regions across Asia.

Bingrong Ng from the Maritime Port Authority will brief delegates on the latest efforts by the MPA in ‘Maritime Singapore’s Decarbonisation Initiatives’, offering insights into the nation’s forward-thinking strategies.

The afternoon session begins with a presentation on applying ISO standards in marina management and operations. This is followed by a moderated session, ‘The Pivot Towards Sustainability’, on the challenges in achieving sustainability goals and the need for a multi-faceted, pragmatic approach incorporating environmental, social and economic factors in industry practices.

In the ‘Green Mobility’ session, an overview of developments towards a low-carbon future will include Singaporean innovators showcasing their products and ideas. The day concludes with ‘Ocean Stewardship and Clean Boating’, as experts discuss conservation strategies, initiatives and informed boating practices necessary to protect the marine environment.

Day two comprises a series of panel discussions around the ‘Business of Boating’, from growth strategies introducing the boating lifestyle to consumers and targeting lifelong enjoyment, to understanding and communicating the impact that boating has on national economies and local communities, across infrastructure development, manufacturing and support services.

In the session on Advocacy, the discussion will be furthered with regional speakers sharing their unique strategies to put boating on the agenda in interactions with policymakers.

The Conference closes with ‘Roundtable on Collaborative Engagement’, featuring stakeholders in Asia. In addition to considering key takeaways from the Conference, from both presenters and the delegates, the panel is also expected to highlight the need for more networking and collaboration across borders and industry sectors, to ensure shared goals and actions for industry development and creation of opportunities for sustainable growth.

Arthur Tay, Chairman and CEO of SUTL Group, commended the collaboration with ICOMIA and the opportunity to host the conference at ONE°15 Marina, owned by SUTL Group.

“Decarbonisation and minimising environmental impact are matters close to my heart and strongly complement ONE°15’s marine conservation initiatives,” Tay said. “We are proud to be part of such a significant event that promotes sustainable practices and innovation in the boating industry.”

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