EBI Secretary-General Philip Easthill had the pleasure of participating at the ICOMIA World Marinas Conference taking place in Venice in October.

It was a great opportunity to meet members and the event was a testament to the industry in Europe and globally. EBI would like to express its sincere thanks to the organising team of Alberto Sonino and Roberto Perocchio, and the ICOMIA team Frank Hugelmeyer, Joe Lynch and Jonathan White. Furthermore, the Golden Cleat for the Lifetime Achievement award for dedication to the marina sector over several decades was awarded to Jean-Michel Gaigné from EBI member TransEurope Marinas to whom EBI would like to add its congratulations.

EBI Secretary-General Philip Easthill was on stage to moderate a panel on “International Regulations and Recommendations”. The session underscored how evolving regulatory frameworks and cross-border cooperation are shaping the future of the marina sector.

Mićo Ljubenko, Founder of Ljubenko & Partners, presented Croatia’s pioneering legal framework for berth contracts as a model for Europe. Over the past 25 years, the sharp increase in yachts and berths across the continent has led to a rise in damages and liability disputes among marina operators, owners, and insurers. The 2019 Croatian Maritime Law addressed these issues head-on by introducing two clear categories of berth contracts—those with and without yacht surveillance. This distinction has provided long-awaited legal clarity, balancing responsibilities around monitoring, inspection frequency, and liability limits, and setting a valuable precedent for other European nations.

Expanding on the international dimension, Joe Lynch, CEO of ICOMIA, highlighted the organisation’s role as a global connector for the boating and marina sectors. He emphasised ICOMIA’s efforts in fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange among associations and countries—ensuring that best practices are shared to enhance safety, environmental performance, and business resilience. Lynch further underlined that harmonising national regulatory approaches, such as Croatia’s model, through international dialogue is essential to reduce legal uncertainty and support consistent global standards.

The conversation also turned to EU policy developments poised to influence the sector’s trajectory, including the Industrial Maritime Strategy, European Ports and Tourism Strategies, and the Circular Economy framework. With sustainability and end-of-life boat management at the forefront, EBI and its partners—including ICOMIA and NMMA—are leading proactive initiatives such as the Blue Boat Horizon LCA project, showcasing the industry’s commitment to innovation ahead of regulation.

Further broadening the focus to marinas, Jose Luis Fayos, Technical Consultant at ANEN, noted a growing number of Spanish marina tenders awarding bonus points for the inclusion of LCA-based Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs). This trend, he stressed, highlights a critical direction for marina suppliers and stakeholders to align with sustainability metrics.

The conference reaffirmed that industry associations play a vital role in shaping policy and guiding innovation.