2022, back to normality, almost? - MarineBusinessWorld Oceania newsletter
by Peter Rendle 9 Dec 2021 14:00 PST
60th Melbourne Boat Show © Boating Industry Association of Victoria
As we approach the New Year, speculation as to how conditions will return to normal are a talking point. With boat shows almost non existent in Australia over the past two years, plans are already being made for their comeback in 2022. However, it's not all straightforward.
Whilst the market remains hot, and the appetite for boat shows and outdoor events is strong, there will be further delay until the 60th Melbourne Boat Show. Stock and supply challenges have prevailed, and exhibitors have advised that a June 2022 date at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) is simply not going to be possible. The Victorian B.I.A. has thanked the more than 60 exhibitors who had booked in, way back in April/May, as well as the MCEC for their patience, Better Boating Victoria for its support, and everybody else that has continued to work toward this much anticipated boating and industry event.
The good news is that there will be a Plan B for exhibitors, in the form of a major boating and lifestyle event in October 2022. More will be revealed about this opportunity in the near future and the organisers are looking forward to sharing this with Exhibitors and industry members.
Conditions in Europe have tended to be more relaxed and the internationally-renown boot Dusseldorf is set to go ahead from 22nd to 30th January 2022. Messe Düsseldorf has decided to hold boot 2022 as planned after consultations with the exhibiting branches and consistent implementation of the current Covid Protection Ordinance of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia. Oriented to the regulations that apply to the retail trade, only visitors who comply with the vaccinated or recovered regulation may enter the fairgrounds during boot. In addition, wearing a particle filtering half or medical mask is compulsory in all halls. The latest air exchange regulators also ensure a regular supply of fresh air in the exhibition halls.
In Australia an event worth mentioning this week. The program for the Marinas22 International Conference and Trade Exhibition has been announced and a great line up of speakers will deliver relevant, timely and thought-provoking content designed to inspire delegates to capitalise on the strength of the industry. The Marina Industries Association's (MIA) key biennial event, originally planned as Marinas21 was postponed by a year and will now be held at the newly refurbished JW Marriott Gold Coast, 23-24 May 2022, conveniently timed to follow the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show.
Conference Chairman Mike Harvey said, "We were a long way into the program planning when the event was postponed, but rather than just roll over that content, we took a fresh look at it to ensure we address the issues and opportunities that have presented in the last 12-18 months."
New boats announced this week include the Maritimo M75. The leading Australian luxury motor yacht manufacturer is set to begin an exciting new era as it unveils the largest motor yacht in its history, with the global reveal of the brand's latest flagship vessel, in the form of the new M75 Flybridge Motor Yacht. Eighteen years ago, Maritimo redefined the long-range cruising motor yacht concept with the inception of the legendary enclosed flybridge motor yacht it is recognized internationally for today. In that time, Maritimo has continually evolved and refined the flybridge motor yacht concept with close collaboration between it's completely in-house Australian design team, and its growing family of Maritimo owners around the world.
From the same state, Riviera, Australia's luxury motor yacht builder, has celebrated excellence across its Australian and New Zealand representative network with the announcement of the company's annual dealership awards for 2021. The presentations were made via video meetings held on the Gold Coast, Sydney, Port Stephens, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth in Australia, and Auckland in New Zealand. Riviera was honoured that several motor yacht owners in restricted locations were delighted to participate in the presentation of the awards.
People making news this week involves AIMEX. The President and Board of Directors of Australian International Marine Export Group have announced the appointment of two new directors for 2021-2022 at the Annual General Meeting, held on Tuesday November 30, 2021: Chris Blackwell, Sales & Marketing Manager, Echo Marine Group (Echo Yachts) Michaela Claes, Operations Manager, Pantaenius Australia.
Continuing Directors are Jeremy Spear - AIMEX President, Managing Director of Spear Green Design, Peter Dowdney - AIMEX Vice President, Australasian Sales Manager, Ronstan International, Stephen Vincent - AIMEX Honorary Treasurer, Director of Austral Propeller Company, Carl Amor, Director of Aqualuma LED Lighting, Kane Bygrave, International Yacht Logistics Specialist, Aurora Global Logistics, Richard Chapman, Managing Director, Coursemaster Autopilots and HyDrive Engineering, Steve Fisher, Director International Business, Rivergate Marina & Shipyard, Eli Green, Director, Greencorp Marine, Brad Marsden, Founder and Director, Marine Air Flow International, Ron Schroeder, Director, Rainman Desalination, Alan Steber, General Manager and Director, Steber International.
And finally, some international news involving port developments that may be adapted globally. British diesel technology innovator, Cox Marine, has joined SHAPE UK, a consortium looking to transition Portsmouth International Port into the UK's first zero-emissions maritime hub. As part of this project, Cox will be working with the University of Brighton to convert one of the company's CXO300 diesel outboard engines to operate as a dual fuel hydrogen engine and to demonstrate the engine operating in the port environment.
The conversion and demonstration form part of the wider Shipping, Hydrogen & Port Ecosystems UK (SHAPE UK) project which aims to demonstrate an achievable modular green hydrogen generation system within Portsmouth International Port (PIP). Maritime operations are paramount to the efficient movement of goods nationally and globally but are often high contributors of CO2 emissions and air pollutants. The adoption of decentralised energy systems offers the potential to support the necessary transition of ports and their operations to carbon net-zero operations.
There is more industry news at marinebusinessworld.com
Stay safe, optimistic and healthy,
Peter Rendle - peter.rendle@marinebusinessworld.com