Marinas24 Innovation Showcase Winner

Innovation Showcase session – from left: Claudio Carlon - Cimolai, Fiona Mendez - ROVing Intelligence, Mark Smith - SET Maritime & Electrical, Rod Tansley - Sandmap, Phil Wardale – NZMOA, Antoine Repiton-Preneuf - The Searial Cleaners © Marina Industries Association

The Marinas24 Innovation Showcase introduced five new products or services to the market with each delivering a punchy seven-minute presentation where developers outlined the unique benefits for the industry. The showcase session chairman, Phil Wardale, the current secretary of NZMOA, said "It was a brilliant session, really highlighting the strength and ingenuity of the industry".

All five innovations came to the showcase from different parts of the industry. The MIA's first Clean-Tech Partner, The Searial Cleaners, showcased their InvisiBubble, a bubble curtain that controls floating waste and silt. The InvisiBubble curtain purifies the water, redirects debris and sediment, contains the spread of hydrocarbons and protects surrounding wildlife. It also traps floating and submerged waste (whether organic or synthetic) measuring just 2 mm, diverting or rerouting it to a collection point or containing it within a specific area. It's an incredible innovation for the industry at a time when there is a strong focus on water pollution, trash collection and the impacts on the environment.

Sandmap, a company founded in Queensland by spatial and engineering professionals Rod Tansley and Sean McCagh, showcased their hydrographic surveying system which utilises small craft that are easily able to maneuver into small spaces within a marina facility, without the need for extensive boat movements or disruptions to busy facilities. This brilliant innovation incorporating swath bathymetry is destined to be a big step forward for facilities looking to develop or get a better understanding of their depth restrictions.

Highlighting the diversity of this year's Innovation Showcase, SET Maritime & Electrical, owned by Mark Smith a 40-year industry veteran in marine surveying and electrical engineering, showcased their 'Eshore' product. Eshore a Polarity Monitoring device allows for a Functional Earthing (FE) circuit to make a momentary connection to check polarity and allows for the interlocking contactor to allow for supply to the vessel. The polarity of shore connections is often unknown to the vessel owners which can create lengthy delays or their need for further electrical contractors. Eshore quickly and effectively solves this issue and will ensure that a vessel's electrical safety devices remain effective.

Throwing the audience into something completely different, Claudio Carlon from Cimolai Technologies, showcased Marina Punta Gabbiani's ingenious dry, land-based marina berths. The design sees land-based raised marina berths for vessels on trailers and cradles that allow owners to safely access their vessels without ladders or temporary structures. A near-silent electric straddle carrier from Cimolai Technologies takes vessels from their land-based berths into the water for regular boating.

Rounding out this year's showcase was another very proudly Australian company and innovation from ROVing Intelligence. ROVing Intelligence, established just 3 years ago, brings AI together with UW submersible technology, to give accuracy to asset owners of their underwater infrastructure. Beyond providing accurate 4000 PSI Spot cleaning, Ultrasonic Thickness Testing (UTT), and Cathode Protection Testing (CPT), ROVing Intelligence can now provide 3D imagery that has pinpoint station holding that can be repeated year after year to create a long-term view of the real maintenance longevity of marine assets.

Antoine Repiton-Preneuf, Asian Pacific Business Development Manager for Serial Cleaners with Phil Wardale, secretary of NZMOA - photo © Marina Industries Association

Following the presentations, a live poll was taken from over 200 delegates in attendance, with the Searial Cleaners' InvisiBubble, a bubble curtain that controls floating waste, being announced as the winner in a tightly contested result. In receiving his award, Antoine Repiton-Preneuf, Asian Pacific Business Development Manager for Serial Cleaners commented, "The Searial Cleaners want its products to contribute by becoming a driver of change. We want to develop tech solutions and use them to combat marine pollution. The InvisiBubble is one of those solutions and a solution that also helps marina facilities to stay tidy and collect waste.

The Searial Cleaners is part of Poralu Marine, the world leader in designing and constructing aluminium marinas. For over 35 years, Poralu Marine has been bringing action and innovation to coasts all over the world by installing eco-friendly marina facilities.

Showcase chair Phil Wardale noted, "As the last session of the day it was a great way to keep everyone interested and inspired, congratulations to the winners for coming up with something so important for the environment and all marinas."