Ocean Capital Partners participated in and sponsored the XVIII Marina Symposium on May 26th and 27th, in Valencia, with the presence of José Luis Almazán. The event was presented this year under the name "The changing principles in the management of marinas". It was an edition that highlights in this opportunity the scenario of the recreational port activity focused on the maritime public domain and the extensions of concessional terms.
The main themes of the forum were innovation, sustainability of the activity in marina management, the blue economy, the regime of concession extensions and the demand of the yachting sector. to provide solutions to the issues that have the greatest impact on the business activity of both publicly managed and concessioned marinas.
During the presentations, the main current issues were discussed in order to respond to the new needs that arise in the yachting sector. It counted with the participation of State and Autonomous institutions, as well as concessionaires and outstanding professionals such as José Luis Almazán, who participated with the presentation "Innovations in marinas".. His lecture focused on innovation, management and technologies. He highlighted social innovation as the most important because of its long-term effects. This was justified because future prospects should be considered with a horizon of 2027 - 2030. In this context, Almazán also presented the cases of innovation in marinas currently underway and the proposals currently being evaluated.
Technological progress
During his speech, José Luis Almazán outlined the different types of innovation that exist. Among these, technological innovation, as it has an immediate impact through digitization and the internet of things, is one of the most important.. In this line of smart technology, he pointed out that "progress is being made in the field of robotics, applied to underwater navigation. In terms of surface and aerial form, with autonomous robots, remote-controlled robots and with applications for surveillance, rescue interventions in risk situations and maintenance work".
José Luis Almazán also highlighted the importance of nautical innovation laboratories as a trend that has emerged strongly in recent years. He also mentioned the laboratories of marinas in Valencia and Barcelona, in Spain; and those of La Rochelle and Düsseldorf, internationally. In this line, he also highlighted the importance of the Observatories of innovation in the nautical sports and tourism sector. At the same time, he highlighted the lack of observatories for marinas and nautical tourism, with only a magnificent observatory for tourism in general existing in Spain.
Nautical connectivity
Within the management innovation section, José Luis Almazán has focused on digital platforms as tools for innovation. In his opinion "marina management platforms should be connected with Smart Ports platforms. Likewise, with the Smart Cities and with the so-called smart tourist destinations."he says.
These are types of destinations that, in order to be recognized as smart, must adopt criteria in governance, innovation and technology. He also highlighted the importance of the Next Generation and tourism support funds. This is to support and promote the development of innovation projects in the sector. He has also advocated for innovation in education and specialized training in sailing and marinas. The methodology is proposed through specific masters in different universities and vocational training centers.
Another section in which Almazán emphasized was to innovate in social inclusion and integration, equal gender opportunities and facilitating access for people with disabilities.. This type of social innovation is not publicly known, but it is very important because of its long-term effects. So much so that it was introduced by the European Union in 2010 as part of the Europe 2020 Strategy plan. The main objective is to develop new models of collaboration between people.
In addition, during the meeting, José Luis Almazánan expert in the maritime port sector, presented the different nautical tourism plans for 2021-2027. He also addressed the actions and experiences of tourism in Spain, the digitization of plans, destinations in general and smart destinations in particular. Other topics to be addressed were the tourism sustainability plan in destination and its innovation actions in collaboration with the Civil Guard.
In the financial line, José Luis Almazán spoke about the different programs within the European Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027 facing the nautical and marinas in Spain and in Europe. This is a two trillion euro framework that adds funding to overcome the effects of the pandemic. Another reference to which reference was made is the 2030 Agenda of the United Nations. United Nations which defines seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that will find a fit directly at the nautical sports.
Education at the service of innovation
Likewise, José Luis Almazán has also presented, within the framework of innovation projects, different proposals currently under evaluation. One of them is the Digital Marina 4.0 for ports led by Asmar. The aim is to create an e-learning system specialized in innovation in marinas..
Another proposal is RETURNS 2022-2023, presented in April of this year to the Tourism Experiences Spain program of MINCOTUR. It is a plan that seeks to promote innovation in tourism experiences that receive Next Generation funds. If Returns is approved, it will be an eighteen-month project. It will incorporate a university chair, a laboratory and an observatory specific to nautical sports tourism.
And finally, the third innovation action successfully completed, Almazán indicated, is a Big Data project between Spanish marinasthe Civil Guard and the Spanish Maritime Cluster. The same started in 2018 to reinforce security in Marinas and the control of access and crew arrivals. In addition, there are other ongoing projects, such as Smart Port to connect European marinas Safe.Trx. It is led through Sasemar to identify recreational vessels on the high seas and others to be developed in the future.
The Symposium was well attended by distinguished industry players, among them, the president of State Ports. Also with presidents of various port authorities, including Valencia, host of the meeting. Also, Coruña and Almería, among others, heads of Autonomous Communities, Catalonia, Murcia and others, as well as marina concessionaires. It also counted with the participation of distinguished lawyers of the sector. Due to its organization, debates and presentations, this congress, organized by ASMARin collaboration with the Port Authority of ValenciaMarinas of Spain and Ocean Capital Partnersconcluded as a successful event.
