A total of 700 senior sector leaders and specialists gathered to participate for an engaging day of presentations, discussions and networking on the opening day of The Superyacht Forum in Amsterdam (18 November).
The day began with a statement of strength from the industry. METSTRADE Director, Niels Klarenbeek, opened the forum by announcing that unprecedented demand for exhibition space will lead to the addition of an extra hall in 2025, occupying all 13 halls at RAI Amsterdam for the first time. Superyacht Pavilion will be significantly enriched, making it the premier global hub for the superyacht sector.
Sustainability and reputation in focus
The keynote panel featured Giovanna Vitelli, CEO of Azimut|Benetti, and Rose Damen, CEO of Damen Yachting, who highlighted healthy forward order books and their companies' sustainability initiatives. Both executives emphasised the importance of driving tangible improvements today rather than waiting for future technologies.
Vitelli and Damen also raised the need for the industry to work together to manage its reputational risk, a theme later taken up in the closing session of the day. Retired cruise ship industry professional Roberto Martinoli, European Business Aviation Association COO Robert Baltus, crisis management consultant Maureen Veurman and session moderator, Feadship’s Chief Marketing Officer Farouk Nefzi, urged the audience to consider how best to manage the reputation of the industry. The importance of strong trade association representation was emphasised, to communicate the values and virtues of the superyachting sector and educate the wider public. Veurman encouraged everyone to be proactive and tell their story first, as everything anyone hears afterwards is less important. Baltus reinforced this point, noting that his association leverages data-driven transparency to showcase the positive contributions of business aviation.
Workshops deliver practical insights
It was a positive way to end a day full of workshops and presentations that had many definitive actions associated with them. The Raising the Bar initiative, allied to the Superyacht Alliance, explained the work it had been doing to improve onboard and onshore working practices, with a particular focus on the retention of junior crew through gathering data, improving understanding and promoting training at all levels. Virtual reality specialists demonstrated how VR is expanding the reach and capability of maritime education. There was also a welcome session explaining how leading focus groups are collaborating to address mental health welfare in the industry.
The most attended workshop, Choosing the Right Shipyard for Your Refit, featured an expert panel including MB92 Managing Director Rob Papworth and Hampshire Marine Director Dean Smith. Together with the audience, they developed a comprehensive "10 Commandments" checklist addressing key considerations such as location, facilities, finances, and contracts.
YETI tool previewed ahead of METSTRADE launch
In a day full of announcements the Water Revolution Foundation provided delegates with a preview of its Yacht Environmental Transparency Index (YETI) software tool, ahead of its full launch at METSTRADE this coming Wednesday 20 November. This tool independently benchmarks superyachts’ annual emissions and efficiency, comparing them to the wider fleet. Meanwhile, the Superyacht Alliance also held a workshop to explain the extension of its Yacht Owners Representatives Register from new builds into the refit market.
The industry accelerates collaborative action
A consistent theme throughout the day was the sector's growing pace in transforming discussions into definitive actions. At the close of day one The Superyacht Forum’s founder and Chairman of The Superyacht Group, Martin Redmayne, reflected: “There has been a real transition over the last five years. This industry has started to get organised, built stronger associations and invested more in working together. People are forming strategic plans that improve and tackle projects and opportunities in a smarter way. If we end up with the kind of collaborative approaches to change our image and our sustainability footprint that we have discussed today, people will notice it. If we move in the right direction others will become part of the same missions, goals and objectives.
Redmayne also praised METSTRADE’s acquisition of The Superyacht Forum, stating: “This partnership has established Amsterdam as a collaborative focal point for the biggest players and associations in the superyacht world, driving shared progress on critical industry priorities.”