AENIB promotes Balearic yachting during the 41st Palma International Boat Show

The Association of Nautical Companies of the Balearic Islands (AENIB) and the National Association of Nautical Companies (ANEN) played a prominent role in the 41st edition of the Palma International Boat Show, held from April 30 to May 3 at Moll Vell in the Balearic capital.

The joint AENIB and ANEN stand served as the venue for various activities aimed at promoting Balearic yachting and supporting companies in the sector. It also functioned as a central hub and support space for members, who used the facilities for meetings, networking, and professional gatherings.

Additionally, the nautical association focused its talks, presentations, and activities—part of the official program of the boat show—on the morning of Friday, May 2.

Among the highlights at the AENIB/ANEN stand was the presentation of the Annual Congress of the International Council of Marine Industry Associations (ICOMIA), which will be held in collaboration with the International Federation of Boat Show Organizers (IFBSO) for the first time in Palma, from May 25 to 29, 2025. Presenting the congress were José Luis Fayos, technical advisor at ANEN, and Jordi Carrasco, general director of ANEN, joined by Jaume Vaquer, president of AENIB, and Silvia Delgado, managing director of ADR Balears, the entity organizing the show.

The presentation offered attendees at PIBS detailed insights into this important international event, which is expected to bring together around 100 professionals and representatives from the global nautical sector—further establishing Palma as a strategic hub for maritime industry development. More info at https://www.icomia.org/events/icomia-ifbso-congress-palma-2025.

“For a full week, we’ll have the leading figures in global yachting—representatives from all the world’s trade associations—discussing the sector’s future and challenges,” emphasized Carrasco, who also noted that this would be “a unique opportunity to cement Palma’s position as a global epicenter of yachting and connect with key influencers in the world’s top markets.”

“It will allow us to showcase the strength of our industrial network to representatives from markets across five continents, including key regions like New Zealand, South Africa, and the United States,” added Fayos. “We’ll also welcome presidents and directors from major boat shows such as Düsseldorf, Cannes, Miami, Barcelona, and Palma, thanks to the participation of IFBSO.”

The session was followed by a presentation on the evolution of the Teconaut Project, an initiative aimed at promoting the use of disruptive technologies to facilitate the sector’s ecological transition. The project was first introduced at the AENIB/ANEN stand at last year’s PIBS.

Carrasco, as a partner in the project, led the presentation alongside Joan Florit, director of the Centre de la Mar, and project coordinators Luca Jendrek and Luisa Moreno from SeaTeach. They outlined the project’s year-long progress toward building a new generation of skilled workers connected with medium-sized boat builders and startups implementing sustainable solutions in the shipbuilding sector. More info at https://teconaut.eu/es/.

“Seven partners—from businesses, universities, vocational centers, and associations—have joined forces with the primary goal of fostering international research collaboration to support sustainability in this dynamic, competitive sector, which produces around 70,000 tons of non-recyclable materials each year,” said Jendrek, highlighting “the need to make the sector more sustainable and better.”

“A more sustainable nautical sector starts with young people. While they’re already quite aware, we must give them the tools to grow and specialize,” added Moreno. She highlighted “collaboration between universities, training centers, and students from countries such as Poland, France, Germany, Greece, and Spain,” with SOIB leading course development to make ecological transition training accessible to all.

“This training, which we intend to anticipate the needs of the sector, will allow students to learn how to work with new fibers that represent the future of boat manufacturing, such as flax fiber, carbon, hemp, volcanic fibers, and recycled glass,” explained Florit, noting that the first beta test of the program is expected before the end of the year.

After the presentations, the nautical association’s space hosted its traditional Vermut del Mar, adding a social and festive touch to the day with La Vermutera. Attendees enjoyed casual conversation and strengthened connections over vermouth and snacks.

PIBS is one of the leading events in the international nautical industry and brings together thousands of global professionals each year, serving as the perfect showcase for Balearic nautical companies to present the quality of their services, products, and expertise. Around fifty AENIB/ANEN-affiliated companies exhibited their latest developments at the show.

Through its participation, AENIB once again demonstrates its support for the fair as a key meeting point for the Balearic nautical sector—one of the main pillars of the islands’ economy. In addition to supporting industry professionals, AENIB encourages the general public to visit the show and discover everything yachting has to offer the Balearic Islands as a major economic driver.