Management, sustainability and technology will take center stage at the 20th Symposium on Marinas

Palma de Mallorca will host the 20th Symposium on Marinas on May 28 and 29, 2026—an event that has become firmly established as one of the leading forums for analysis in Spain’s nautical-port sector. Under the theme “The past guides us, the future drives us,” the gathering will once again bring together institutional leaders, port managers, legal experts, and industry representatives to discuss the main challenges and future directions for marinas and recreational ports.

The opening session will begin with a keynote by Gustavo Santana Hernández, President of Puertos del Estado, focusing on the need to move toward a more stable, competitive, and sustainable framework for recreational boating in Spain. This will be followed by Javier Sanz Fernández, President of the Balearic Port Authority, who will address business models in the management of marinas and yacht clubs through the “Landlord Port” model, considering the various management approaches in the sector.

The May 28th program will also place strong emphasis on sustainability and the operational framework of nautical-sport activities. In this segment, Pedro García Navarro, Director of Operations at Puertos del Estado, will analyze the T0 fee as a maritime signaling service and its alignment with the actual activity of each port. Meanwhile, Fernando Magdaleno Mas, Deputy Director General for Terrestrial and Marine Biodiversity at the Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, will present on the impacts of recreational boating on marine ecosystems and outline best environmental management practices.

Another major focus of the Symposium will be the legal and concession framework governing marinas. Speakers in this section include José Antonio Morillo Velarde, Head of Legal Services at Puertos del Estado, who will discuss the distribution of powers derived from the Constitution and the Ports and Merchant Marine Act; Juan Carlos Verdeal Pinto, Secretary General of the Port Authority of Bilbao, who will analyze the proposed amendments to the State Ports Law and parliamentary proposals regarding concessions; and Juan Ramón García Notario, Managing Partner at GNGH Abogados, who will address the legal keys to marina acquisitions and structuring safe and attractive investment operations. Jesús Andreo Asunción, Director of the Public Sector Advisory Department at GNL Russell Bedford, will also contribute with a presentation on sizing and financial balance in concession agreements.

The afternoon of the first day will focus on port-city relations and the role of these projects as tools to integrate marinas into the urban fabric, improve accessibility, and enhance sustainability. This segment will include a presentation on the Port-City Integration Master Plan of the Balearic Port Authority by Javier Sanz Fernández, as well as a panel featuring senior representatives from several Spanish port authorities, including A Coruña, Valencia, Seville, Las Palmas, Almería, Bilbao, and Santander.

The May 29th session will begin with a keynote by Ana Núñez Velasco, Director General of the Merchant Marine, focusing on the development of regulatory frameworks for boating in Spain and their adaptation to the sector’s current realities. The Symposium will then examine the application of new technologies to marina management, with special emphasis on operational and administrative efficiency, digitalization, and smart port security through satellite technology. Participants in this session include Benjamin Robles Pomar, CEO of Easypier Marina Software; Rufino Selva Guerrero, Corporate Director of Grupo ATU; and Maura Massana, Director of Relations and Government Affairs at Pole Star Space Applications Ltd.

The program will continue with a presentation on effectiveness and efficiency in marina management in Spain, based on the coexistence of different models, from private concessions to public-private partnerships and yacht clubs. Speakers in this section include Manuel Fraga Cornide, Director of the Real Club Náutico de Palma, and Sara Blanco Monge, Partner at Ocean Capital Partners and Head of Consulting.

The final stretch of the event will focus on the management of marinas and coastal areas across Spain’s autonomous communities, offering a comparative perspective on experiences and management models. This segment will feature a keynote by Juan Manuel Lafuente, Regional Minister for the Sea, Water Cycle, and Ports of the Government of the Balearic Islands, and will bring together representatives from Murcia, Andalusia, the Valencian Community, Catalonia, Galicia, the Balearic Islands, and EKP. The aim is to share approaches that contribute to a more efficient, sustainable port system adapted to the realities of Spain’s coastline. The Symposium will conclude on May 29th with the official closing ceremony and a farewell cocktail reception.