Full line up for The Future of Yacht Recycling Conference

With ten days to go to the first international yacht recycling conference, organisers have announced increasing global support for the event, which aims to promote discussion around the sustainable disposal of end-of-life-boats, with additional speakers added to complete a packed agenda.

Taking place in conjunction with the METSTRADE show in Amsterdam on Monday 16^th November, The Future of Yacht Recycling Conference is a dedicated one-day forum committed to addressing the economic and environmental challenges of disposal arising within the yachting industry.

Sponsored by METSTRADE, the conference is expected to attract delegates and participants from all sectors of the international leisure marine industry. It’s been organised by Peter Franklin of YachtMedia in cooperation with Quaynote Communications, in order to address increasing marine sustainability concerns.

Peter Franklin, speaking on behalf of joint organisers, Quaynote Communications said, “It’s fair to assume that there are at least 40 million leisure boats in the world, probably more as boat registration schemes vary in different nations. A large percentage of these are built from glass reinforced plastic (GRP) fibreglass, a long-life composite material. This is rapidly increasing the number of end-of-life boats (ELB’s) that result from the building boom years in the 70s and 80s when they were built in large volumes.

According to YachtMedia, recycling is now the only realistic option for disposal. Franklin continued, “These ELB’s are now approaching or exceeding 40 years of age, presenting us with an economic and environmental challenge in the marine industry: If not disposed of properly, we could see them simply abandoned, beached, or left to sink, harming our waterways, marinas and harbours.”

The International Council of Marine Industry Associations (ICOMIA) has provided the chairman for the day in the shape of Udo Kleinitz, their security general. Carla Demaria, the president of both Monte Carlo Yachts and the Italian Nautical Industry Association (UCINA) will deliver the keynote address, sharing her views on why the global yachting industry has to seriously engage in the process of responsible dismantling and recycling, and Mirna Cieniewicz, secretary general of the European Boating Industry alongside a number of other confirmed speakers will also present in order to bring varied and insightful contribution to the debate.

Delegates of The Future of Yacht Recycling Conference will be afforded an entrance pass to the METSTRADE show, which kicks off the following day at the Amsterdam RAI conference and exhibition centre on Tuesday 17^th November. Delegates will also receive a complimentary tour of the Innovative Materials Xperience display by the Materia Network a day before it officially opens.

The forum will take place within the environmentally designed Elicium facility on Monday 16^th November. Delegates can register for tickets online at ww.regonline.co.uk/RECY15.

View the full overview and agenda here, or visit Quaynote Communications for more information.