Since 2013, the Marinedi Group has been developing and managing a growing number of marinas in the Mediterranean. The network now comprises more than 6,000 berths in 15 harbours in Italy. The newest member of the group is the marina in Salina in eastern Sicily, which joined in April. The marina has 158 berths for boats up to 40 metres in length and a maximum depth of five metres. Membership of the Marinedi Group helps the marina to invest in infrastructure. "In the short term, our goal is to expand the marina, create more berths and make it usable all year round, not just in summer," says Renato Marconi, Managing Director of the Marinedi Group. "We will also offer additional services that do not currently exist and guarantee fixed tariffs and a 24-hour reception."
Five-year plan for energy autonomy
At a press conference last September, which took place during the International Boat Show in Genoa, Marconi also presented the Group's five-year plan for autonomous energy supply with renewable energies.
The aim of the programme is to make all ports in the Marinedi network more autonomous and sustainable through the use of renewable, clean and self-generated energy sources. "The programme also aims to significantly reduce combustion pollutants, which are the main cause of poor air quality in ports. This will increase the dynamism and competitiveness of the Italian port system while reducing climate-damaging emissions," said Nino Musca of Marinedi.
The targeted measures include the generation of energy from renewable sources such as small wind turbines, as well as thermal and photovoltaic solar energy. In addition, the energy efficiency of harbour buildings and public lighting systems is to be improved and there will be an increased switch to electric means of transport. As a first step, an energy diagnosis is planned for each marina in the network: "We will carry out an analysis for each port to identify the measures that need to be taken to achieve energy autonomy across the entire network within five years, with electricity being generated from local renewable sources. In this way, we want to achieve the goals of ecological and economic sustainability," says Marconi.
