First day comes to a close for Amsterdam’s Metstrade Show

The opening day for the METSTRADE Show (Marine Equipment Trade Show) – the most important international show in the world for those operating in the field of leisure boating components and accessories -, taking place in Amsterdam until 15th November.

Opening the traditional Breakfast Briefing, with a focus on the importance of innovation in product development and production transformation, was the President of ICOMIA (the International Council of Marine Industry Associations) and Vice President of UCINA (the Italian Marine Industry Association), Andrea Razeto, who illustrated the market data contained in the ICOMIA Statistics Book.

This was followed by jury president Birgit Schnaase handing the 2018 DAME Award to Triskel Marine Integrel. A distinctly impressive number of Italian businesses also received special mention, demonstrating the leading role upheld by the Italian leisure boating industry on the world stage.

On the same day, the 70 Italian businesses taking part in the delegation organised by the Italian Trade Agency with the support of UCINA, on display in the Italian Pavilion and in the SuperYacht Pavilion, were treated with an official visit from the Italian Embassy to The Hague, represented by Silvia Principi-Trade Office.

Silvia Principi, accompanied by Fabrizio Di Clemente, Director of the Brussels branch of the Italian Trade Agency, was welcomed by the President of UCINA, Carla Demaria alongside Marina Stella, Director General, who underlined the importance of UCINA and the Italian Trade Agency’s cooperation in view of promoting the Made in Italy brand overseas.

The day came to an end at the National Maritime Museum di Amsterdam, where the 2018 edition of the Boat Builder Awards took place, organised by the magazine IBI and by Metstrade. The Boat Builder Awards, now having reached their fourth edition, recognise individual and team achievements within boat building businesses in ten different categories, each focused on a particular business area.

For the second year running, UCINA, the Italian Marine Industry Association, has sponsored the Environmental Initiative award. This year’s winner was Barbara Amerio from Amer Yachts with the Amer 94: the sustainable superyacht. “I am honoured to be able to award this prize to an Italian company” – stated Carla Demaria – “this just goes to show, yet again, the value and excellence of our Country’s leisure boating scene”.

“Right from the start, the Amer 94 was built with the goal of minimising its impact on the environment” – explained Barbara Amerio – “this is why we are so pleased to have earned such a significant acknowledgement for what we have accomplished”. Among the superyacht’s key characteristics, along with the motorisation choice (the first yacht to run on two Volvo Penta IPS 1350 motors), are the variable speed generators, the use of cork instead of teak for the deck and a particular adhesive film instead of the traditional antifouling paint which, by lasting 4-5 years, means avoiding annual treatment costs.

Other Boat Builder Awards 2018 winners included: Princess Yacht, Brig, Hanse Group, Prestige and Sunskeer for their collaboration with Lewmar, Ferretti Group, Galeon, NZ Marine, Dan Blox and Absolute Yachts.