Marina group confirms Mediterranean expansion

Italian marina network Marinedi Group has revealed plans to expand its network to encompass 25 marinas in the Mediterranean by 2026.

The group, which has approximately 6,000 berths in 14 locations across Italy, has reported its 2022 revenues are up 25 per cent compared to 2021, with a turnover of approximately €16m.

The group has plans in hand for two new acquisitions, one in North Africa and one in the Aeolian Islands. “The ultimate goal is to reach 25 marinas in the Mediterranean by 2026,” says Renato Marconi, controlling shareholder and CEO of the Marinedi Group.

As of 31 December 2022, the Marinedi Group recorded a substantial increase in revenues, driven by demand for moorings, which grew by more than 30 per cent compared to 2021 (in which there had already been a 22 per cent increase compared to 2020). There has been a particular interest in permanent moorings, the group says.

“[In 2022,] we totalled a turnover of approximately €16m,” says Marconi. “For 2023 we expect to see around €20m, with growth of another 20 per cent.

“We have exploited the recovery of domestic demand, also recording a return to pre-Covid levels of foreign demand, and this has a greater impact on medium and/or short-term contracts, in any case less than one year.”

Marinedi Group’s total revenues in 2023 are growing by around 25 per cent compared to 2021. In particular, service revenues as well as those from fuel sales are on the increase: the group says this growth is due to an increase in the quantity sold and is only marginally affected by the increase in the cost/litre.

In addition, maintenance and dry docking revenues are increasing. The increase in revenues, in view of the cost rigidity typical of the industry, has exerted leverage on the EBITDA, which is growing twice as fast as the increase in production.

The influence of the increase in mooring and service prices in 2022 due to inflation and rising energy costs related in particular to the Russian-Ukrainian conflict had a limited impact on performance.

Marinedi Group says this success is mainly due to the increase in the occupancy rate, particularly in the group’s flagship marinas, and to the significant increase in demand already in 2021.

The 2022 annual coverage was 48 per cent of moorings. “It should be borne in mind, moreover, that this coverage is for the entire year and also includes the normally less frequented winter period,” adds Marconi. He adds: “The group’s five-year goal to 2026 is to reach 82 per cent coverage.”

The recent edition of boot Düsseldorf gave Marinedi Group the opportunity to consolidate new synergies with European partners aimed at promoting nautical tourism. One example is the agreement concluded with ADAC (Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil-Club), Europe’s largest automobile and nautical club, which has, among its goals, to promote tourism at the European level.

In October, Marinedi Group partnered with Aqua superPower to create a marine fast-charging infrastructure for its Mediterranean marinas. The installation of Aqua superPower’s fast chargers under the partnership commenced with the 638-berth Marina di Brindisi, based in the commercial port of Brindisi in southern Italy.