THE TECHNOLOGY ISSUE - Subscribe to MIN daily news FOR THE MARINE TRADE | JANUARY 2026 | ISSUE 18 marineindustrynews.co.uk IN THIS ISSUE... Supply & demand Italian yards and shifting trends FREESaudi Arabia spotlight What does the future hold for the region? 21 The DAME effect Winner LXNAV’s next steps 174Advanced Epoxy Systems for High-Performance Boatbuilding eu.prosetepoxy.com Engineered for composite production and racing applications PRO-SET ® epoxies are developed specifi cally for demanding marine composite applications, where mechanical performance, process control and repeatability are essential. The Original Epoxy for Professional Marine Construction and Repair PROVEN PERFORMANCE. TRUSTED WORLDWIDE. For over 50 years, WEST SYSTEM® Epoxy has been the industry standard for structural bonding, repairs and maintenance in professional marine environments. eu.westsystem.com ©Spirit Yacht Regatta 17-25 JANUARY 2026 HALL 11/BOOTH A23 DISTRIBUTED BY: COME AND MEET US:EDITOR’S COMMENT marineindustrynews.co.uk | 3info@marineindustrynews.co.uk For boatbuilders, distributors, manufacturers, and all marine trade professionals. DAILY NEWSLETTER WEBSITE Read in 190+ countries Translated into 10 languages READERSHIPSOCIAL MEDIA 82% leisure marine 24,000+ followers 43% business owner/ MD/CEO Scan here for our rate cards Scan here to subscribe to our daily news 13,500+ subscribers 40% open rate 10% click through rate 90,000 + monthly page views 35,000 + unique visitors GBP Euro Next issue distributed at Palma and Dubai boat shows. Contact: mike@maa.agency or production@marineindustrynews.co.uk to book your ad space. Advertising deadline – 5th March 2026. Editorial MIN daily news, website & magazine Editor – Chantal Haines chantal@maa.agency Managing Editor – Zella Compton info@marineindustrynews.co.uk Publisher/Advertising Mike Shepherd mike@maa.agency Italy, Admarex. Tel: +39 010 5954749 info@admarex.com Design and artwork Steve Davies steve@maa.agency Units SF1-2 Endeavour Quay Mumby Road Gosport PO12 1AH UK www.marineindustrynews.co.uk © Marine Industry News Ltd (MIN) Printed by Stanbury Chameleon on Carbon Balanced Paper, endorsed by the World Land Trust 04 SUPPLY & DEMAND Italian shipyards discuss the changing trends and what’s to come 09 SHOW SPACE Petros Michelidakis, show director at boot Düsseldorf, on AI and market shifts 25 FINLAND FOCUS Which sectors are showing promise and how is the Finnish market weathering industry headwinds? 29 SAVVY SEAS Savvy Navvy’s CEO on what it takes to break into an established marketplace 17 THE DAME EFFECT How does winning the overall DAME Award change a business? MIN sits down with LXNAV 21 SAUDI ARABIA REPORT What potential does the country hold and what pitfalls must be avoided to further growth? CONTENTS The global marine industry enters 2026 with a mix of cautious optimism and hard-edged realism. While there is a sense that the market is slowly finding its footing, few illusions remain about the challenges ahead. Tariffs, shifting markets and uneven consumer demand continue to weigh decision making. Yet, marine businesses are being shaped as much by reinvention as by resilience – MIN sits down with leading stakeholders to find out what is driving their sectors (page 12). Plus, discover how DAME winner LXNAV intends to scale up its marine arm (page 17). Italian shipyards also reflect on changing supplier relationships reinvigorating their business landscape (page 4), and boot Düsseldorf show director, Petros Michelidakis (page 9) provides news on the event and new tech. And if new markets and advancing technologies are reflective of a market in recalibration rather than retreat, marine is in good hands – read the latest from Savvy Navvy (page 29) and find MIN’s reports on the leisure marine markets of Saudi Arabia (page 21) and Finland (page 25) in this issue. The MIN team wishes all our readers a prosperous 2026 and we look forward to seeing you at this year’s boat shows and events. 12 TARIFFS & TECH Leadership insights from across the industry. What will shape the sector in 2026?FEATURES Italian boatbuilders warn suppliers: the shake-up is already here The mood inside Italy’s leading boatyards is shifting. As global demand steadies and new competitors enter the marine sector, long-standing suppliers are being warned: the era of guaranteed business is over. From mass-market changes to the rising influence of innovation-driven newcomers, Italian yacht builders say the future now hinges on flexibility, global support, and a partnership mentality – not simply selling components. “The market has changed,” says Marco Valle, CEO of Azimut-Benetti Group. He’s warning suppliers to the renowned Italian builder – and other boat yards – that they need to be wary of what’s to come. “They have to consider the fact that a yard can find, and are looking for, alternatives. Suppliers cannot take themselves for granted.” Valle comes across as positive. But, as he says, when the number of boat sales decreases, margins decrease. To survive, yards will have to find alternatives in order to keep market share, and to keep sales. “Suppliers will either follow this strategy or will suffer more than the yard.” Traditional suppliers face a shifting market Other industries are in more difficulties than the yachting industry – and it won’t be long before suppliers in those start eyeing boats – and their builders. “From automotive, design and from furniture, they are already proposing alternatives,” Valle says. “Suppliers that have been working for 30 years, saying ‘nobody can touch my area because I’m protected’ need to consider it’s not really the case anymore. [Existing] suppliers [need to] try to change their mentality. In a difficult period, new competitors will come inside the industry. They are approaching all our brands.” Global service networks now a non-negotiable requirement Wherever they come from, Valle’s looking for reliability. And the gold star: “Can they provide the proper service to all of our clients?” It all comes down to the international market when a company’s selling 250+ boats worldwide per year. While he acknowledges that the scale is small compared with other industries, his clients are spread across global hotspots like Portofino, Singapore, and Acapulco, using the same components. The company must ensure that if something fails, it is promptly addressed. “In the past, we had some small suppliers but they failed because they were not able to provide the proper service.” Now service centres have been established in key regions worldwide, supported by agreements with local partners. At the same time, suppliers are expected to maintain a presence at major hubs, with the company’s support, to deliver the necessary service and maintenance. Cranchi prepares for future markets with an open-door approach In 2015, Cranchi – nestled in the Italian Alps – decided to reset “everything.” In collaboration with yacht designer Christian Grande, the company reinvented itself to offer high-quality luxury motorboats up to 25 metres. Now the company’s looking to further develop markets in Japan and Thailand while also looking at Taiwan, South Korea and Vietnam. Guido Cranchi (CEO) says he’s giving the latter markets a lot of attention “because we have to think about the future. People in Taiwan have a lot of money and they want to explore this world.” He’s open to new suppliers. “As technology is looking forward, as the world is continuously changing, the doors are completely open. “If someone approaches us, and they make something that we already have, we never say ‘no’ [to the conversation]. Price is not so important. Most important is quality.” Again, worldwide service is key. “The boat owner needs a supplier that is ready to ‘fix it’ where he is.” That affects Cranchi’s decision on which supplier to “keep for the future - or not.” Long-term partnerships prove their value Cranchi has been in partnership with Volvo Penta for many years. Filippo Lucini, production manager of plant one, says his grandfather 4 | MARINE INDUSTRY NEWS | ISSUE 18 | JANUARY 2026marineindustrynews.co.uk Supply and demand As global demand steadies and new competitors enter the marine sector, long- standing suppliers are being warned: the era of guaranteed business is over. Marco Valle, Azimut-BenettiFEATURES made “a huge trip from Lake Como to Sweden by car to buy his first engine.” On arrival at Volvo, his grandfather was mis-identified as a merchandising supplier and told to go the warehouse. That sorted, the president of Volvo upsold him - from 15 to 20 (and then 25) engines … with a respectable discount. “This is a partnership,” Lucini says of the enduring relationship. “There are tough periods, good periods, but a good partner is a good partner always. We create this because we are very serious. You have to be serious because you have 250, and in the past 400, families to feed. “If you don’t want to [be serious], don’t be Cranchi.” Collaboration between Cantieri di Pisa and Mariotti raises the bar Cantieri di Pisa and the Mariotti Group recently entered into a collaboration to build large luxury yachts. The idea is to combine Cantieri di Pisa’s expertise in luxury yacht design and quality control with Mariotti’s shipbuilding capabilities. And the expected outcome? Vessels over 70 metres – ready to compete with Dutch and German builders. Mariotti – which builds cruise liners, naval, and other commercial vessels – will harness its industrial approach and apply it to yacht building while maintaining artisanal quality. Marco Ghiglione, Mariotti’s CEO, says both companies are quite flexible. But like Cranchi he emphasises they need partners, not just suppliers, to ensure quality and reliability. He explains a platform is being created to share suppliers between projects. Cantieri di Pisa will act as an arbitrator and quality supervisor, and within that it’ll select the best suppliers for each component to maintain quality. Boatbuilders rely on trade fairs to spot emerging technologies “We’re not in a position to marineindustrynews.co.uk | 5info@marineindustrynews.co.uk Azimut-Benetti shipyard Marco Valle, Azimut-Benetti “As technology is looking forward, as the world is continuously changing, the doors are completely open. If someone approaches us, and they make something that we already have, we never say ‘no’ [to the conversation]. Price is not so important. Most important is quality.” Guido Cranchi, Cranchi Guido Cranchi, CranchiFEATURES influence the macro system or suppliers – we can’t say ‘let’s move to electric or hydrogen’ and move the industry. That’s because we’re mostly assembling components,” says Nicola Antonelli, chief marketing officer, Sacs Tecnorib. “Our approach is choosing the best suppliers with the best materials and policies. New technologies usually come down from the superyacht industry to mid-size or small boats, and we’re ready to follow these technologies immediately.” Antonelli notes that there are a lot of developments from technical creatives, who can sometimes struggle with translating their achievements into marketing. This means that Sacs Tecnorib stays really attentive to new proposals – whether that’s through people handing over their card or sending emails, “to whatever”. Listening to everyone is the only way possible to find these gems, he says. Both the company’s production and R&D teams scout the most important marine fairs. “This is normal for everyone. We had six or eight people in Metstrade for example. This is our way – listening to [conversations about] things coming from scratch, new opportunities, and being open to these kinds of people.” Younger owners drive demand for sustainable materials Balietto, an Italian shipyard with 170 years of experience, specialises in custom luxury yachts. It’s also innovating – investing heavily into hydrogen (it’s developed a hydrogen-powered system with Siemens Energy that extracts hydrogen from seawater). It markets itself on its high customisation capabilities and maintains close relationships with owners throughout the yacht’s lifecycle. Past clients include Pope Leo XIII, the Prince of Monaco, and various royalty. Right now, the company’s looking for materials to go onboard which won’t impact the environment, says Egidio Bisson, executive director. “For example, we are trying to find a different kind of wood for the floor, the exterior, instead of teak. But this depends on the owner. Owners that are below 50 years old ask to have special attention on the materials, for the environment.” Networking fuels innovation and product discovery Isabella Picco recently joined Tankoa Yachts as head of marketing and communication. The shipyard has undergone significant growth over the past couple of years – it expanded by acquiring a large area in Civitavecchia near Rome, which allows it to control the entire yacht construction process in- house. Ten yachts can now be built simultaneously with three to four yachts being delivered a year. Despite this expansion, Tankoa aims to remain a ‘boutique shipyard’ focused on quality and customer relationships. It takes a custom approach to yacht building, working with different designers to satisfy client preferences, and is committed to innovation and sustainability. Most recently it’s been testing an organic antifoul – developed by a company in Genoa – which it is then looking to roll out onto other vessels. “All of us are very focused on innovation,” says Picco, “for two reasons. One is from a technical point of view – innovation can help in building, in saving time, in saving cost, and in keeping quality very high. The second reason is that owners ask for innovation.” She cites looking for environmentally friendly outcomes and says that learning about innovations depends on attending seminars, meeting people - networking. “In this way you have ideas.” Whether it’s innovation, service reach, sustainability, or sheer reliability, Italy’s yacht builders are aligning around the same message: the future belongs to suppliers who act like partners and who can support owners anywhere in the world. As new competitors enter the market and expectations reset, only those willing to adapt will find a place on tomorrow’s boats. Isabella Picco, Tankoa Yachts Marco Ghiglione, MariottiNicola Antonelli, Sacs Tecnorib 6 | MARINE INDUSTRY NEWS | ISSUE 18 | JANUARY 2026marineindustrynews.co.uk Egidio Bisson, BagliettoBorn from artisanal engraving. Faceted surfaces interact with light, creating a distinctive, timeless effect for the most refined interiors. 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Comprehensive Protection: Covering assets, employees, and customers.FEATURES As the marine industry faces economic headwinds, shifting consumer behaviour and a new wave of technology, one question sits at the centre of every trade conversation: what role do boat shows now play? For Petros Michelidakis, show director at boot Düsseldorf the answer is clear. Trade shows aren’t fading, they are evolving, becoming more community-driven, more strategic, and more essential than ever. From the blurred lines between B2B and B2C, to the rise of AI and the return of major exhibitors, Michelidakis argues that shows remain the “living market” where the industry resets itself each year. And he very much hopes that no one has the time to read his thoughts on this during the days which boot Düsseldorf is open. “I hope that they will be involved talking with clients,” he says. Comparisons between Metstrade and boot Düsseldorf come up every year, but Michelidakis is quick to clarify the distinction. “Metstrade is a B2B show, and boot Düsseldorf is a B2C show,” he says. “We are B2B when it comes to boat dealers, for instance, when they want to come and see what’s around. But, I always say, in Mets you see all the things which make a boat at the end, but you see the boat in Düsseldorf.” The latter, he says, benefits from being a community hub — where sailors, divers, charter operators, coaches, and dealers all collide. The ‘soft closing’ events introduced in 2025 proved how important that community is. “They were running around searching for products until six o’clock,” he says, “and at six o’clock they all went to the stages for a happy hour beer or a coffee and meeting friends.” AI isn’t replacing shows – it’s making them smarter Community is precisely what’s needed when AI is reshaping everything else, from navigation to customer behaviour. “AI is part of any segment of our life so, of course, also boating,” Michelidakis says. “But in my opinion it’s supporting a show, any show, not only ours, if we put the right information on the right platforms. I don’t think that a show will be influenced by AI because as long as people are creating the shows, the shows are more and more personalised.” Ultimately, shows remain human experiences and that’s the point. “The target is always to have a personalised offer for the visitors,” he says. “The visitors in this case are the main target.” Market trends: large yachts strong, but small boats are selling too The industry has spent 12 months talking about larger yachts dominating sales, but Michelidakis believes the picture is more balanced than it seems. “Large yachts are more in favour at the moment because the part of society that can afford them is spending,” he says. Rising financial costs, geopolitical uncertainty and the behaviour of politicians have made other buyers more cautious. He expects a rebound. marineindustrynews.co.uk | 9info@marineindustrynews.co.uk boot Düsseldorf Petros Michelidakis boot Düsseldorf’s director on artificial intelligence, market shifts and the future of boating Show space As the marine industry faces economic headwinds, shifting consumer behaviour and a new wave of technology, one question sits at the centre of every trade conversation: what role do boat shows now play?Next >