As thousands of superyachts set sail for the Mediterranean, stakeholders brace for the challenges and opportunities ahead

As a superyacht traces its path across the azure waters of the Mediterranean, its journey takes it through some of the most prominent cruising grounds across the world. Spanish Gibraltar, the fragrant isles of Turkey’s Gocek, and Italy’s picturesque Sardinia — a grand arc that spans an adventurous 2,000 nautical miles. Each year, this breathtaking panorama plays host to thousands of superyacht enthusiasts, peppered across its majestic coastline, having found their permanent or seasonal mooring. By the year 2035, this influx is set to increase with an estimated 3,400 new superyachts set to plough these waters. This, undeniably, is fantastic news for shipbuilders, but it shines an anticipatory light on the imminent pressures looming over the ocean, marinas, and all allied service and support networks. The Balearic Marine Cluster, certainly having had a glimpse into this seemingly intimidating future, pioneered the Mediterranean Superyacht Forum. This strategic think tank aims to congregate the industry’s leaders at the beginning of each cruising season, laying strong foundations of well-planned policy and action to tackle imminent challenges. The Mediterranean is home to high-quality marina infrastructure and experienced refit centres, crucial beacons in the voyage from Gocek to Gibraltar. These include the recognised strategic superyacht hubs of Antalya, Istanbul, Rhodes, Montenegro, Ancona, Malta, Sicily, Marseille, and Palma de Mallorca amongst others. Their strategic location, excellent connectivity and localised service facilities make them the preferred mooring for both the active and ageing fleet. However, expanding and upgrading these harbours is no easy task with numerous stakeholders looking to exert their influence. The need of the hour is to review, plan and invest in optimising the way we support the superyacht fleet. It is also essential to take into account the growth expected beyond the ten-year cycle to avoid any unwanted surprises. Superyacht associations across the region are feeling the pressure to educate stakeholders on the direct economic benefits that the superyacht industry provides. These yachts are not just the luxurious toys of the world’s ultra-rich, but they also offer significant boosts to local economies, skills development and direct employment. The Mediterranean Superyacht Forum aims to map out the future, anticipating where we need to upgrade, improve and streamline the network and capabilities of the Mediterranean’s most important playground and homeport for superyachts.