The phenomenon of electromotorization in yachting is becoming more and more common. In this regard, a survey was conducted among marina managers and port infrastructure manufacturers. The questions were asked: how did they prepare for this phenomenon now and what they plan to offer in only projected marinas.
let's consider electric boat arrival situation
The fact that in the near future there will be much more pleasure boats with electric motors, no one doubts. As well as the fact that this fact will require significant changes in the organization of operating marinas.
A survey of marina executives on this issue showed that today they do not yet see a really strong trend in the production of electric motors. So far, such engines are placed on boats as auxiliary ones. And this makes the management of the marines hesitate.
“We are monitoring this situation, we see the products entering the market,” notes the captain of the port in Piriac-sur-Mer, Jean-Charles Beguin, not hiding his irritation, “However, today you do not have a client with a main electric motor, and so far it is not even observed on the horizon".
Brieu Morin, director of Sellor, who manages the port in Lorient harbor, adds: “Of course we are being watched. The revolution is still going on in mechanical engineering. So far, this phenomenon has not been observed in the mass production of boats. Still in the experimental stage.
Nevertheless, it would be shortsighted not to pay attention to what is happening. "
The list of port needs is rather vague at the moment.
The Mobility Act, passed by the French National Assembly in June 2019, provides for an obligation for marinas with more than one hundred berths to reserve 1% berths for electric boats.
However, despite the need to take into account current trends, it is almost impossible to rebuild the structure and organization of the marinas in the shortest possible time.
Florian Cosmao, Director of AR Marina, a supplier of charging stations and electrical installations for docks, says: “There is very little demand for boat charging stations at the moment. Our clients do not care about this topic. We constantly call sales representatives, but this issue is also not touched upon. They are now more interested in boat rentals and river bases ”.
Arnaud Ricard, director of the Port of Concarneau, believes that the reflections on this issue are still at the very beginning. “We constantly monitor the changes in the needs of our customers regarding all kinds of equipment and try to satisfy them as much as possible. There are no plans to change anything yet.
Our pontoon built in 2006 has only one technical gallery, which is almost full at the moment. It is not possible to provide every electric boat with a charging station ”.
In addition, the director of Sellor, Brieu Morin, emphasizes that it is very difficult to define the infrastructure for boats that do not yet exist. Should Hydrogen and Direct Charging be preferred?
“We do not risk to determine any dimensions yet without having data on the needs. This is a big investment, and there are no experts with authority either. Although we will have something to think about in 2021, ”says Brieu Morin.
In the coming year, the managers of the marinas will need to consider the issues of changing the infrastructure and the list of services for yachtsmen.
“One of the topics of discussion is the boat recharging services we want to offer to our customers and their marketing,” adds the harbor master of Piriac-sur-Mer.
Leverage for recruiting in the yachting industry
Since the majority of the yachting clientele consists of not very young people, the electric boat can become a lever for the maritime sector.
“We are considering purchasing an electric utility boat. By becoming a user of the electric motor, the port can become its supporter, ”notes Jean-Charles Beguin.
Finally, the CEO of Sellor says: “We are all very concerned about acquiring new customers. In this matter, electric boats can be a real problem for us. On the one hand, there are regulatory obligations, and on the other, there is no pressure from users yet.
We need a proactive approach that can expand existing port cleanliness frameworks and provide a measurable green transition, for example by organizing the production of our own electricity, solar or wave energy by reusing non-potable water in a closed loop ... We need to figure out what will help us go further. "
19.11.2020
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