4 | WATERLINE March 2025 WELCOME TO OUR NEW LOOK WATERLINE MAGAZINE CEO UPDATE After a lovely summer break for the MIA team, it has been a busy & productive start to the year as I hope it has been for you too!! We have had so many announcements to share with you and trust you caught them all along the way. The major initiative to kick off the year is of course our new Marine Sustainability Pledge (MSP) which replaces the Pledge to Eliminate Single Use Plastics which was due to conclude in 2025. The MSP is a broader, deeper commitment to the environment and sustainability and contained in seven core principles which businesses agree to be held to account by making the Pledge public. Read more about it on page 8, and when you’re done, sign up on the website! It is time to recognise and thank two more industry businesses that have stepped up to support the industry through MIA Sponsorship. Global builder of pontoons and gangways, Poralu Marine has committed to Silver sponsorship. Poralu’s strong environmental values align well with the MIA and our environmental programs such as Clean Marina, Fish Friendly Marinas, Climate Ready and the new Marine Sustainability Pledge. Part of the French owned Wearth Group, Poralu Marine has a close association with the MIA’s Clean Tech Partner the Searial Cleaners which provides hightech environmental management solutions including marine waste collectors and silt management curtains. Also joining as Bronze Sponsors is marine industry insurance specialist broker Network Marine Insurance. You can read more about each of these sponsors on pages 1516 and find them in the Marina Supplier Directory. The financial contributions and support of sponsors enables the MIA to invest in creating and sustaining the broad array of programs and initiatives that it does without further financial impost on members. Please show your recognition of their commitment by considering their businesses when you make your next acquisition. The Marinas26 Exhibitor Prospectus has been released to MIA members. This will be the largest exhibition we will have hosted, and I am delighted to report that at the time of writing, 75% of the exhibition space has already been reserved. On 2 May the Exhibitor Prospectus will be released to non-members and it is expected that all space will be sold be the end of the year. Delegate registrations will open one year from the conference opening on 25 May. Keep your eye out for more. The 2025 Nautilus Marine Insurance Marina of the Year Award submissions have now closed, and I congratulate all who have entered. I am particularly keen to see who will take out our new award categories Woman of the Year and Emerging Talent. The Awards event will be held at the Middle Harbour Skiff Club on Tuesday 6 May, if you haven’t booked, there are a few places left, so call Silvia quickly. So far this year we have hosted four Regional Member Meetings, kicking off in Perth hosted by Rick Coates GM Royal Perth Yacht Club, around 20 members joined me and our good friend Sheryl Waterline is one of the few remaining dedicated marina publications. We are very proud that it is so highly regarded as a source of marina industry news, information and products. In recent years our strategy has been to focus the content on features and provide more technical and news relevant articles. We have increased the size of the publication, its distribution and the advertising content. Advertising is important as it not only helps to fund the production of the magazine but is a great source of information on products and services for our industry. In fact, in a recent survey, 95% of members report using Waterline as a valuable source for suppliers and new products. The hardcopy Marina Supplier Directory will continue to be produced for the time being, as well as being available online as a dynamic, searchable tool for marina operators to source products. Waterline is produced in digital and printed format, the later a benefit of membership. Should you wish to add others to Swarbrick, President of BIA WA for comprehensive updates from our members and guests. Thank you for Shelley Grice and the team from Department of Transport for a great presentation outlining the government’s development plans. There is a lot going on in WA! This meeting was hotly followed by our International Members Meeting, held virtually, but reliably one of our most well attended and informative member meetings. Then it was on to Melbourne and thanks to Phil Hall and his team at Royal Brighton Yacht Club who hosted the MIA board meeting in the earlier part of the day, before we were joined by our local Victorian members for the meeting which followed. We always get such great support from Victorian members, Steve Walker at BIAV and from the local marine agencies who provide such informative updates for us. Our final meeting for the quarter was our Sydney Northern Beaches meeting, held at my old stomping ground, the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club. Thanks to GM Jon Harkness and our local CMM Kylie Brown for hosting. Many of our sponsors travel to attend these meetings and I thank them all for their support. Prior to our member meetings kicking off, I visited Thailand to conduct five audits, a combination of Gold Anchor and Clean Marina. This was a trip that was to take place at this time last year, however, had to be postponed due to our staffing challenges at the time. I was fortunate to visit seven members’ facilities, receiving full site tours and meeting many in person for the first time as well as a few other relevant marina related sites. I enjoy visiting our members’ facilities as this helps me to better understand how we can support members individually. Thank you to everyone who took time to welcome me to their marinas and spend time introducing me to your facilities. In April I will head to Singapore for the South East Asian Yachting Conference and the Singapore Yachting Festival where 8 members will join me on a group stand. This is the first time that landside exhibition space will return to the show since the pandemic. I look forward to reporting back to you how that event is evolving. Tropical Cyclone Alfred had all in his path on high alert and caused sleepless nights for many. It was encouraging to hear from our marinas and insurers that damage and claims were limited. I know that many of you spent long days in the lead up working with boat owners, tenants and staff to secure your sites and put emergency weather plans in place. Outcomes like this don’t happen by accident and congratulations to you all. I told you it was a busy start! I am looking forward to seeing you all during the year and wish you all the best for 2025. PS. Close to 40 people have now completed our new online, anytime Work Health Safety Course since its launch on 7 December. It is a concise, yet comprehensive marina tailored course which we recommend all your staff complete. You can register and start the course anytime on the MIA website. the distribution list or add to the current number of mailed copies you receive to your business, please contact: waterline@marinas.net.au We will soon release a survey to help us to continue to improve this publication and ensure it remains useful, relevant and thought provoking and I ask that you spare the five minutes it will take to complete it. In the meantime, we are always open to feedback, suggestions and of course content submissions. Please keep in mind that we maintain strict editorial protocols to ensure the ongoing integrity of the publication. A big thanks to all our readers, contributors and advertisers. We look forward to continuing to bring you a quality read! Suzanne Davies, Waterline Editor March 2025
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