April 2026 WATERLINE | 13 MARINAS26 INVEST GOLD COAST PARTNERS WITH MARINAS26 TO SUPPORT DELEGATE ACCESS TO SANCTUARY COVE INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW SMART INNOVATORS & START-UP SHOWCASE Five forward-thinking companies will take the stage at the Smart Innovators and Start-Up Showcase on Tuesday 26 May, as part of the Marinas26 conference at Royal Pines Resort on the Gold Coast. Here’s a preview of who to watch. HARBR - AI-POWERED MARINA MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE Queensland-based start-up Harbr has built a marina management platform with AI at its core from day one, rather than bolted on as an afterthought. Described by its developer as a ‘marina manager copilot’, Harbr’s AI layer assists staff with administrative tasks, customer communications and operational insights. The platform covers berth and vessel management, invoicing, payments and data tracking in a single unified interface. Built in partnership with Australian marina managers, Harbr is currently onboarding its first Queensland marinas ahead of a go-live in April 2026. The company also donates 1% of all subscription revenue to environmental charities. REEFFLOAT THE FOAM-FREE, RECYCLABLE CONCRETE MARINA FLOAT This UK start-up, founded by Toby Budd, who also invented the ScaffFloat pontoon system — has developed a marina float using ultra-low-density foamed concrete for buoyancy, encased in a highstrength engineered concrete skin. The result is stronger and longerlasting than EPS foam floats, fully inert in the marine environment and 100% recyclable at end of life. Unlike conventional floats, which are classified as hazardous waste in the UK, a spent ReefFloat can simply be crushed and repurposed as aggregate. Full concrete pontoons for leisure and commercial use are available from 2026. SOUTHERN SKY AI STRUCTURED AI ADOPTION FOR MARITIME LEADERS Founded in October 2024 by Kristina Agustin — a lawyer, superyacht management veteran and 2026 ATSE Elevate Scholar — Southern Sky AI offers marina and maritime operators a structured pathway to responsible AI adoption. Rather than selling software, the practice assesses an organisation’s needs and the opportunity for The Marinas26 International Conference and Trade Exhibition (Marinas26) welcomes Invest Gold Coast as an event partner, reinforcing the Gold Coast’s position as Australia’s leading destination for the marine and marina industry. Invest Gold Coast will support a scheduled shuttle service for Marinas26 delegates between the Marinas26 venue, Royal Pines Resort and the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show (SCIBS) on Friday 22 May, Saturday 23 May and Sunday 24 May 2026. The Invest Gold Coast SCIBS Shuttle will enable delegates to conveniently experience one of the world’s premier marine events ahead of attending Marinas26. Mark Girard, Invest Gold Coast Chief Executive, said the partnership reflected the organisation’s commitment to supporting Gold Coast marina businesses and high-value industry events like Marinas26 and the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show that align with the city’s economic strengths and its key sectors. “The Gold Coast is Australia’s fastest growing city and home to the nation’s largest concentration of marine businesses,” Mr Girard said. “Partnering with Marinas26 and facilitating delegate access to the boat show allows us to showcase the depth, capability and global relevance of our marine sector and support what is a $1.2 billion and Ai integration and guides it through a sequenced framework: a Compass AI Blueprint readiness assessment, ongoing Navigator guidance, and a Command execution layer that builds purpose-built internal tools under human-in-the-loop principles. With no equivalent practice currently operating in the Australian marina sector, Southern Sky AI aims to prevent the governance gaps and tool sprawl that can emerge from unguided AI implementation. METARINA PREDICTIVE RISK INTELLIGENCE FOR MARINA OPERATIONS What happens when a vessel arrives with an insurance certificate that doesn’t cover its actual length? Usually, nobody finds out until after the incident. Metarina’s Predictive Risk Intelligence Engine changes that. The AI system reads vessel documentation — insurance certificates, maintenance logs, customs declarations — in any language or format, extracts structured compliance data and flags risk indicators before a vessel even arrives. Named Scale-up of the Year at the Smart Marina Rendezvous Monaco 2025 and backed by EU and German Federal research funding, Metarina is already operational across the Balearics, Sardinia and Indonesia. The company is now targeting the Australian market as its next expansion horizon. MARINE FUTURES - AUSTRALIA’S MARINE INDUSTRY JOBS PLATFORM Finding the right people is one of the biggest challenges facing the marine industry — and Marine Futures was built to solve it. The Australian-developed platform connects job seekers, employers, recruiters and migration specialists across the marine sector, streamlining the search for skilled talent in a specialised industry. Job seekers can upload their resume and let the platform’s matching technology surface relevant opportunities across an ecosystem of marine industry job boards, while employers gain access to targeted recruitment and talent search tools. Part of the Work Intiatives ecosystem, Marine Futures is purpose-built for the sector, replacing generic job boards with a channel designed specifically for marine trades, maritime operations, boatbuilding and beyond. The Smart Innovators and Start-Up Showcase takes place on Tuesday 26 May. For full program details and registration visit marinas26.com growing industry for the Gold Coast.” Invest Gold Coast is the City of Gold Coast’s dedicated investment and economic development agency, established to facilitate growth and attract investment into the city across key sectors, including marine, advanced manufacturing, and tourism. The Gold Coast’s marine industry includes more than 500 businesses employing over 5,000 skilled trades, many of which are based at marinas, rely on marina infrastructure to operate, or use marinas as platforms to showcase products and services to domestic and international markets. MIA CEO Suzanne Davies said the partnership would significantly enhance the delegate experience. “The proximity of Marinas26 to the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show is a unique advantage,” Ms Davies said. “Having Invest Gold Coast support a dedicated shuttle service makes it easier for delegates to engage with the broader marine industry while they’re on the Gold Coast. Marinas26 is about connecting, educating and informing the industry, and this partnership helps deliver that in a very practical way.” Marinas26 delegates are encouraged to arrive early, visit SCIBS and enjoy the Gold Coast. The Marinas26 conference accommodation rate at the Royal Pines Resort is available from Thursday, 21 May. Book your accommodation directly at marinas26.com ROYAL PINES RESORT ›› SCIBS SCIBS ›› ROYAL PINES RESORT SCIBS SHUTTLE Depart Royal Pines Arrive SCIBS Depart SCIBS Arrive Royal Pines Friday 22nd May 1st Shuttle 8:00am 9:00am 9:30am (returns empty) 10:30am 2nd Shuttle 11:00am 12:30pm 1:00pm 2:30pm 3rd Shuttle 3:00pm (leaves empty) 4:30pm 5:00pm 6:30pm Saturday 23rd May 1st Shuttle 8:00am 9:00am 9:30am (returns empty) 10:30am 2nd Shuttle 11:00am 12:30pm 1:00pm 2:30pm 3rd Shuttle 3:00pm (leaves empty) 4:30pm 5:00pm 6:30pm Sunday 24th May 1st Shuttle 8:00am 9:00am 9:30am (returns empty) 10:30am 2nd Shuttle 11:00am 12:30pm 3:00pm 4:30pm
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