IEMA, a United States-based nonprofit organization, has confirmed plans to open a new headquarters in Barcelona in January 2025. This decision was approved by the IEMA Board of Directors and was driven by several overarching strategic factors:
· Barcelona is close to the EU Maritime Innovation Centre
· Close links with international regulatory bodies such as the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
· importance of the Port of Barcelona underlines its leading position in the global maritime infrastructure, making Barcelona an ideal location for IEMA to continue to grow and expand its presence in the sector.
IEMA is an industry-supported association that advocates national and international policies to promote zero emissions across the leisure, services, public transport and maritime sectors by 2050. Launched in 2023 at the Monaco Yacht Show, IEMA will continue to operate through its regional representatives on four continents and plans to establish full-time offices in the United States, the European Union, China and the South Pacific to ensure full support for its global operations.
Barcelona is a growing European hub for electric boating, and many local electric boating companies are showcasing their products to a huge audience of international sailing fans competing in the America's Cup.
第37届美洲杯官方电动游艇：De Antonio Yachts的E23
This edition of the Americas has been very keen to demonstrate its commitment to the decarbonization of all surrounding teams and infrastructure. De Antonio's new all-electric yacht 23E, launched this spring, has been chosen as the official electric boat for the 37th edition of the Cup, for setting up the track and laying out the new automatic electric track buoy.
Barcelona is a growing hub for electronic boating
The Catalan government has chosen three other local electric boat factories – electric inside, Magnis and Zephyr Boats – to be used by the Barcelona Nautical Capital Foundation during the Cup. Among them, the Magonis e-550 is also used as a general support boat.
Magonis e550
ZEN Yachts won the 2023 "Gussies Electric Boat" award for its fully automated, semi-rigid wingsail ZEN50 solar catamaran designed and built by Ayro. ZEN has just completed their first hull construction and is ready for delivery to the customer.
ZEN 50 SOLAR-POWERED CATAMARAN WITH WINGED SAILS
Read more: The world's first type of first order! Construction of a mass-produced eco-friendly catamaran with winged sails has begun
All of these companies can be found at the Vela Pier in Barcelona, the launching area for the America's Cup match and home to the Aqua superPower high-speed DC charging station. A charging station has also been installed in Puerto Lapita on the Catalan coast, forming the first section of the high-speed charging corridor.
Volta Yachts是一家总部位于巴塞罗那的经销商,自2016年以来一直专注于电动和混合动力船艇,是ZEN、Magnis、Sun Concept、Soel Yachts、La Bella Verde、NaviWatt、Vision Marine Technologies、Silenis、X-Shore和Candela的代理商。
In July of this year, the city launched a new all-electric boat that was a huge hit. It connects the popular tourist area of Las Ramblas with the beaches of Barcelona, and the Colón area is just 10 minutes from the beach and you can cross the port.
IEMA is a key player in the global industry
As another sign of the passion for electric boats, Barcelona hosted the first electric yacht show in May this year, organized by Port Olimpico in partnership with the Spain Electric Boat Association (ANBE) and IEMA.
Since its inception in September 2023, IEMA has rapidly grown to become a key player in the electric vessel industry, attracting more than 80 members worldwide. Members include top industry commercial and leisure brands, including Torqeedo-Yamaha, Honda R&D, Genevos and Navalt; Port of Barcelona, a leader in infrastructure; Kempower, a shore power solutions provider; ePropulation, a manufacturer of electric outboard motors; Powertrain manufacturer Vita Power and battery technology specialists CATL and Kreisel.
The new Barcelona headquarters will be responsible for IEMA's global agenda, with a focus on member services, project management, events and partnerships.
Adria Jover
IEMA President Adria Jover shared his excitement at the move, saying: "Barcelona is a global port and a global brand with a clear commitment to decarbonisation. We are confident that IEMA will have the best platform to reach its full potential and address its international agenda. ”
Lluís Salvadó, President of the Port of Barcelona, added: "Our commitment to the decarbonisation of maritime through these investments is very strong. The landing of IEMA in Barcelona is good news for the innovative electric ship ecosystem. ”
Jordi Valls, Fourth Deputy Mayor of the Barcelona City Council in charge of Economy, Finance, Economic Promotion and Tourism, highlighted the role of infrastructure in advancing electric boats. "We celebrate hosting global projects that make the ocean an economic engine of innovation and sustainability, reinforcing Barcelona's role as the capital of the blue economy," Valls said. ”
Ramon Agenjo, President of Barcelona Global, said: "IEMA's decision is a big step forward in the work we have carried out through our investment attraction agency, Barcelona & Partners, to make Barcelona a benchmark city for global talent and investment, mainly in the blue economy.
Looking ahead, IEMA plans to develop a dynamic agenda for 2024/25. This includes the release of the first sales market indicator in the leisure yacht segment by the end of 2024 and the first sales market indicator in the commercial segment by the second quarter of 2025. In addition, IEMA will participate in numerous industry events and initiatives aimed at promoting the electric ship industry.
At the same time, IEMA is actively expanding its membership and invites you to be a catalyst for change in the electric ship industry.