Acea, Assonautica Italiana and the Osservatorio Nazionale per la Tutela del Mare join forces to support the sustainable development of the Blue Economy

Memorandum of Understanding signed to promote innovation, water resource protection, environmental sustainability and energy efficiency in support of Italy’s maritime and port sector

 

Today, Acea, Assonautica Italiana and the Osservatorio Nazionale per la Tutela del Mare (National Observatory for the Protection of the Sea - ONTM) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to promote initiatives and projects supporting the sustainable development of Italy’s port infrastructure and marinas within the framework of national and European Blue Economy strategies. The Memorandum is intended to bring together the parties’ expertise, knowledge and institutional coordination capabilities to help protect natural resources, strengthen the resilience of coastal areas and support the sustainable modernisation of Italy’s maritime sector.

The initiative forms part of a broader effort to enhance the role of the sea as a strategic asset for Italy. In this context, Acea aims to serve as a strategic partner to Port System Authorities (Autorità di Sistema Portuale), leisure ports and marinas in developing innovative models that combine environmental sustainability, water security, energy efficiency, digitalisation and service quality.

Under the Memorandum, the parties will work together to promote the dissemination of best practices and solutions aimed at protecting water resources, managing natural resources sustainably, improving energy efficiency and reducing the environmental impact of maritime infrastructure. Particular attention will be paid to technological innovation, the effective use of data and the adoption of advanced digital tools, including smart monitoring systems and artificial intelligence applications to support the management of infrastructure, water and energy networks, and environmental processes.

The aim is to support Italian ports and marinas in their transition towards increasingly sustainable and resilient models by promoting the development of infrastructure geared towards gradual decarbonisation, the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the achievement of carbon neutrality targets through the integration of renewable energy sources, smart systems for managing energy consumption and innovative energy-efficiency solutions.

Particular emphasis will also be placed on protecting water resources by promoting circular water management models, the reuse of treated wastewater, the reduction of water losses and the adoption of advanced technologies to monitor and optimise water consumption, with the aim of making ports and marinas increasingly self-sufficient and secure from both an operational and environmental standpoint. This approach is fully consistent with the principles of the Blue Economy and with the pursuit of balanced, long-term development in coastal areas, while fostering a more harmonious relationship between ports and cities.

“The competitiveness of Italy’s boating sector increasingly depends on its ability to innovate while safeguarding the environment. This agreement marks a tangible step towards more sustainable ports and marinas that can integrate advanced technologies, energy efficiency and responsible water resource management. Assonautica Italiana firmly believes in a Blue Economy that combines economic development, protection of the marine environment and high-quality services, and the Memorandum signed today is a concrete step in this direction,” said Giovanni Acampora, President of Assonautica Italiana.

“With the Memorandum signed today, we reaffirm our commitment to supporting Italy’s ecological transition and protecting water resources,” said Pier Francesco Ragni, Co-General Manager of Acea. “Our collaboration with Assonautica Italiana and the Osservatorio Nazionale per la Tutela del Mare strengthens our commitment to the Blue Economy and the sustainable development of port and coastal infrastructure. We believe that the future of infrastructure lies in sustainability, digitalisation and efficient data management, including through the use of artificial intelligence. These are the principles that guide our work every day across the water, energy and environmental sectors.”

“The collaboration between Acea, Assonautica Italiana and ONTM marks a tangible step towards an integrated model for sustainable maritime development, combining environmental protection, innovation and sustainable growth. The Observatory is making its expertise and institutional network available to foster dialogue among institutions, Port System Authorities, operators and businesses, thereby helping to promote increasingly advanced models for managing water resources, energy and maritime infrastructure. This Memorandum demonstrates how collaboration among organisations with complementary expertise can create value for Italy’s port system and strengthen the role of the Blue Economy as a strategic driver of the country’s competitiveness and sustainability,” said Roberto Minerdo, President of the Osservatorio Nazionale per la Tutela del Mare.