Super Yacht Americas WPB Edition 3

Following the success of the 2nd Super Yacht Americas WPM and the Monaco and Fort Lauderdale conferences last year, we are pleased to announce the 3rd Super Yacht Americas WPM 2024 by Mare Forum, to be held on Wednesday, March 20th, 2024. The conference will take during the Palm Beach International Boat Show. [ scroll down... ]

The 3rd Super Yacht Americas 2024 WPB is organized by MareForum and supported by our leading partner, Cayman Registry.

This conference will be attended by: yacht owners, yacht builders, yacht designers, executives from the yacht, shipping and maritime industries, lawyers, flag and port states representatives, brokerage companies, key investors in yachting, bankers, consultants and entrepreneurs, classification societies, marine and yachting equipment manufacturers, financial institutions, regulators, and the media.
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There are no boring company presentations or long and predictable speeches, only dynamic and lively discussions between the panellists and audience participants.

This conference will be attended by yacht owners, yacht builders, yacht designers, executives from the yacht, shipping and maritime industries, lawyers, flag and port states representatives, brokerage companies, key investors in yachting, bankers, consultants and entrepreneurs, classification societies, marine and yachting equipment manufacturers, financial institutions, regulators, and the media.

‍‍This prestigious gathering is to exchange views, visions and valuable information on the yachting future, making this forum another imperative and meaningful event.

‍It will be inspiring, Be there, Be heard.

P R O G R A M M E

‍Tentative list of Speakers and Discussion Panellists (as of 5 February)

- Joel Walton CEO, Maritime Authority of Cayman Islands / Cayman Registry
- Erin Ackor President, International Superyacht Society
- Farouk Nefzi Chief Marketing Officer, Feadship
- Thierry Voisin President, European Committee for Professional Yachting, ECPY
- Kelly J. Gordon Captain, M/Y Andiamo II
- Barrett Wright President, Hill Robinson USA
- Robb R. Maass Partner, Alley, Maass, Rogers & Lindsay, P.A.
- Peter Southgate Regional Director, Americas & Yacht Code Specialist, Cayman Registry
- Alison Vassallo Partner, FENECH & FENECH ADVOCATES
- Nurettin Caliskan Board Member, President International Relations, Turkish Shipbuilders Association GISBIR
- Graeme Lord CEO, Fairport Yacht Support
- Michael Moore Founding Partner, Moore & Company
- Georgios Kostoulas Executive Director Mare Forum
- Corey Ranslem CEO, Dryad Global
- Bert Fowles Vice President Marketing & Sales Island Global Yachting
- Sherice Arman Partner, MAPLES GROUP
- Louis R. Montello Owner, Montello & Associates, P.A.

-Peter Brady Director General, Maritime Authority of Jamaica

08:00 
Registration

08:30 ‍

● Opening and welcome

ORGANIZER:
Georgios Kostoulas Executive Director, Mare Forum
CONFERENCE CHAIRMAN:
Joel Walton CEO, Maritime Authority of Cayman Islands / Cayman Registry

‍Introducing the conclusions from the last conference and what has been achieved to date
- ISS to develop an “Introduction to Yachting a Crew Guide”
- ISS to re-establish a committee todiscuss the jurisdictional fiscal challenges of yacht ownership
- MARE Forum to include in the 2024 WPB Conference a session on Human Factors to include crew welfare and mental health
Introducing the themes of discussions and goals of the conference. ‍

KEYNOTE SPEAKER:
Farouk Nefzi Chief Marketing Officer, FEADSHIP 
"Unchartered trends in luxury"
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08:50 
Session 1

● Global Economy, Wealth and the Super Yacht Trends
The market of (green) superyachts and the New Yachting Trends in Sight

Themes to be discussed
- Wealth Management, Global Economy, Geopolitics, tensions, inflation, and the SuperYacht world
- What is the market book outlook for (green) superyachts?  
- What are the new Owners’ expectations and yachting trends? 
- What is the future of the charter market?
- How will artificial intelligence affect the yachting industry - pros and contras
- Who are the 2050 Super yacht Pioneers and first movers? 
- What is the trend of super-yacht marinas in the era of sustainability to accommodate (green) superyachts?  
- The increased presence of top players in the hotel and cruise industry entering in the luxury yachting industry with new concepts and new buildings -threats and opportunities.
- What is the next hot destination, homeport or refit facility and what services will be expected? 
- Will we see more drones, submersibles, or helicopters? 
- Integration of yacht and villa or other assets? 
- Integration of management services, cooperation and integration of yacht, family office and service providers?

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MODERATOR:
- Joel Walton CEO, Maritime Authority of Cayman Islands / Cayman Registry
PANELLISTS:
- Erin Ackor President, International Superyacht Society
- Farouk Nefzi Chief Marketing Officer, Feadship
- Thierry Voisin President, European Committee for Professional Yachting, ECPY
- Bert Fowles Vice President Marketing & Sales Island Global Yachting
- Graeme Lord CEO, Fairport Yacht Support
- Michael Moore Founding Partner, Moore & Company
- Corey Ranslem CEO, Dryad Global
- Nurettin Caliskan Board Member, President International Relations, Turkish Shipbuilders Association GISBIR
- more panellists to be announced

10:00 
Networking Break hosted by Principal Partner The Cayman Registry

10:30  
Session 2

● The Human Factor in yachting - imperatives

What is needed to achieve crew welfare and mental health?
Why are new skills, charisma, and talent needed in the yachting industry?

Themes to be discussed
- What is needed to achieve crew welfare and mental health?
- There is a need for the creation of an introduction to yachting a crew guide.
- The image of the industry, social media threat, and training; how does the yacht cluster have one voice internationally?
- How can the yachting sector become more mature and more structured in seafarers' operation, recruiting, and training, aligning more to the shipping and cruise industry?
- Do we need new skills and expertise, plus more diversity in yachting?
- Where will they come from?
- What is the role of yachting education institutes in the era of sustainability?
- What are the trends in yacht management?

MODERATOR:  
- Peter Southgate Regional Director, Americas & Yacht Code Specialist, Cayman Registry
PANELLISTS:
- Kelly J. Gordon Captain, M/Y Andiamo II
- Graeme Lord CEO, Fairport Yacht Support
- Erin Ackor President, International Superyacht Society
- Thierry Voisin President, European Committee for Professional Yachting, ECPY

-Peter Brady Director General, Maritime Authority of Jamaica
- more panellists to be announced

11:30
Session 3

● The continuous discussion on Regulations and Fiscal issues - Imperatives

Themes to be discussed:
- There is a need to re-establish an ISS committee to discuss the jurisdictional fiscal challenges of yacht ownership. 
- How can regulations become better balanced with market realities?
- What are the new owners’ regulatory expectations and yachting trends? 
- What are the regulatory requirements of the Superyacht Pioneers and first movers? 
- Can the regulators follow the speed of the decarbonization first movers with effective regulations? 
- How can the flag states and class societies fulfil the need for better regulations?  
- Is regional regulation a bad thing in the meantime? 
- What is the future of regulations, legal issues, and financing the yachting industry? 
- Will yachts be operated differently? 
- What are the REG yacht code pros and contras? 

MODERATOR:
- Alison Vassallo Partner, FENECH & FENECH ADVOCATES
PANELLISTS:
- Erin Ackor President, International Superyacht Society
- Barrett Wright President, Hill Robinson USA
- Robb R. Maass Partner, Alley, Maass, Rogers & Lindsay, P.A.
- Thierry Voisin President, European Committee for Professional Yachting, ECPY
- Michael Moore Founding Partner, Moore & Company
- Peter Southgate Regional Director, Americas & Yacht Code Specialist, Cayman Registry
- Corey Ranslem CEO, Dryad Global
- Sherice Arman Partner, MAPLES GROUP
- Louis R. Montello Owner, Montello & Associates, P.A.
- more panellists to be announced