http://www.ibi-plus.com International Boat Industry | DECEMBER 2015 33
business opportunities; improving skills training;
and making sure we work closely with law-makers.
“Training is particularly important. As a group
we are able to collaborate closely with a variety
of training institutions in order to identify the
professional skills required by the marine industry
today. For example, we have discovered that one
of the most important requirements in the marine
sector anywhere in the world right now is making
sure all of your staff possess high levels of spoken and
written English.
“We also want to collaborate on government
employment initiatives in order to create quality
jobs,” says Trullás.
According to a recent study commissioned by
Barcelona’s Chamber of Commerce, there are
currently more than 300 companies linked to marine
activity within Barcelona’s metropolitan area, which
together generate a total turnover of 836m and more
than 8,000 jobs.
This report, commissioned early in 2015, was the
first-ever attempt at calculating the full value and
impact of the region’s marine sector. The study also
estimates that over the next three years local marine
companies will make business investments of around
90m, which should stimulate the regional economy
by an additional 210m, as well as creating a further
1,500 direct and
indirect jobs.
And once
the expansion
of Port Vell is
completed, the
report states,
an additional
470m will
be generated
each year,
two-thirds of which will go directly into the city’s
economy. Meanwhile, another recent study by the
Port of Barcelona adds that cruise ship activity within
Barcelona now generates around *800m for the
economy each year.
“All of this data has led us to conclude that the
marine industry in Barcelona is not only in full
recovery, but that it also has enormous potential
to generate employment and competitiveness
throughout the entire city,” says the president of the
Barcelona Clúster Nàutic, Toni Tió.
“In fact, we see two important areas opening up for
our members in the near future,” he adds. “The first
is the increased importance of charter companies,
because we currently have a new generation of people
who want to get out on the water, but who can’t yet
afford a boat outright.
“The second trend is the success of the superyacht
sector, which is very important for many of our
members, particularly those involved in repair and
refit, technical services, and marina management.
SClúster
president Toni Tió“For example, it is estimated that the annual
cost of running a 55m (180ft) yacht is somewhere
in the region of *3m, including mooring, fuel,
insurance, crew, maintenance and repairs. If that
yacht is moored in Barcelona, a substantial part of
that expenditure will go directly to the city and its
companies,” says Tió.
Many of the region’s boatbuilders have
already signed up to be part of the new marine
trade association.
“The main benefit of being a member of the
Clúster has been the networking opportunities it has
provided for us within the sector,” explains MarcThe marine
industry in
Barcelona is not
only in full recovery, but
it also has enormous
potential
to generate
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