With a full room and an engaged audience, ICOMIA’s 1st International Hybrid Marine Propulsion Conference turned out to be a success as it preceded METS on Monday at the Amsterdam RAI.

“ICOMIA is very pleased to be leading this conference, said Tony Rice, ICOMIA Secretary General. “We are delighted about the turnout and the support we have from Amsterdam RAI with a superb setting of the Emerald Lounge.”

The conference, which drew heavily on new information from the EU-funded HYMAR project, reviewed the technical issues surrounding the design and implementation of marine hybrids and provided objective data on their advantages and disadvantages.

“Today’s conference has allowed us to pass onto the industry much of the detailed information to be discovered in the HYMAR project which has been running now for nearly three years,” said Mr Rice.

The day-long conference was opened with a speech on the future of the marine industry held by Lorenzo Selva, president of ICOMIA. He spoke about the importance of the HYMAR project, concluding that marine companies will benefit from the findings and that “the knowledge will flow down to the remaining industry”.

Mr Selva’s opening speech was followed by expert speakers from the European Commission, Mastervolt, Enersys, Steyr Motors, J&J Marine, Homewood Products, Bruntons, INSEAN, Triskel Marine and ICOMIA.

HYMAR Project Manager Ken Wittamore said:

“I am thrilled about the turnout and the response we have had from the audience. The attendees have participated and seem very interested. What we are doing [in the HYMAR project] is clearly of value and interest to the industry.”

ICOMIA (the International Council of Marine Industry Associations) has been the focal point of the global recreational marine industry since 1967. In liaison with our members across the world, ICOMIA presents a strong and united voice in representing the industry’s best interests when dealing with international authorities and major organisations. For further information, visit www.icomia.org