Renato Marconi, the man who has made up his mind to create culture in his ports

But do you make money with marinas? Renato Marconi, who manages 14, smiles. “You see, in the past there was also a lot of money. I am talking about the 1970s and 1980s, when marinas were built and berths were sold for the entire duration of the concession. The gain then was immediate, of a speculative type. Today it is different, the business has evolved into commercial: moorings are rented annually or seasonally. The remunerative part is certainly lower than in the past, to that first model, but still interesting. From this point of view, however, it makes little sense to develop a single marina, while the management of several ports can have it. In short, the goal is the network ”.

An engineer from Rome, Marconi is the sole director of Marinedi, the group based in Rome that manages 14 marinas * for a total of 6,000 berths. It comes from afar. “I started with a company of the Fiat group, Impreinvest Spa, which was involved in the development of port companies and which had built, for example, the marinas of Cap d’Ail in France, of Fontvieille in Monaco, of Cala Galera … set up on his own, founding a maritime engineering company. And in 2001 I came to the management of the marinas, first in Villasimius, then in 2022 with Sviluppo Italia. Finally, in 2012 I went back to my own business: Sviluppo Italia’s port network was divided, one part for me, the other remained in Italia Navigando, which was then absorbed by Invitalia ”.

Engineer, speaking of port network, your group is now at 14. Do you plan to expand further?

“Yes, we would like to reach 20 ports, with calls also abroad”.

To be built from scratch?

“No, in all cases it is a question of interventions to improve the existing, sometimes in deterioration. It makes no sense to build from scratch, first because it would be a risk from an environmental point of view, second because the bureaucracy is such that if all goes well it would take at least 10 years to build a marina. These are too long times, which do not correspond to the commercial ones, which would justify no more than 3-4 years. Now, no one wants to evade the obligations, but in some cases the bureaucratic mountain cannot be tackled “.

A port network has the same brand, the same standards. Can there also be an economy of scale?

“Of course. From the point of view of those who manage at scale, there are purchases, know-how and the more professional and commercial aspects. For example, we have a central office that deals with the administrative and legal aspects of all ports. Also think about the presence at the boat shows: the costs are such that one port alone could not be present in many reviews, while a network of ports yes “.

And from the point of view of the yachtsman?

“In addition to the opportunities you indicated in the application, you have the possibility, by signing an annual contract, to have 13 other locations in which to land”.

Here, let’s stay with yachtsmen. Many complain that moorings in general are expensive in Italy.

“They were expensive. Over time, the rates have dropped. In the Adriatic, Italian ports have rates lower than those of Croatia, Montenegro and close to those of Greece. In the Tyrrhenian Sea we are a little more expensive than France and Spain, but not that much. Then, of course, there are special cases: if you want a mooring in Capri in August, you will face a higher expense. But you can also go to Procida, where you will go to spend less ”.

She dealt with the environmental aspect. Marinas are often disliked by environmental associations. What is your opinion?

“A marina is potentially a risk to the environment. However, it is an artificial structure that can cause damage. This is why I say that today it makes more sense to intervene on the existing, in the best possible way, with suitable studies and materials, rather than building from scratch. If a new port is not built, the problem is eliminated, right? And then, considering the existing port life, a lot can be done to respect the environment “.

Guy?

“The presence of so many boats constitutes a possible pollution problem. Visible and invisible. In our case, we try to be extremely careful in avoiding and reducing risks and to be ready to intervene in emergencies. I am thinking of spills, but also of shipbuilding activity. There are also precautions related to the replacement of marine waters and the maintenance of their cleanliness. We strongly believe in our network, in the Seabin, that if placed in the right places, where waste is concentrated with the play of winds and currents, they can be very effective. 2-3 are enough in a port. We already have them in five marinas, on 10 December we will present the two planned in Teulada, and we plan to adopt them shortly in all 14 ”.

I believe boating must take a step towards sustainability. Materials, engines. It can be done. What do you think?

“I agree. We will equip all our ports with an electric refueling station, regardless of the development of the power supplies of the boats. We must also start on the ground “.

Let’s go back to management. Is there still the private-public mix?

“Since 2016, the law does not allow the participation of public bodies. All our ports are privately run, but we still seek collaboration with municipalities, especially the smaller ones. This is because the ports are part of the territory, they belong to them and this must be for the whole year, not just in summer. I believe that the Municipalities and their inhabitants should not be guests of the ports, but that they should feel at home in them. The port is a gateway, it is the square ”.

Agora. We come to a rather atypical aspect when it comes to marinas. You have set up a cultural association, Marinedi Cultura, and organize important events and initiatives in the group’s marinas. I am thinking of the Landing of Porto San Giorgio, restoring a historic artifact used for the sale of fish in an artist’s residence, with the collaboration of the Karussel collective of Matilde Galletti. I am thinking of the literary festival “Procida tells” directed by Chiara Gamberale of which he is the main sponsor and of the festival of Marina di Villasimius, with theatrical performances and meetings with authors – there was, among others, Dori Ghezzi with her “De André ei books ”last summer -. And again, I am thinking of “Libri Naviganti” by Marina di Chiavari-Calata Ovest. I have dwelt, but the question in the end is one: is he crazy?

“I like to read, my family also thrives on culture and I want this love to be shared. I support high-level cultural initiatives because I believe they must be made available to everyone. There are places, perhaps small towns, that are thirsty for culture. And then, there are the young people, to whom it must be passed on ”.

I don’t believe in those who say that you can’t live with culture. However, young people should also be offered work.

“We have started and will start visits to our marinas for schools, also opening our cultural initiatives to students. Furthermore, for students of the Nautical Institutes, we offer alternating school-work internships. The boys are employed in the most operational part, such as that of the moorers, or in the care of boats destined for charter, or in the offices. It is a way to show them the life of a port and perhaps also to give them an idea about the future. Some of these guys stayed to work with us, today they are our employees “.

We have reached the bottom. Last question really. I saw in the organization charts of its marinas that there are some women in charge of the ports.

“We have 4 directors. In Chiavari-Calata Ovest there is Chiara Vigo, in Marina di Teulada Barbara Lai, who was the first in Italy to be so, already with Italia Navigando, and then in Marina di Balestrate there is Anna Torres and in Marina dei Presidi-Porto Hercules guides my daughter Giovanna. But we also have several moorers: the first to take on this position in Italy was Marina di Portisco, of which I was managing director “.

* The ports of Marinedi Group: Marine of Procida, Cagliari, Villasimius, Capo d’Anzio, Forio d’Ischia, Teulada, Balestrate, Porto Ercole-Marina dei Presidi, Brindisi, Vieste, Chiavari-Calata Ovest, Porto S. Giorgio, Policoro, Trapani