First Green Innovator Award presented at MDL’s Green Tech Boat Show

The first Green Innovator Award was presented at MDL’s Green Tech Boat Show on Friday (17 June 2022) to exhibitor ePropulsion UK, by technology and motorsports presenter, Nikki Dean.

The aim of this new award, which is voted for by the public, is to shine a light on products and services, from both the start-ups and established companies exhibiting at the show, which are truly pioneering in sustainable innovation and design.

“We’re delighted to win the first Green Innovator Award, especially with the quality of product and innovation being shown by the other companies here at this year’s Green Tech Boat Show,” says Steve Bruce from ePropulsion UK, the distributor of ePropulsion’s electric marine products across the UK. “We’ve been pushing sustainable boating and electric propulsion since 2014 and we’re pleased to be recognised for our endeavours in this arena.”

Coming in a very close second was Pixii Electric Boats, showcasing its pioneering electric boats built using recycled materials. Ecomotus, with its catalytic hydrogen system designed to reduce emissions and work in harmony with existing internal combustion engines, came in third place.

Thirty per cent bigger than last year, MDL’s Green Tech Boat Show took place last week at MDL’s Queen Anne’s Battery marina in Plymouth, highlighting the boating industry’s eco-friendly products and services. With 30 exhibitors and over 600 people attending the two-day show, MDL has deemed the show a huge success in bringing together green businesses and potential buyers and boating enthusiasts keen to really understand the sustainable options available to them.

“We’re delighted with how the show is growing and becoming such an important platform for the marine industry to show how it’s innovating to help combat climate change,” says Tim Mayer, sales and marketing director at MDL.

“It’s wonderful to see the number of exhibitors increasing, and whether they’re start-ups or established businesses expanding their portfolios, they all have one thing in common – a passion to make boating more sustainable so that it can be enjoyed for years to come.”

Exhibiting at the show for the first time, RanMarine Technology, showcasing its waterborne waste collecting WasteShark, says the importance of events like the Green Tech Boat Show in making the public and wider industry aware of the progress being made, cannot be overstated.

Sales director, Darren Kirby, comments: “Given RanMarine Technology is now focusing on the UK market, it’s these types of events which are so important for us to see how the industry looks, where we fit in and what potential opportunities exist. It really is encouraging to see the level of innovation and talk to likeminded industry professionals about the benefits we can have collectively on our environments.”

Boating systems specialist, Vetus is already planning on exhibiting next year. “We felt the show was rewarding, with interest in repowers and new build projects from both trade and public,” says Richard Lythgoe, area sales manager. “We feel the marine industry is following the automotive industry in terms of green technology and feel the demand for more environmentally friendly products will only increase in the future.”

New to this year’s show was the Innovation Hub, sponsored by University of Plymouth. Throughout the two-day show, marine industry thought leaders and researchers gave a series of informative talks on research projects currently underway to safeguard the marine environment, while a selection of the eco-exhibitors explained the sustainability benefits of their products, and how they enable people to have a more environmentally friendly boating experience.

“We’ve had a great few days at The Green Tech Boat Show,” says Kate Fortnam, The Green Blue’s Campaign Manager. “It has been an ideal opportunity for us to meet with likeminded organisations and businesses, all striving for the same objective of finding greener solutions for boat users.

“It has also been a fantastic forum for us to share environmental best practice with boaters. We were also able to shine a spotlight on the exciting new sustainable products available via The Green Blue Business Directory. Here’s to Green Tech Boat Show 2023.”

Following the success of this year’s show, and the number of organisations which have already stated their intention to exhibit next year, MDL has confirmed that the Green Tech Boat Show will return to Plymouth in 2023. Companies interested in exhibiting should contact Tim Mayer here.