Paris show focuses on environmental protection
By IBI Magazine
The 47th Salon Nautique de Paris, which started on Saturday, expects an attendance increase of 10 per cent to 300,000 by the end of its run on December 9. Organisers have increased the size of the show to 15 kilometres of space, with 1,200 stands. About 170 of the show's 1,200 exhibitors are non-French companies. This year's show theme stresses environmental stewardship, and highlights measures by the boating industry to protect the environment. According to a story on the AFP wire service, the French boatbuilding industry says that boating activities cause only one percent of water pollution. Show organisers have set up displays stressing the importance of proper disposal of waste materials, and ways of using energy more efficiently. The Bic group also displayed a sailing dinghy made of recycled Bic Biros. Annette Roux, head of the French boatbuilding federation FIN, and the main shareholder of Groupe Beneteau, told the wire service that the industry has worked hard on techniques to destroy old fibreglass hulls, instead of having owners abandon them. "But so far we are having difficulty finding any: they are in good condition and sailors continue to use them," she said. Roux said that the French industry is generally healthy. The industry reported an 8.0 percent increase in sales of sailing yachts this year, following an 8.3 percent increase last year. Sales of motor yachts grew by 9.0 percent this year, after 9.8 percent growth in 2006. This year's total sales will be about 1.25 billion Euros. Roux added that French exports have risen nearly five-fold in 10 years. They now account for 63.0 percent of total sales. But the domestic market is facing some difficulties, including the ever-larger sizes and prices of new boats that are pricing some buyers out of the market. Buyers of new boats are also growing older, 44 years old on average. The number of new boats registered in France fell in 2006 by 3.0 percent to 21,796. The marina industry is also facing a shortage of slips and mooring spaces. Currently, there are an estimated 55,000 slip spaces. The industry is supporting efforts to create 7,000 new slips and mooring spaces by 2009, and build new facilities including so-called "dry harbours" in which boats are parked on land. The story also noted that more French boaters are buying motorboats. Motor boat licences increased by 14.0 percent this year to 110,000.
(3 December 2007)
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