Blue Marina Awards 2026: five Sardinian facilities recognised

Sardinia’s marina sector has secured five recognitions at the Blue Marina Awards 2026, with local facilities among the 22 awarded the national quality mark. The ceremony, held at the Chamber of Deputies on 21 October, concluded the programme’s fifth edition, linking service standards, environmental performance and innovation in nautical infrastructure.

The Sardinian recipients were Marina di Puntaldia and Porto di Santa Teresa Gallura, in the recreational boating marina category; Marina di Porto Cervo, in the superyacht marina category; and Cala dei Sardi and Porto di Alghero, in the recreational boating landing facility category. Four of the five are located in Gallura, giving the area a prominent role in Sardinia’s results.

Measuring service quality and sustainability

Founded by Walter Vassallo, with ASSONAT-Confcommercio as institutional partner, the Blue Marina Awards have involved 269 facilities across five editions. Assessment covers more than 40 indicators across six areas: environment, energy and climate, innovation and digitalisation, hospitality, inclusion and accessibility, and safety and risk management. Independent verification is carried out by RINA.

The programme helps operators identify priorities and plan improvements. Participation is free, and every facility receives a performance assessment. Those exceeding the required threshold receive the quality mark, which remains valid for one year. The process therefore encourages continuous improvement as services and market expectations evolve.

Cala dei Sardi’s July discussions on the nautical transition

The national awards followed a programme that included a key gathering in Gallura. On 24 July, Cala dei Sardi hosted the fifth stage, dedicated to “Net-Zero Marinas: clean energy, sustainable marinas and marine protection”.

Biodiversity, marine protected areas, infrastructure and alternative fuels brought together operators, institutions and researchers. Discussions on biomethanol and e-fuels involved CIPNES Gallura and UniOlbia, Politecnico di Milano and Sanlorenzo Yacht, connecting scientific research with potential industrial applications in yachting.

Alongside energy issues, the programme explored port networks and technologies for improving marina management. This approach considers sustainability through decisions on infrastructure, services and ecosystem protection, supported by cooperation between businesses and coastal communities.

Biomethanol: connecting research with industrial development

This context includes the biomethanol project developed by CIPNES Gallura with Politecnico di Milano, exploring the possibility of establishing production in Sardinia using biogas and circular economy resources. The aim is to connect alternative fuel production with demand from international yachting, creating potential technological and industrial opportunities locally.

The subject had already been explored at the Sardinia Boat Show 2026, during a panel on biomethanol from household waste. Discussions addressed production potential, transport and nautical applications, together with the project’s environmental and industrial dimensions.

Taken together, the recognition of Sardinian marinas and work on alternative fuels point to complementary priorities: improving services for visiting vessels and developing industrial expertise and solutions. This outlook aligns with the Sardinian regional government’s support for the promotion and internationalisation of nautical supply chains, with the Sardinia Boat Show connecting businesses, research and markets.