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One of the most exciting events in the yachting world that took place recently was the ICOMIA & IFBSO Congress 2026, held in Washington, D.C, between 24- 28 May.
The event brought together marine industry associations, boat show organizers, marina operators and industry leaders from around the world to discuss the future of recreational boating and the global yachting sector. As ICOMIA celebrated its 60th anniversary, the Congress provided a valuable platform for collaboration, knowledge-sharing and strategic discussion on the issues shaping the industry today and tomorrow.
Bulgaria had a sole representative attending the Congress, bringing a valuable participation in the event. Acting on behalf of both Sirius Maritime Group and The Bulgarian Yachting Association, Svilen Vodenicharov helped ensure that the interests and perspectives of the Bulgarian yachting community were represented within the broader international dialogue.
The programme was focused on key areas like industry growth, market intelligence, technological innovation, international boat shows impact, sustainability and blue economy, superyachts and large yachts standards updates. Throughout the week all participants reflected and exchanged ideas on how the industry can keep up to date with the rapidly changing world and needs of the market.
Dr. Shawn DuBravac’s Strategic Outlook on the economic drivers influencing recreational boating worldwide set the tone, followed by a sharp look at the future of the North American market and a panel with the region’s leading boat builders on where the industry is steering next.
On the regulatory side, the Technical Committee reviewed the ongoing RCD Evaluation Study and the third edition of the RCD Application Guide, along with market surveillance and notified body updates. For an EU member state like Bulgaria, staying close to how the Recreational Craft Directive evolves is not optional, it shapes how every craft is placed on our market.
The Superyacht Division was equally relevant to our management work. The publication of ISO TS 23099:2026, a framework to assess yachts over 30 meters on their environmental performance, the IMO work towards a legally binding biofouling framework, and the discussions on Posidonia and mooring restrictions all point to one direction of travel. Standards for large yachts are tightened, and they should apply consistently regardless of region. It is in this context that the idea of a unified Large Yacht Code keeps surfacing, a single internationally recognized framework that could bring coherence to the patchwork of flag, class and regional rules the sector navigates every day. Whether or not consensus forms around it, the conversation itself reflects a clear appetite for more clarity and a level playing field.
Sustainability ran through the whole week, anchored by Life Cycle Assessment. The Global LCA Project and the Blue Boat Horizon LCA methodology were front and centered, alongside the joint “From Competition to Collaboration” session with 11th Hour Racing on how the industry can work together rather than compete on ocean health. LCA is fast becoming the language in which the future of our sector will be measured.
The “New Technology” discussions on their impact on associations and their members, together with insights brought back from CES, were a reminder of how quickly the tools of our trade are changing.
What comes next
The “Waves of Change: Attracting Talent to the Marine Industry” on the programme was a reminder that 75% of the global workforce will be Millennial or Gen Z within a decade. That lands hard for Bulgaria and the wider Black Sea region, where bringing young people into yachting careers is a challenge we feel acutely. This is precisely why we are building a dedicated yachting academy. We are convinced that the future of our sector depends on training the next generation to professional, international standards, and we intend for Bulgaria and the Black Sea to produce crew and yachting professionals the rest of the world wants to hire.
On the market intelligence side, the BYA has been asked to deliver a full market report on recreational boating in Bulgaria and the wider Black Sea. We are collecting and analysing the data now, and it will feed directly into our first State of Bulgarian Yachting report.
I left Washington with a clear conviction. Bulgaria has the potential, the resources and the people to become a meaningful player in international yachting. Events like this show that collaboration and active participation are how we get there.
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