MONFALCONE – Monfalcone is consolidating its role as a boating hub in Friuli Venezia Giulia, with a new service centre within Coseveg and new regional support tools for the sector, alongside industrial investments already at an advanced stage.
The service centre project, presented by the Polo tecnologico Alto Adriatico, envisages the facility being set up at the headquarters of the economic development consortium. The centre will have a strategic liaison role with the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia and will be designed both as a training hub and as a reference point for the development of new business activities linked to leisure boating.
The developments emerged during the Nautical Industry Roundtable promoted by the Municipality of Monfalcone, which brought together local authorities, the Harbour Master’s Office, trade associations, operators, shipyards and sailing clubs to take stock of the supply chain’s outlook. Among the announced events is a meeting scheduled for 11 April, on the occasion of National Boating Day, organised by The European House – Ambrosetti with a multi-venue format and visits to local companies.
On incentives, the Region has strengthened support for pleasure craft refitting through the Bini Law, allocating €1 million in the stability law. In 2025 the initial resources, amounting to €260,000, had already been increased by a further €731,000 to meet the high number of applications. Applications totalled 308—299 from private individuals—with 231 projects funded, confirming a fast-growing segment.
Among the open issues, MEP Anna Maria Cisint reiterated the need to define, at ministerial level, the concept of end-of-life/disposal for small craft, to make one of the pillars of the new rules on the scrapping of abandoned boats fully applicable.
On infrastructure, the construction of a marine fuel station at Marina Monfalcone, in the area of the former Sodena site, was announced. It should become operational in time for the start of the summer season, addressing a critical issue repeatedly raised by operators.
On the industrial side, Coseveg’s general director Cesare Bulfon confirmed the launch of the Mexican group Alphayachts’ project, which will build a fully green facility in Monfalcone dedicated to producing luxury hulls for yachts up to 140 feet. In parallel, NL Comp – Northern Light Composites, a startup within the Samer Group, is completing a new plant for the production of boats in rComposite, an innovative material alternative to fibreglass. The eco-sustainable building will rise on Lot 1 of the East–West Canal and will include a production hall of around 500 square metres with attached offices. The opening is scheduled for mid-April. The “Offshore 34”, the first boat built entirely in Monfalcone, is also expected to be unveiled in spring.
Figures presented during the meeting confirm the sector’s weight along the coastline: 197.6 berths per kilometre, versus a national average of 19.6, with around 4,000 occupied moorings, 24 companies active along the East–West Canal and about 2,500 specialised jobs overall. Mayor Luca Fasan described boating as a window onto the area’s future, underlining the municipality’s commitment to supporting new manufacturing settlements, innovation, sustainability and industry events such as Promomare.
