At the sixth Monaco Smart & Sustainable Marina Rendezvous, organised by M3 Monaco, five international destinations were awarded the M3 Monaco Smart & Sustainable Standard S3 Label in recognition of their commitment to sustainability, operational excellence, customer experience and innovation.
The awards, held at the Monaco Yacht Show 2026, come at a crucial shift in the industry, where environmental, technological and operational factors increasingly redefine standards in the yachting sector; sustainability is emerging as a key issue for marinas and nautical destinations.
M3 Monaco is a consultancy specialised in the development and management of marinas, yacht clubs and nautical centres. They aim to ensure the evolution of the industry is not limited to adopting green technologies or reducing the environmental footprint, but to developing a more holistic vision that covers infrastructure, operations, management, environmental performance and quality of the destination.
The Monaco Smart & Sustainable Standard S3 Label supports this goal by assessing those who are working to transition towards best practices in sustainability and all-round excellence.
“The S3 Label is an essential asset to becoming affiliated with La Belle Classe Destinations by Yacht Club de Monaco,” explains José Marco Casellini, CEO of M3 Monaco.
“We support every project and ensure they meet specific criteria covering sustainability, the environment, experience, and operational skills and procedures. By basing it on existing certifications and labels, the S3 Label offers a comprehensive approach to assessing the performance and quality of a destination”.
The process is split into three key phases:
- Diagnostic: based on a document review
- Validation and optimisation: including an on-site assessment and development of a structured action plan
- Recognition and sharing: to acknowledge the level achieved, knowledge sharing and continuous improvement.
The destinations awarded in Monaco illustrate how principles can be integrated on four levels: Horizon, Regatta, Flagship and Sovereign.
Regatta level
The Jeddah Yacht Club & Marina in Saudi Arabia is recognised for its commitment to local communities and marine environmental protection. This facility develops programmes to introduce children to sailing, while sea turtle conservation initiatives help preserve biodiversity within the marina. Its Yacht Club has become a new landmark on the Jeddah skyline, while the marina is now established as an international gateway for yachts sailing in the Red Sea.
Flagship level
The Port of Saint-Florent in Corsica has been awarded the Flagship Level S3 Label. Located in a remarkably well-preserved natural setting, the marina stands out for the quality of its operations and long-standing commitment to keep on improving. Several projects are currently underway to continue this evolution and further raise standards. Saint-Florent exemplifies the importance of a long-term vision and commitment to progressing a destination, regardless of its size or resources.
Sovereign level
The Sovereign Level was awarded to three destinations where their projects demonstrate a clear commitment to development and responsible management.
At Ayla Marina in Aqaba, Jordan, vision, engineering, and environmental responsibility were built into the design in tandem. The project has transformed a naturally constrained coastline to create a new environment that includes two lagoons, beaches and an international marina. At the same time, Ayla also focused on preserving the marine environment and creating new habitats that promote coral growth and biodiversity.
Meanwhile, on the Saudi Red Sea coast, the AMAALA Yacht Club exemplifies a new generation of boating destinations, one where architecture, nature, operational excellence and environmental responsibility are integrated at the design stage. The project, which includes contributions from Foster + Partners, HKS and M3 Monaco among others, combines a yacht club, marina and sailing school in a development designed to preserve its marine ecosystems. Initiatives to protect coral reefs and biodiversity include a fleet of fully decarbonised boats and other watercraft.
Founded in 1953 and under the leadership of its president HSH Prince Albert II since 1984, the Yacht Club de Monaco also received the Sovereign Level S3 Label. The Monegasque Club’s approach to its development combines yachting excellence, knowledge sharing, innovation and environmental responsibility in line with its signature 'Art de Vivre la Mer' philosophy and contribution to positioning Monaco as the ‘Capital of Advanced Yachting’.
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