AENIB presents the nautical sector awards at the XVII Gala del Mar

02 April 2025 | Administrator | Noticias

The Association of Nautical Companies of the Balearic Islands (AENIB) held the 17th edition of the Gala del Mar and Nautical Sector Awards Ceremony at the Palma Centre Port (Institutional Building of the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands). This ceremony brought together more than 100 people, including the most prominent figures in the nautical sector, the top brass of the Balearic nautical association, and a representative body of authorities, including the Regional Minister for Business, Employment, and Energy, Alejandro Sáenz de San Pedro; the manager of Ports IB, Francisco José Villalonga; and the president of the Balearic Port Authority, Javier Sanz, among many others.

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As a representative of the host entity, Sanz opened the event, which he described as "a celebration of the excellence, commitment and passion of those who defend and promote nautical sports in our Islands, highlighting the efforts of the companies, entities and professionals who make the sector grow day by day." During his speech, he emphasized that "AENIB is the oldest nautical association with the largest membership in the Islands, recently strengthened by its closer ties to the Spanish association ANEN, which allows it to combine a Balearic vision with a national and European strategy." At this point, Jaume Vaquer, president of AENIB, took the floor and thanked everyone present for their dedication and unity in support of the sector. He also emphasized that "a new era is opening for our association with the addition of vice-presidencies in Menorca, Ibiza, and Formentera." With this event, preceded by the entity's Annual General Assembly and followed by its Annual Dinner, the Balearic nautical association annually shows its recognition to all those entities committed to the nautical development of the Islands. Thus, the XVII Nautical Sector Awards have been awarded to the following entities:

-"Loyalty and permanence in AENIB", in recognition of a member company for its track record and commitment to the Balearic nautical association: PSB Marine Service, an entity with more than two decades of history that offers a wide range of services for boats and yachts in the Balearic Islands, including yacht reconditioning, boat storage, boat maintenance and care, and specialized services for auxiliary boats.

-"Collaborating entity with the nautical sector in 2025", for an organization that has made a special contribution to the development of nautical sports in the Balearic Islands: Centre de la Mar, located in Mahon and recognized as a National Reference Center for Nautical Sports. Its role has national reach, as it leads the creation and development of teaching materials and training tools from the Balearic Islands that can be replicated in other educational centers in the country. The award was received by the center's director, Joan Laureà Florit, who spoke to emphasize that "the Centre de la Mar is a consolidated training space as an integrated vocational training center that works to ensure that our training not only responds to the needs of the Islands, but also serves as a model for the entire country, with the mission of training the next generations of professionals in the sector."

- "Outstanding Professional Career", which recognizes the excellence and dedication of a company in the sector: Náutica Viamar, with more than 35 years of experience in the nautical sports sector in Ibiza and Formentera and specialized in offering a comprehensive service to both owners and professionals, and noted for its commitment to sustainability and the environment.

During the evening, a special tribute was also paid to the recently deceased Tomás Garrido, a key historical figure in the founding of AENIB four years ago. decades. In the early 1980s, while he was vice president of the Chamber of Commerce of Mallorca, he met a very young Margarita Dahlberg, in whom he immediately appreciated leadership qualities and convinced her to found the Association of Nautical Companies of the Balearic Islands, which is currently the employers' association of the Balearic nautical sector.

An award was also presented to Pilar Muel, AENIB's secretary for years and a much-loved figure within the organization and the sector, who is retiring soon."I want to thank all the member companies and my presidents, Jaume and Margarita. You are a great family, and I hope you continue working as well as you have done so far," she said after receiving her plaque from Vaquer.

The event was closed by the Regional Minister for Business, Employment, and Energy, Alejandro Sáenz de San Pedro, who highlighted "the importance of the nautical industry in the Balearic Islands" and emphasized "the Government's firm commitment to a sector that has numerous companies dedicated to recreational boating and that generates a lot of quality employment in the Balearic Islands." On the other hand, he acknowledged "the lack of qualified labor in many sectors, including one as key as nautical, which highlights the importance of collaboration between the public and private sectors to promote training through initiatives such as the Centre de la Mar." He also highlighted the growth this year of the Palma International Boat Show, "an event that places the Balearic Islands at the epicenter of international nautical sport and demonstrates the global importance of our nautical sector, which is a priority for the Government," he stated.

The evening brought together leading figures in the nautical sector, along with authorities and business representatives, in a relaxed, networking atmosphere where experiences were shared and ties within the Balearic nautical community were strengthened. Furthermore, this meeting highlights the economic and social importance of nautical sport in the Balearic Islands.