Genoa FORUM26 Puts AML, Customs and Cybersecurity at Centre of Yacht Industry

The first day of FORUM26 at the Genoa International Boat Show has placed regulation and technology at the centre of the marine industry agenda. Confindustria Nautica says discussions covered the extension of European anti-money-laundering rules to recreational boating, tax and customs issues, cybersecurity and the digital transformation of the sector.

Anti-money-laundering rules are moving closer to yachting

One of the main regulatory developments discussed in Genoa is the inclusion of recreational boating within the scope of European anti-money-laundering legislation. The change has implications for yacht transactions, ownership structures, professional intermediaries and the compliance processes surrounding high-value marine assets.

For brokers, builders, managers and service companies, the practical effect is likely to be greater emphasis on customer due diligence and documentation. The industry is therefore being asked to integrate stronger financial-compliance processes without adding unnecessary friction to legitimate transactions.

Tax and customs remain central to international ownership

FORUM26 also addressed tax and customs questions that directly affect yachts moving between jurisdictions. These issues remain particularly important for internationally operated yachts, where ownership, flag, VAT status, charter activity and temporary import arrangements can intersect.

Confindustria Nautica used the forum to bring public authorities and industry representatives into the same discussion. The objective is to create rules that support enforcement while giving companies and yacht owners clearer operational guidance.

Cybersecurity is becoming an operational yacht issue

Cybersecurity was another prominent topic, reflecting the growing dependence of modern yachts on connected navigation, automation, communications and management systems. As onboard networks become more integrated, digital resilience is increasingly part of safe and reliable yacht operation.

The same trend affects shipyards and suppliers, whose design, production and service systems are also becoming more data-driven. Cybersecurity therefore spans both the yacht itself and the wider industrial network supporting it.

Innovation and competitiveness are increasingly linked

The forum also examined technological innovation and partnerships as tools for maintaining competitiveness in a more selective global market. Digitalisation, better data use and closer collaboration between marine companies and technology specialists are becoming part of the sector’s response.

FORUM26 forms part of the 66th Genoa International Boat Show, which runs through October 6. The programme demonstrates how regulation and technology are now as relevant to the future of the yacht industry as design, engineering and production capacity.

Official sources: confindustrianautica.net.