ECO Excellence Award
ECOcube Wins Two ECO Excellence Awards, Krapanj Volunteers Honoured for Underwater Clean-Up
The ECOcube floating waste collection station, developed by Marservis d.o.o., has won two prestigious honours at the ECO Excellence Awards 2026, held during the 28th Biograd Boat Show: Innovation of the Year and Best Croatian Product or Service. The Best Volunteer Environmental Initiative award went to the Krapanj-based association Krapansko Idro for ‘Operation Sponge’, an underwater clean-up initiative around the island of Krapanj.
Now in their fourth year, the ECO Excellence Awards recognise products, services and initiatives that make a meaningful contribution to protecting the sea and marine environment.
The awards are presented in three categories:
- Best Croatian Product or Service, recognising Croatian exhibitors offering environmentally sustainable products and services.
- Innovation of the Year, open to Croatian and international exhibitors introducing innovative solutions for a more sustainable boating industry.
- Best Volunteer Environmental Initiative, honouring unpaid volunteer initiatives dedicated to protecting the Adriatic Sea and coastline, raising environmental awareness and promoting sustainability.
The ceremony was opened by Milan Šangulin, Director of Biograd Boat Show, who welcomed the nominees and thanked the expert jury. He emphasised that although the ECO Excellence initiative was launched by the show, the organisers have deliberately remained independent of the judging process from the outset.
"We wanted the programme to be led independently by an expert jury whose passion lies in environmental protection. Seeing a full room today shows that we have achieved that goal," said Šangulin.
This year's 13 nominations were evaluated by a jury comprising representatives of Adria Libar, Burza Nautike, Green Sail, the Institute for Tourism and EmergenSea.
"The boating industry is growing, technology is advancing rapidly, and the pressure on our seas is becoming increasingly visible. We need new approaches to boatbuilding, energy efficiency, emissions reduction and smarter resource management. Through these awards, we want to demonstrate that environmental responsibility is not an obstacle to progress, but a new direction for the industry," said Ornela Krezić, President of Green Sail.
The awards ambassador, Šime Fantela, Croatian Olympic sailing gold medallist and multiple world championship medallist, addressed the audience in a special video message, congratulating the winners and acknowledging all nominees. Unable to attend due to a sailing competition in Australia, Fantela received warm wishes from the organisers for fair winds and continued success.
An Idea Born on a Train in Copenhagen
ECOcube is a self-sufficient, solar-powered floating service station that enables boaters to empty their blackwater holding tanks, dispose of segregated waste and replenish their freshwater tanks with desalinated water, all at a single location.
"We are presenting this award to a product that has already earned significant international recognition. ECOcube made quite an impression at the world's leading B2B exhibition for marine equipment, materials and systems, where Luciano and his team won a top product award," said Šangulin as he presented the awards to Luciano Beg, founder and Managing Director of Marservis.
"Thank you so much for these awards. I am genuinely surprised. We were in excellent company, and I am confident that the other nominees also presented products with tremendous potential," said Beg.
He also revealed how the concept originated.
"The idea came to me on a train between Copenhagen Airport and the city centre. We hope Croatia will recognise the potential of our solution and begin installing these stations along the Adriatic coast," he explained.
ECOcube operates as a fully self-service facility. Boaters scan a QR code to select a service, whether filling their freshwater tanks or pumping out blackwater. Following vacuum pump-out, the system automatically flushes the pipes.
The station features an 8,000-litre blackwater holding tank, a desalination system capable of producing 120 litres of freshwater per hour, and a 4,000-litre freshwater storage tank.
Waste collection is handled through ten separate 1,000-litre containers for plastics, glass, metals, paper and mixed waste.
The entire system is powered by 7 kW of photovoltaic panels supported by 30 kWh of battery storage.
An AIS transmitter makes the station visible on marine navigation systems, while a GPRS module enables the operator to monitor waste container fill levels and battery status in real time.
The floating pontoon is constructed from a biocomposite material made from natural fibres and bio-based resin.
Developed and manufactured in Istria, ECOcube has already been demonstrated in Novigrad. A patent application has been filed, and the project has previously received the DAME Award 2023 and Qualitec Award 2025.
Krapanj Volunteers Recover 1,150 Kilograms of Marine Waste
The initiative's name is no coincidence. Krapanj has a long tradition of sponge diving, and this autumn, local residents and their friends joined forces to clean the waters surrounding their island.
Operation Sponge: Clean Seabed Krapanj 2026 took place on 3 October, organised by the Krapansko Idro association in cooperation with Mediterraneo Sub Diving Centre.
Around 20 divers cleaned the seabed in Krapanj Harbour and the surrounding waters, supported by a similar number of volunteers working ashore and aboard support vessels.
Together, they recovered an impressive 1,150 kilograms of waste from the sea.
Alongside glass, plastic and metal, divers brought up car and truck tyres, chairs and discarded boat parts. All collected waste was properly disposed of with the assistance of local municipal services and waste management facilities.
Milenko Španja, who accepted the award on behalf of the association, said the recognition came as a complete surprise. He expressed his gratitude for the support and for acknowledging the dedication and hard work of Krapanj's volunteers.
From Quiet Electric Propulsion to Clothing Made from Recycled Fishing Nets
This year's nominations reflected the remarkable diversity of sustainable innovation across the boating industry, covering everything from onboard energy management and propulsion to marina infrastructure, vessel maintenance, safety and recycling.
Several entries focused on reducing onboard energy consumption and environmental impact.
Solus d.o.o. presented the EcoFlow DELTA 3 Classic portable power station, which can also be charged using solar panels, offering boaters a quieter, emission-free alternative to petrol generators while at anchor.
Franka Marine d.o.o. was nominated for the Mercury Avator 7.5e and 20e electric outboard motors, designed for RIBs and smaller recreational boats. Both models feature interchangeable batteries, while the Avator 20e received a CES Innovation Award in 2024.
Sustavi Janković, a Croatian specialist manufacturer, entered its domestically produced ICE 30 EKO marine ice maker, featuring enhanced insulation and an energy-efficient Secop BD Nano compressor.
Blue Voyage Yachting Group d.o.o., based at ACI Marina Ičići, was nominated for its Blue Impact 360° service, which includes the installation and maintenance of inverter generators, hybrid and electric propulsion systems, and solar energy solutions. The company relies exclusively on a Croatian supply chain.
In the marina infrastructure category, Zadar-based Marex Elektrostroj d.o.o. developed Harbour Commander Cloud, a stainless steel AISI 316 marina utility pedestal providing electricity and water connections. Boaters activate services and make payments by scanning a QR code, while marina operators monitor individual consumption through a cloud-based platform.
Other nominations focused on environmentally responsible coatings, vessel maintenance and onboard safety.
Slovenian company MWS d.o.o. entered Polygreen 3X, an antifouling coating free from solvents, biocides, copper and microplastics, alongside FoamFlex, a reusable oil and petroleum absorbent that can be squeezed out and reused approximately 200 times.
Artdeshine Adria, also from Slovenia, introduced self-cleaning, biocide-free graphene coatings suitable for boats, solar panels and cars.
Tentigo d.o.o. was nominated for its AtlantisX and Poseidon cleaning systems, which use dry steam to clean vessels without chemical cleaning agents.
Yatta Trade d.o.o. presented DSPA, a condensed aerosol fire suppression system designed for engine rooms and electrical cabinets, eliminating the need for pressurised cylinders.
Two nominations highlighted innovative approaches to recycling and the circular economy.
Since 2023, the Krie x Provir association has worked with fishermen throughout the Adriatic to collect discarded nylon fishing nets, recovering more than 130 tonnes to date. The nets undergo chemical recycling to produce ECONYL regenerated nylon yarn, which is subsequently used in clothing production.
Argola Textile Yacht Design gives leftover fabrics from yacht interior projects a second life by transforming them into bags, slippers and bespoke gifts for clients.
The ECO Excellence Awards were sponsored by Ilirija d.d., Burza Nautike, a leading nautical magazine and online marketplace, and Marnaut, a watch brand whose designs draw inspiration from the Croatian coastline and underwater world.
About Biograd Boat Show
Biograd Boat Show is Croatia's largest boat show and one of the leading nautical exhibitions in this part of Europe.
The 28th edition took place from 21 to 25 October 2026 at Marina Kornati in Biograd na Moru, bringing together more than 400 Croatian and international exhibitors and approximately 500 boats, including over 40 premieres.
Organised around its distinctive "Five Shows in One" concept, the event combined the main boat exhibition and B2B networking programme with the 10th Croatian Nautical Days, the 8th Croatia Charter Expo and the 3rd Croatia Luxury and Adventure Travel Show.
Together, these events created a comprehensive meeting point for boatbuilders, equipment manufacturers, distributors, charter companies, marine service providers and professionals from across the nautical and tourism industries.
EXPERT JURY
ADRIA LIBAR – www.adrialibar.com
BURZA NAUTIKE – www.burzanautike.com
GREEN SAIL – www.green-sail.com
EMERGENSEA – www.emergensea.net
INSTITUT ZA TURIZAM - www.iztzg.hr
SUSTAINABLE EXHIBITION GUIDELINES
Exhibitors are encouraged to follow official guidelines to reduce environmental impact.
