Blocked in 2023 due to local political opposition linked to its supposed environmental impact, Canua Island, the luxury event barge, has finally been able to set sail at Mandelieu-la-Napoule following the award of its shipping and navigation licencesfollowing a court ruling. Inaugurated on 16 May in front of an audience of 300 guests, this trimaran was the brainchild of Marc Audineau, a former skipper who took part in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, and Tony Philip, a former windsurfing champion who has taken part in five Olympic Games.
The two partners drew inspiration for this project from a floating wooden ship in Bali, Indonesia. Built here in steel and aluminium at a cost of €16m, and with the support of the Banque Publique d'Investissement (BPI), Canua Island obtained its authorisations from the administrative court -confirmed by the Conseil d'Etat-, as the project complies with maritime regulations and its environmental commitments standards. These include the use of 100% of recyclable materials, a biofuel supply, no discharges into the sea, rigorous waste management and a guarantee of biodiversity protection, notably through the absence of underwater lighting.
A trimaran dedicated to corporate events
Canua Island's first season is scheduled to run until October, with this year's operation dedicated exclusively to private and corporate events. Positioned at anchor 600 metres from the coast of the Cité du Mimosa, the 1,750 m² vessel can accommodate up to 350 people. All this on two levels, with a 480 m² rooftop, a restaurant, a private suite, a lounge area and a freshwater swimming pool fed by a desalinator.
The designers are targeting several markets, " from product launches to exclusive PR evenings, from corporate events to birthday and wedding celebrations" . As part of incentives, the floating beach allows guests to take part in water-based activities such as kayaking, paddle-boarding, snorkelling and, of course, swimming in the sea. Presented as "an artificial island", Canua Island is scheduled to operate for six months of the year in the Mediterranean. Although the platform was not rented out during the Cannes Film Festival, which has just come to an end, dozens of events are already scheduled to take place there during the summer season.
The opening of the pool to the general public in chill-out mode is not planned until summer 2025, in the hope that it will be able to meet the needs of a growing number of visitors. controversy is finally taking to the sea. Environmental associations and 22 elected representatives from the Riviera, led by Renaud Muselier, President of the Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur region, are still opposed to the presence of this facility in the sea. On the other hand, the mayor of Mandelieu-la-Napoule, the commune from which the boat shuttles leave to transport staff and guests, continues to support the project. As a reminder, when the project was being put together, the PACA region gave its full support to its promoters, even guaranteeing its debt to the tune of 800,000 euros.
