The 2025 Docks Expo & Marina Conference — Charting a Sustainable Future for Marinas

The Docks Expo & Marina Conference, returning December 2–4, 2025 at the Music City Center in Nashville. As the premier industry event for marina owners, operators, boatyard managers, and marine-industry professionals, The Docks Expo offers an unparalleled opportunity to showcase and advance sustainable marina construction.

What to Expect at The Docks Expo 2025 

• Comprehensive exposure to next-gen marina solutions. With more than 180 marina-focused exhibitors, The Docks Expo 2025 brings together docking systems, modular docks, power pedestals, electrical/shore-power infrastructure vendors, charging-station providers, and marine-industry innovators in one concentrated marketplace.

• Education sessions tackling marina design, safety, regulation, and sustainability, including the Planning and Design Guidelines for Small Craft Harbors Manual 50. Attendees can engage in expert-led sessions — including courses on marina engineering, safe electrical infrastructure design, green practices, and forecasting marina evolution to accommodate electric boats.
  

• Networking and thought leadership for forward-looking marina operators.
  The Docks Expo brings together harbor authorities, marina developers, boat dealers, consultants, boat-lift / dock-system manufacturers, and sustainability-minded stakeholders — making it the ideal venue to build relationships, secure partnerships, and map long-term infrastructure and service strategies.

Why the Marina Industry Is Poised for Electrification

• Electric boats = cleaner waters & quieter marinas
  Electric-propulsion boats offer zero tailpipe emissions — eliminating exhaust pollutants like nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons, and particulates — and greatly reducing the risk of oil leaks or fuel spills that can harm marine ecosystems. 

• Electric boats run quietly compared with combustion engines — minimizing noise pollution and improving the waterfront experience for boaters, wildlife, and nearby communities.

• Cost-efficient and modern operations. Electric boats and shore-power charging enable lower maintenance and operating costs over time — fewer moving parts, no fuel handling risk, and simplified upkeep. 

•  Advances in battery and charging technology are improving range, charging speed, and reliability — making electrification a practical option for both recreational and commercial marine uses.

• Marinas as the “charging hubs” of electric boating. The shift to electric boating is not just about boats — it’s about infrastructure. As documented in industry-leading coverage, marinas that renovate or build with future-ready shore power and charging infrastructure will position themselves as preferred destinations for electric-boat users.  This transformation isn’t limited to plug-in AC sockets; many marinas are planning for high-capacity charging, streamlined electrical upgrades, and smart energy management to support a growing fleet of electric vessels.

Charged Marine’s Vision: Marinas 2.0 — Where Clean Energy, Smart Infrastructure & Boater Experience Converge

As a leading voice in marine electrification and clean-energy advocacy, Charged Marine believes:

• Marinas should evolve beyond traditional fuel docks — offering shore-power and dedicated charging infrastructure for electric boats, with amenities comparable to fuel docks or EV-charging stations on land. This approach reduces emissions, protects water quality, and offers a quieter, more eco-friendly boating experience.
  
  

• Marina upgrades should be planned with long-term resilience and flexibility in mind — updating or replacing outdated electrical infrastructure, building to modern code requirements, integrating capacity for fast charging or high-power pedestals, and designing docks and electrical systems to handle future growth in electric-boat adoption.
  
  

• The marine industry can — and should — join land-based electrification trends: open-water adoption of electric propulsion, renewable shore-power, responsible battery management, and sustainable marina development will be key to attracting modern boaters and aligning with environmental and regulatory expectations.
  
  

Charged Marine encourages all marina owners, dock operators, boatyards, harbor authorities, and marine infrastructure developers to register for The Docks Expo. Whether you’re interested in modest shore-power upgrades or full-scale electric-boat readiness, this conference represents a critical opportunity to learn, invest, and lead.

About Charged Marine
Charged Marine is dedicated to advancing electrification and sustainable infrastructure in the marine and waterfront sector. Through clean-energy advocacy, consulting, infrastructure design consultations, and education, Charged Marine works to help marina operators, boatyards, and waterfront developers plan, fund, and deploy electric-boat charging — helping to bring a cleaner, quieter, and more resilient future to our waters.