Background The Marche Region shipbuilding industry, which consists of mainly local SMEs, has steadily increased in size. Some 686 enterprises involved in the nautical industry were inventoried in 2005. There are 12 SMEs involved in engine production (10 of which are artisanal) and 158 SMEs involved in fittings production (96 of which are artisanal). The economic crisis, however, has slowed down the business of naval selling, strongly affecting the SMEs and artisanal activity in the Marche Region. Boats are made up of composites and end-products that have a strong negative environmental impact. Furthermore, several working phases overlap, enhancing the pollutant load in the seawater and air. Insufficient internal space prevents the boat from being equipped with utilities for environmental protection. The economic downturn since 2008, coupled with the need to revitalise the nautical sector, has prompted renewed interest among SMEs and artisans in the Marche Region for investment in technological innovation, ecologically friendly productive activities and eco-efficiency. Objectives The main objective of the LIFE ENA project is to improve the environmental performance of SMEs in the naval sector of the Marche Region. More than 300 companies will be informed about Directive 2005/32/EC on eco-design requirements for energy-using products, practices in carbon footprint and environmental management systems in the nautical industry. Thus, the project aims to reduce polluting elements and facilitate the application of Best Available Techniques (BAT) for the minimisation – by quantity and toxic risk – of final controlled waste products and the maximisation of energy savings. Furthermore, a prototype ‘eco-boat’ will be produced using BAT that is respectful of the environment and easily accessible by disabled people. Expected results: Raised awareness on eco-design and environmental compliance through the organisation of workshops and training for at least 300 companies in the naval sector; Adoption of a collaboration protocol to integrate and increase environmental compliance among SMEs. The protocol will mainly focus on the problem of chemical pollution in naval shipyards, recycling production waste materials, and equal access to shipyards for older workers and the disabled; and Preparation of a protocol for eco-design in the naval sector. This protocol will be drawn up on the basis of the experiments carried out to develop BATs for the production of eco-boats.