TURIN, Italy, June 27, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Future of engineering focused on
sustainable yachting. Everything's ready for the 11th edition of the Monaco
Energy Boat Challenge taking place from 1st to 6th July. Organising the
competition is the Yacht Club de Monaco, led by its President HSH Prince Albert
II: the key objective being to demonstrate the efficiency of alternative
propulsion and hull design innovations. "Seeing how committed the new generation
is shows how important it is to find answers to environmental issues," says YCM
General Secretary Bernard d'Alessandri. The aim is put on a zero-emission event
in terms of on-water mobility with over 50 boats attending. More than 700
students from 40-plus universities around the world (25 nations) have been
working on their projects all year to earn their place and present them in the
Principality. The Village showcases all the boats that are either on or about to
enter the market, as well as prototypes, and is open to the public.
In the Energy Class, a category developed by YCM, contestants can for the first
time add foils to their prototypes, like the British from Cambridge University
Riviera Racing with their hydrogen-powered foiling catamaran. Among the 18 teams
in this class, the French from Tameo Ensta/Monaco Marine from Ensta Paris will
also be serious contenders with their three-engine project inspired by
differential propulsion, a first for the Energy Class. In the Solar Class, 13
teams are in the line-up including the Spanish on Clean Energy Ship Uvigo from
the Universidade de Vigo presenting a rather unique hull design with lines
similar to a catamaran and impressive speed potential. It aims to be very stable
when racing before deploying the foils to generate lift and fly over the water.
Finally, in the Open Sea class for boats already on or about to enter the
market, several units will be showing what they can do. The 15 registered teams
include Deep Silence from Sialia Yachts, one of the largest full electric
propulsion boats available on the market; and two hydrogen-powered boats,
Madblue marine P-01 and Inocel-Poséidon, which will be supplied with hydrogen on
5th July by Natpower. The new electric, highperformance day boat, the Tridente,
developed in ollaboration with marine technology company Vita, who are long-term
supporters of the event, will also be present.
Supported by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, UBS, BMW and SBM
Offshore, the event has attracted the attention and support of well-known names
in the industry like Monaco Marine, Oceanco, Ferretti Group, Azimut/Benetti
Group, Sanlorenzo and Lürssen, all keen to play a part in the yachting
transformation. So for these young competitors there are opportunities to make
contact with the industry by applying for job offers and internships via the Job
Forum. At the last edition this facility led to over 80 interviews. There is
also investment in time made by the professionals through the Corporate
Mentoring Programme which provides bespoke support year-round by facilitating
exchanges between the industry and universities.
This year for the first time, YCM is partnering with IEMA (International
Electric Marine Association) by helping it organise its first Annual Meeting at
the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge. The event is multi-facetted, particularly on
the water with a range of motorboating challenges such as the manoeuvrability
tests, sea trials, speed record and the YCM E-Boat Rally. While innovative
solutions are being tested on the water, students are also given a voice at the
daily Tech Talks to exchange knowledge and experiences with fellow contestants
in open source. As the focus is on progressing alternative propulsion,
professionals get a chance to have their say at two half-day conferences: the
first (Thursday 4th July) is on alternative fuels and cutting-edge technologies
in the yachting field, while the second is the annual Hydrogen Round Table (5th
edition this year) organised by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, the
Monaco Energy Transition and YCM, which will address hydrogen innovation in the
maritime and yachting industry.
The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation is launching the Prince Albert II of
Monaco Foundation Sustainable Yachting Technology Award, the prize being a grant
of EUR25,000 for best technological solution in terms of energy efficiency and/or
carbon reduction. The winner will be announced on 6th July and will be able to
present progress on their project at the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge for three
years starting 2025.
For more information:
Press Office LaPresse - ufficio.stampa@lapresse.it
(mailto:ufficio.stampa@lapresse.it)
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/06f3fec5-bff4-4e86-ae3b-
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