With Monaco having just hosted the E-Prix, a powerful symbol of the energy transition in motorsport, the focus has already turned to the sea, two months before the 12th Monaco Energy Boat Challenge kicks off. Organised by Yacht Club de Monaco with support from the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, UBS, BMW and SBM Offshore, the event is now established as a major gathering driving innovation in the maritime sector.
Unique bridge between research and industry
At the crossroads of academic research and the nautical industry, the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge brings engineering students together with yachting professionals to experiment, demonstrate and debate the challenges of sustainable mobility at sea. Big name partners include Monaco Marine, Oceanco, Ferretti Group, Azimut | Benetti Group, Sanlorenzo and Lürssen, key players all sharing the same ambition.
The 2025 edition introduces several new features including the AI Class dedicated to autonomous boats integrating artificial intelligence. “It’s a revolution the like of which has not been seen before,” says Bernard d’Alessandri, YCM Managing Director and General Secretary, a vision driven by a conviction of the urgency “to rethink our relationship with the sea and to act together to preserve this vital space”.
Ashore: transmission, learning and indepth debates
– Conferences and discussions to mobilise collective intelligence
Two major conferences are on the agenda (registration required: www.energyboatchallenge.com):
- Thursday 3rd July: Advanced Yachting Technology Conference. Onboard carbon capture, noise pollution at sea, funding innovation and decarbonisation, costs and emissions reduction through technology, maritime cybersecurity, and use of artificial intelligence and space technologies that support decarbonisation, are among issues discussed.
- Friday 4th July: 6th Hydrogen & Alternative Fuels Conference organised by the Prince Albert II Foundation, Energy Transition Mission and the YCM. This event explores concrete solutions to reduce pollutant emissions with talks on hydrogen refuelling infrastructure, storage technologies (liquid & solid hydrogen), methanol’s potential for superyachts, and the role of dual-fuel engines in the energy transition.
– Mentoring and getting jobs
The Corporate Mentoring Programme is an opportunity for renowned names in the industry to accompany university teams in the run up to the competition such as Monaco Marine working alongside Hydrogadz-Capgemini (Arts et Métiers) and Sanlorenzo supporting Uniboat, University of Bologna Argonauts Team and Elettra UniGe, Università di Genova. Note too SBM Offshore’s involvement with the University of Cambridge and Université Technique de Nantes teams in facilitating access to equipment and supporting them in fields of expertise like hydrogen and technical inspections.
Another key initiative is the Job Forum in opening doors for meetings between talented young people and yachting companies, the aim being to help get them into the industry through internships and first jobs. In 2024, over 90 interviews took place.
Four classes at sea with the same goal: to innovate and build the future of yachting
Over 30 teams representing 18 nationalities are already registered, a figure set to rise to over 40 and 25 nationalities when the Open Sea Class registrations close on 15th May.
• AI Class (new for 2025) for autonomous boats integrating artificial intelligence into their navigation and energy management.
• Energy Class launched in 2018 that challenges teams to integrate innovative solutions (batteries, hydrogen, kinetic energy, wind power, etc.) into a standard hull supplied by YCM.
• SeaLab Class open to prototypes up to 12m in length that explores alternatives such as green methanol.
• Open Sea Class showcasing CE certified zero emission prototypes up to 25m in length.
An innovation drive rewarded
To encourage the most ambitious projects, the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation is again putting up its Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation Sustainable Yachting Technology Award, worth €25,000, to the most effective energy efficiency and carbon emission reduction solutions. The winner last year was Physis Synergy (Politecnico di Milano) for progress made in their development of a new fuel cell design approach to improve overall efficiency.
A sustainable maritime future materialising in Monaco
With growing international participation and a constant focus on sustainable mobility and skills transfer, the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge is paving the way for a more sustainable future for the maritime industry where every innovation counts.
