THE 23rd BENETTI YACHTMASTER CELEBRATES THE SHIPYARD’S 150th ANNIVERSARY AND LOOKS TO THE FUTURE

The hugely successful 23rd Benetti Yachtmaster, an event for industry professionals held this year from February 15 to 16 in Abu Dhabi, was attended by over 200 participants, including 110 captains, surveyors, stewardesses and professionals, who brought the two-day event to life with discussions about the future of the international yacht industry. A programme packed with meetings, in-depth discussions, and opportunities for networking sparked an interesting debate on innovative solutions to sustainability issues.

This year’s edition of the annual event, with the claim “Build Your Ideal Yacht”, focused on the importance of involving all participants in the development of a new awareness about the future of yachting. Two days of conferences and workshops to get up to speed on the state of the art in technology innovations, on alternative eco-friendly alternatives available today and planned for the future to reduce CO2 emissions and to store energy on board, and on research into eco-fuel solutions so that yachting is increasingly respectful of the nature around us.

Playing host, Azimut|Benetti Group President Giovanna Vitelli laid out her vision for a future in which awareness will be the driver steering customers towards solutions that reduce environmental impact. This awareness has grown out of Benetti’s history and the farsightedness it has gained over the years, inspiring it to keep developing new alternative technologies. The history of Benetti boasts a host of outstanding innovations, from the first diesel-electric yacht, Ambrosia 65M in 2005, right through to the 2022 launch of the B.YOND 37M, fitted with the Full-Hybrid E-MODE system developed by Benetti with Siemens Energy. The event was also an opportunity to look back over the history of Benetti in the year of its 150th anniversary.

Sebastiano Fanizza, Benetti Chief Commercial Officer, reminded everyone of the commercial importance of the Arabian Peninsula and described what the shipyard offers the market today in terms of sustainability, emphasising the importance of an open dialogue among all the main players in the yachting industry and especially between captains and the shipyard, which is key to the creation of the yacht of the future.

The objective set out by the IMO of a 40% reduction in carbon intensity by 2030 is a clearly defined target for Benetti, which it will achieve thanks to the Shipyard’s farsightedness and pioneering spirit in R&D: the course has already been charted.

The solutions identified by Benetti’s engineers for the medium term are the new hybrid and electric propulsion systems, the Hotel Mode Zero Emission systems supported by latest generation high-energy-density lithium battery packs, new materials developed to endure over time and, potentially for the future, alternative fuels such as Bio Fuel (HVO), because they are the most realistic in terms of technology, storage and the broad availability of these energy sources.

After his intervention there was a panel discussion involving the captains, who presented their own personal experiences, highlighting the importance of the quality of the logistic services offered to crews and shipyards and the need for innovative propositions to satisfy the needs of owners.

Training sessions were interspersed with team building and recreational initiatives. The morning of February 16 was one of pure excitement at Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, where the teams competed in a race to the bitter end. Later guests met up at Qasr al Watan Palace, which perfectly embodies the spirit of the people of the United Arab Emirates, for an exclusive visit and a stunning light and music show set against the spectacular backdrop of the Palace. The evening ended in the magical Arabian atmosphere of the Emirates Palace, at a super elegant, white-themed traditional gala dinner set amidst the beautiful floral displays in the gardens.

We would like to thank our partners for having made this edition of the event unique and their willingness to engage in a constructive dialogue with all participants. GIGA partners: Lusben, Viraver, Volvo Penta. MEGA partners: ASEA Power System, Boero YachtCoatings, CGT, Jotun, Kongsberg, RINA, Saim Marine, San Severino Napoli. CLASS partners: Asea Nautica, CMC Marine, Sevenstar Yacht Transport, MTU, Naiad Dynamics, Fincantieri, Versilia Supply Service, Videoworks.