Videoworks handled the design, integration and commissioning of the audio-visual, IT and communication systems on board Amor à Vida, a 67-metre full-custom superyacht built by CRN. The installation brings entertainment, automation, connectivity and cybersecurity together on one platform.
The architecture is centralised. Rather than spreading equipment around the vessel, all AV and network devices sit in dedicated technical racks, which the company says keeps the infrastructure easier to reach and to maintain. The system was sized for the owner's use and for charter operations alike.
"With Amor à Vida our aim was to build a single, fully integrated digital ecosystem that combines entertainment, communications, automation and cybersecurity while remaining simple to use and easy to manage," says Maurizio Minossi, CEO of Videoworks. "By centralising the infrastructure and adopting AV-over-IP technology, we developed a platform that delivers high flexibility, reliability and future scalability, meeting the needs of both the owner and the charter operation."
An IP network carries high-definition video and audio to every space on board. The same architecture, according to the company, was built to take later upgrades.
Control runs through the Crestron automation platform, so guests and crew operate entertainment, lighting and onboard systems from tablets and smartphones. A separate application was written for the Electro-Technical Officer: it monitors connected equipment and allows remote diagnostics and device restarts.
For connectivity the yacht combines low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite services, conventional satellite links and 5G, reaching close to 1 Gbit/s under the best conditions. Voice calls run on a global VoIP system carried over the Iridium satellite network.
Entertainment covers international television channels, streaming platforms, centralised film and music libraries, content sharing from guests' own devices, and the Yachteye infotainment platform, which gathers navigation and onboard service information. Smart TVs were also fitted in the crew areas. Outside there is a cinema on the upper panoramic deck and entertainment areas that can be reconfigured quickly for parties, DJ sets and events. Lighting is handled by a Lutron system with programmable scenes.
The platform also supports daily operations: crew communications, announcements from the bridge, CCTV and secure Wi-Fi across the vessel, technical spaces included. Cybersecurity was part of the design from the early stages and is backed by Videoworks' remote monitoring services.
The company supplies airtime as well, and tracks connectivity and AV systems from its Network Operations Centre, staffed around the clock, with remote support when needed.
"Our responsibility does not end when the yacht is delivered," Minossi adds. "We commit to giving guests an entertainment experience that stays smooth and uninterrupted. With integrated AV and IT systems, airtime services and continuous monitoring from our 24/7 NOC, we can support the vessel anywhere in the world."
Conventional TVRO satellite television reception was also installed for the owner and for charter use, covering areas where internet streaming is not the better option.
Videoworks designs and integrates AV/IT, security, automation and entertainment systems for the yachting sector and has offices in Europe and the Americas.