12° Monaco Energy Boat Challenge: Toroidal Propellers and AI Take Center Stage
The 12th edition of the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge concluded on Saturday, July 5, 2025, in Monaco. Organized by the Yacht Club de Monaco and supported by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, UBS, BMW, and SBM Offshore, the event reaffirmed its status as one of the world’s leading laboratories for sustainable and clean propulsion technologies in the nautical field.
This year saw the participation of 42 teams from 20 countries, involving over 1,000 students and numerous industry partners from the nautical sector. The competition featured four main categories: AI Class (autonomous boats controlled by artificial intelligence), Energy Class (standardized hulls with experimental technologies), SeaLab Class (floating laboratories with a focus on hydrogen), and Open Sea Class (emission-free prototypes up to 25 meters).
Innovations and Trends
Three main trends were highlighted during the event:
Artificial Intelligence reinforced its central role in onboard energy management by optimizing battery usage and charging.
Hydrogen technologies made significant advances, especially in liquid and solid-state storage.
Toroidal propellers, capable of reducing underwater noise pollution by 50 to 80%, returned to prominence.
Winners and Outstanding Performances
Italy achieved great success, with UniBoAT – University of Bologna Argonauts Team winning the Energy Class for the fourth time and securing awards for innovation and design. The team set a new speed record in their category at 26.63 knots, significantly surpassing the previous year's 20.79 knots. In the Open Sea Class, Frauscher Boats set a new absolute speed record at 49.84 knots.
Energy Observer: Symbol of Sustainability
During the event, the Energy Observer catamaran, a symbol of the energy transition, docked at the Yacht Club’s marina and opened its doors to participants and the public. The vessel uses entirely renewable energy and onboard-produced hydrogen, demonstrating sustainable technology potential over 68,000 nautical miles since 2017.
Collaboration Between Industry and Students
Prominent companies such as Monaco Marine, SBM Offshore, Sanlorenzo, and Azimut | Benetti Group supported students through a technical mentoring program. The event's Job Forum successfully connected students with companies, resulting in 90 interviews.
Special Prizes and Awards
The sustainability award from the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation (€25,000) went to Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna. The Eco-Conception Prize was awarded to Elettra UniGe – University of Genoa.
Conferences Shaping the Future
Two international conferences focusing on advanced nautical technologies and alternative fuels took place during the Challenge. They emphasized the importance of cooperation and developing the necessary infrastructure to accelerate the ecological transition in boating.
With this 12th edition, Monaco solidifies its role as an innovation hub in the nautical sector, promoting practical transitions toward cleaner and more sustainable maritime solutions.
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