When the yacht is not under way, the bridge steps aside: Rolls-Royce unveils Point Break in Monaco

When the yacht is not under way, the bridge makes room. The displays retract and the area from which the captain runs the boat becomes an open space that can be used for other functions on board. That is the idea behind Point Break, the mtu NautIQ Bridge concept Rolls-Royce Power Systems presented as a world premiere at the Monaco Yacht Show 2026.

The concept targets the new generation of semi-custom yachts of around 50 metres. Rolls-Royce frames it as an answer to one of the main challenges for designers and shipyards: giving space back to owners and their guests without compromising the captain's working environment or standards of safety and functionality. The result, according to the company, is a dual-function bridge that becomes part of the living areas when the yacht is not under way and stays fully operational when needed. The company says this gives designers and yards more freedom in how they configure interiors.

"Our customers are looking for solutions that make the most of the space on board without compromising safety and operational efficiency. With Point Break we have rethought one of the most space-demanding operational areas on board, in response to our customers' changing expectations," said Christian Paolini, Managing Director, Bridge & Automation Systems at Rolls-Royce Power Systems Italia.

At the core of the concept is a new bridge architecture with a next-generation human machine interface (HMI), designed to make navigation more intuitive and easier to manage. The displays are arranged vertically to optimise the use of space and improve situational awareness, while a Head-Up Display projects essential navigation information directly into the captain's field of view.

The concept also anticipates future AI-supported functions for managing onboard documentation and is fully compatible with mtu NautIQ Foresight, the Rolls-Royce platform for predictive monitoring of the health of engines and onboard systems. According to Rolls-Royce, these technologies simplify maintenance planning and support captains and crews in their day-to-day work.

Point Break is part of the mtu NautIQ ecosystem. Lukas Köhler, Senior Vice President Global Marine and Mining at Rolls-Royce Power Systems, said the concept "further strengthens the company's 'From Bridge to Propeller' approach, in which propulsion, energy management and automation work in synergy."

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