Green Assistant is the system devised and developed by Simrad Yachting with Italian Amer Yachts. Combining electronics and C-Map cartography to support sustainable navigation, it was in the spotlight at the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge 2022, the major event held last July in the principality of Monaco, where it won the special Coup de Coer award.
Amer 120
The jointed victory was celebrated at the Cannes Yachting Festival. During the show, Permare Group CEO Barbera Amerio was presented with the Coup de Coer, a special award made by the jury to highlight how a virtuous relationship between a boat builder and its suppliers can deliver important achievements in terms of sustainability.
Particular interest was shown in the Green Assistant project developed by the Amer Yachts with Simrad Yachting, which uses the electronic platform Command to create integrated solutions that help the captain navigate in the most environmentally sustainable way possible.
The Green Assistant system uses data connectivity to suggest action that is necessary, or at least advisable, in terms of position information, the state of the boat and the operations the captain intends to perform.
Simrad and Amer celebrating the Coup de Coer at the Cannes Yachting Festival
The use of Green Assistant, which caught the eye of the jury and Prince Alberto of Monaco himself during their visit to the Amer Yachts stand, is linked to the problem of wastewater discharge near the coast, an important issue not only for the Principality of Monaco but also elsewhere.
The system can automatically deactivate the pumps if the captain tries to discharge wastewater in areas where this is prohibited. C-Map cartography, combined with electronics and information technology, becomes a vital tool to comply with the law, such as when cruising in marine protected areas or along a jagged coastline where judging the distance from it can be difficult.
But because of the Command platform’s integration with the cartography, the system can also do much more, such as reducing speed automatically if the boat is in an area with a limit, like a marine park, the entrance to a port, or an area where whales have been sighted. If the system detects that the generators are on and the boat is cruising at speed, it advises the captain with corrective action, and likewise if the boat is very noisy in a protected area (because of the engines or the stereo system, for example).
NSO24 evo3S
All the data collected can be stored and made available not only to update the cartography, but also the databases of universities and researchers, such as those used to study whale routes and sightings.
“This initiative demonstrates how virtuous collaboration between yard and supplier can become a model to emulate and represent a paradigm shift: we have demonstrated that every single action can contribute to achieving ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) objectives. I am very pleased to have been the first to believe in this project and to see Simrad implement it on our yachts. It demonstrates that a simple idea can become reality thanks to an exceptional partner with great sensitivity and motivation,” said Barbera Amerio, Permare Group CEO.
In addition to the cup, the award consisted of a cheque for 2,000 euros, which the winners donated to the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation.
Amer Yachts was founded in 1990, when the Permare Group began to build boats with this brand destined to quickly become synonymous with quality and customization. The founder of the company is the Amerio family. Over the last 40 years, the Permare shipyard has created handcrafted products considered niche, with over 80 yachts tailor-made for Italian and international clients.
Credits: Simrad Yachting