The 13th Monaco Energy Boat Challenge officially opened on July 8, 2026, with hundreds of young engineers taking over Quai Louis II in the YCM Marina to display their prototypes. Organized by the Yacht Club de Monaco and supported by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, UBS, BMW, SBM Offshore, Monaco City Hall, NatPower H, and ESA NanoTech, the event runs until July 11.
Job Forum and Industry Engagement
The programme kicked off with a Job Forum dedicated to facilitating exchanges between students, recent graduates, and major maritime industry players. This initiative aims to encourage networking, work opportunities, and knowledge sharing among emerging talent and established companies.
Now a major international event focused on sustainable maritime technologies, the Challenge brings together engineering talent and key industry players such as Safe Harbor, Oceanco, Ferretti Group, Azimut | Benetti Group, and Lürssen.
On-Water Competitions and Public Access
The first event, the E-Boat Rally, serves as a warm-up before the official opening ceremony. Over the next four days, the programme includes conferences, Tech Talks, demonstrations, and on-water contests that connect students, researchers, and professionals directly.
The Monaco Energy Boat Challenge Village, located on the Jacques Boissy Esplanade and Lucciana Jetty, is open to the public free of charge from Thursday to Saturday. Visitors can discover the prototypes, interact with teams from around the world, and follow the races up close. “The Monaco Energy Boat Challenge is unique on many levels, both ashore and at sea. With every edition we’re able to measure the progress made and open up new horizons for yachting’s future. Competitors, professionals and the public mingle in a spirit that promotes dialogue and knowledge sharing,” says Yacht Club de Monaco Director and General Secretary Bernard d’Alessandri.
Competition Classes and Real-World Laboratory
The teams are divided into the Energy Class, AI Class, SeaLab Class, and Open Sea Xperience. They compete in contests ranging from speed, endurance, slalom, and manoeuvrability trials to autonomous navigation and the E-Boat Rally. All technologies are tested under identical conditions, turning the event into a genuine open-air laboratory where performance is assessed on energy efficiency and reliability.
“As a shipyard, we have a duty to lead the way. The Monaco Energy Boat Challenge plays a crucial role in driving the transition to sustainable energy, reducing the environmental impact of maritime activities, and inspiring the next generation of engineers and innovators. Our commitment to promoting renewable energy solutions and environmental protection aligns perfectly with the objectives of this innovative event organised by the Yacht Club de Monaco,” says Peter Lürssen, CEO of Lürssen.
Methanol Enters the Contest
Methanol, which fueled discussions at last year’s conferences, is now competing at the 13th edition, confirming the Challenge’s openness to expanding decarbonisation solutions beyond electricity and hydrogen. The SURGE Methanol Foiling Team Twente project from the University of Twente exemplifies this evolution with a methanol-electric hydrofoil boat featuring a 5 kW reformed-methanol fuel cell, optimized foil control, and a lightweight design.
