India's Team Sea Sakthi to showcase indigenous green marine technology at Monaco Energy Boat Challenge
New Delhi, July 5
India's growing capabilities in sustainable maritime technology will be on global display as Team Sea Sakthi from Kumaraguru College of Technology, Coimbatore, prepares to compete in the 13th Monaco Energy Boat Challenge to be held from July 8 to 11 in the Principality of Monaco.
The student-led team is the only Indian entrant among 54 teams from 21 countries participating in one of the world's premier competitions on clean marine propulsion, according to a release.
This year, Team Sea Sakthi will unveil an upgraded electric catamaran featuring a completely indigenous electric propulsion system developed in-house by students.
The vessel also incorporates a lightweight bio-based fibre structure and an advanced counter-rotating propulsion system fitted with toroidal propellers, aimed at delivering higher energy efficiency, improved performance and reduced environmental impact.
Hosted by the Yacht Club de Monaco, the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge has emerged as a global platform where engineering students, researchers and industry leaders collaborate to develop next-generation sustainable solutions for the maritime sector. '
The competition combines innovation with real-world testing, allowing young engineers to validate their technologies on water.
"Under the aegis of the 'Monaco, Capital of Advanced Yachting' initiative, the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge is one of the few events where young engineers have a two-fold challenge: to imagine and design innovative solutions, then test them at sea alongside industry professionals. This hands-on experience is what makes it so effective as a laboratory dedicated to the yachting sector's energy transition," said Bernard d'Alessandri, Director and General Secretary of the Yacht Club de Monaco.
Founded in 2022, Team Sea Sakthi was created to strengthen India's presence on international platforms, promoting sustainable technologies.
The team's participation has been supported through SBM Offshore's Corporate Mentoring Programme, with experts from Monaco and India providing technical and logistical guidance to help refine the project.
Beyond the races, the event will host technology conferences, industry interactions and the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation Sustainable Yachting Technology Award, recognising breakthrough innovations in clean marine mobility.
Since its launch in 2014, the competition has involved over 6,500 students from around the world, with several concepts progressing to commercial applications and startups.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Great to see Indian innovation making waves internationally, no pun intended! The marine sector is notoriously hard to decarbonize, so any progress on electric propulsion and lightweight materials is excellent for global sustainability. I hope this inspires more cross-border collaboration in green engineering.
Finally some positive news about India's technological prowess beyond IT and space! Engineering colleges like Kumaraguru are nurturing real talent. But I hope the government also supports these innovations with proper funding and infrastructure back home, so these students don't have to look abroad for opportunities.
Impressive that they have developed a completely indigenous propulsion system. The fact that SBM Offshore from Monaco is mentoring them shows the global interest in this work. This is a win-win: students get real-world experience, and the world gets cleaner marine technology. 👏
Yea, it's great to see this, but let's not get carried away. We are still far behind countries like Monaco or Norway when it comes to marine sustainability. This is a small student project, not a commercial solution. Let's appreciate it for what it is—a learning experience—but also temper expectations about India becoming a green marine leader overnight.
As someone from Tamil Nadu, I am so proud! Kumaraguru College of Technology in Coimbatore has always been known for innovation. Our students are competing with top global universities and holding their own. The bio-based fibre structure is a brilliant touch, using our traditional knowledge of natural materials with modern engineering. 🚀
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