Two marine industry leaders announced what could be a propulsion revolution in yachting—a serial-hybrid propulsion system mated to some of the coolest tech on the water.
Last weekend, Azimut Yachts and Volvo Penta showed selected media the first hybrid electric-diesel engine that will power Azimut’s new Seadeck 7 yacht. Part of its trio of Seadeck series, the 72-footer will make a public display at the Cannes Yachting Festival, which runs from September 10-15.
“The hybrid-electric package on the Seadeck 7 has a mode of use similar to that of cars, meaning it shifts from electric to diesel engine based on speed,” says Giovanna Vitelli, chair of the Azimut Benetti Group, adding that its carbon-lowering technology will “change the rules of the game.”
Volvo Penta’s hybrid IPS propulsion system can be configured for boats from 65 to 100 feet in length.
Volvo Penta has been working toward this moment—a warrantied stem-to-stern hybrid system that works with all the features of its IPS system—for years. Robb Report saw the first iteration of the system two years ago on a tourist boat in Svalbard, Norway.
“This was the first release of a heavy-duty version of the hybrid built around D13 engines,” Johan Inden, president of Volvo Penta Marine, tells Robb Report, adding that it had built a prototype of the Seadeck 7 two years ago to test the engines.
The hybrid IPS system hits a sweet spot in the yachting sector, mostly because of the large number of builders offering boats from 65 to 100 feet. “This is the world’s first hybrid system that coordinates with our IPS system, allowing users to operate joystick driving and docking, low speed handling, dynamic positioning, and assisted docking in both pure electric and hybrid modes,” says Inden.
The “Fun Deck” on the Seadeck 7, which includes a hammock, is designed to offer easy water access.
Azimut Yachts
The system can also propel the Seadeck 7 in electric-only mode at up to 11 knots and anchor in electric-only (without generators) for up 12 hours. The new hybrids have four horsepower sizes, from Volvo’s IPS 900 through the IPS 1350, and can be configured on different boat types in single, twin and triple installations. On this new Azimut, the IPS 1350 diesel is paired with a 160kW electric motor.
The Seadeck 7 is a big departure for Azimut. Missing are the conventional luxuries that define most of the Italian brand’s other models. In its place is an eco-friendly package, its hull optimized for maximum efficiency in both planing and displacement modes, while carbon fiber has been used in 40 percent of the vessel to remove weight. With the new hybrid propulsion, says Azimut, the Seadeck 7 emits up to 40 percent less carbon dioxide than similar-sized vessels.
The interior is simple and holistic, using items like recycled plastic in the carpet to boost its eco-credentials.
Azimut Yachts
Beyond the eco-credentials, the Seadeck 7 has cool features such as the planing hull that reaches 40 knots and an exterior that Azimut calls “Fun Island,” because of its proximity to the water, connection to the interior via large glass doors, and fold-down side platforms.
The series also includes the Seadeck 6, which is 57’5” in length, and an upcoming Seadeck 9, which is 83’9”. Both the Seadeck 6 and Seadeck 7 will be on display this week at Cannes, but buyers who want the Seadeck 7 will have to wait until late 2025 when the first units ship.