Volvo Penta and Sanlorenzo today announced that they are working together to bring Volvo Penta’s IPS Professional Platform to two new Sanlorenzo yachts. The SX120 and SX132 models, expected to launch in 2025 and 2027, respectively, will be the first superyachts installed with the IPS Professional Platform, said to be the most advanced technology and propulsion platform for commercial marine vessels and superyachts. The partners are showcasing their plans for the new IPS-powered yachts during Boot Düsseldorf 2024 in Germany starting today at the show’s blue innovation dock.

Volvo Penta unveiled the IPS Professional Platform in a suite at The Wynn in conjunction with CES 2024 in Las Vegas earlier this month. The new offering builds on the company’s proprietary Inboard Performance System (IPS) and Electronic Vessel Control (EVC) technology with enhancements for larger vessels. The platform’s new intelligent technology features are designed for enhanced sustainability, delivering to users up to 30% reduction in fuel consumption and emissions. The platform includes software, services, and support enabled by the EVC technology.

“When adopting new solutions into superyachts, we must always consider the experience of owners and the captain,” said Johan Inden, President of Volvo Penta Marine. “The IPS Professional Platform not only delivers new levels of efficiency and flexibility but also elevates the yachting experience through the fully integrated helm-to-propeller platform. Intelligent features combined with the platform’s unique design provide additional comfort and peace of mind.”

Volvo Penta says that this latest collaboration with Sanlorenzo symbolizes an evolution in the journey to drive transformation across the marine industry, with the two companies delivering a better onboard experience through increased precision and quieter operation. The compact design of the IPS Professional platform frees up onboard space and reduces perceived noise by up to 50%. Its forward-facing propeller design and efficient dual-power input also reduce vibration levels.

The partners are committed to accelerating sustainability goals and the decarbonization of the marine industry, exploring multiple solutions in addition to hybrid/electric technology such as renewable fuels, fuel cells, and efficiency-driven innovations in yacht and propulsion design.

The collaboration highlights Sanlorenzo’s Road to 2030 environmental strategy. The company is slated to launch in 2024 its first 50Steel yacht equipped with a modular reformer fuel-cell system capable of transforming “green methanol” into hydrogen and then into electricity to power onboard equipment for domestic loads such as lighting, air conditioning, and kitchen. The system will lay the groundwork for the introduction of the first superyacht powered solely by green methanol by the end of the decade.

“As a committed Project Partner at the blue innovation dock, Sanlorenzo is proud to produce the first custom yachts equipped with the all-new IPS Professional Platform and contribute to the journey of decarbonizing the marine industry,” said Massimo Perotti, Executive Chairman of Sanlorenzo.

 

More commercial applications

Since CES, Volvo Penta also announced it is working with Northern Offshore Services (N-O-S) to discover how the IPS Professional Platform could future-proof its CTVs (crew transfer vessels) to elevate their safety, reliability, and efficiency. N-O-S runs a fleet of about 60 CTVs that provide support for the offshore wind farm industry that capitalizes on the powerful winds in marine environments at sea, where there is less direct disturbance to people and landscapes.

The two companies will collaborate on the first application for the platform, with vessels that will set sail in the second half of 2024.

“CTVs benefit from new technologies that make the work more efficient and more precise, which in turn could make operations easier, safer, and more comfortable for crew and technicians,” said David Kristensson, Group CEO of Northern Offshore Services. “They also hold the potential for more sustainable operations, which is a priority for this transformative industry.”

According to trade association WindEurope, offshore wind capacity needs to grow by 25 times to meet the industry’s 2050 net zero goal. Compared to the 25 GW of power available from offshore wind farms now, in the next 10 years, power will need to increase to over 110 GW. This could be accomplished through the construction of additional turbines or larger turbines that are farther offshore, which require CTVs to be larger, stronger, more powerful, and more flexible. Adapting them to new power sources is said to be crucial for future growth and sustainability.

 

Expanding the IPS offering

Volvo Penta is the power system market leader in yachts between 60 and 80 ft, driven by innovation, specifically the IPS, Inden explained to Futurride at CES. Before CES, Volvo Penta marketed four different IPS sizes.

“For yachts between 50 and 80 ft, Italian manufacturers dominate with about half of the market,” he said. “When you go either lower or higher, it’s a much broader market,” with the Italians being joined by other European manufacturers from Britain and Germany.

The latest IPS system, the company’s fifth, extends the range at the upper end.

It’s “the really big one,” according to Inden. “It will take us from 25 m up to 55 m. We are taking a step up in magnitude regarding the size of vessels that can benefit from the system—including commercial vessels. And we are adding features, sensors, and extending the benefits on the sustainability side.”

 

Multiple power source options

The platform architecture can future-proof vessels through its versatile power configurations, capitalizing on the most efficient of today’s ICE (internal combustion engine) technology but enabling upgrades of hybrid and electric options without the need to redesign or scrap a vessel.

“Building on the success of the legendary Volvo Penta IPS system, this new Professional Platform will also provide new options for energy efficiency and aid in efforts to achieve decarbonization at sea in marine industries,” said Inden. “We see this as a major step towards decarbonization in superyachts and commercial vessels between 25 and 55 m.”

Installed as a twin, triple, or quad, the platform enables each vessel to have four, six, or eight power sources. The mix of power sources could be ICEs running on renewable fuels to fully electric or hybrid solutions, providing the option to combine traditional with electric power sources—a unique approach to efficiency for this class of vessels.

Inden says that the electric engines could be powered by a large battery pack, a genset bank running on renewable fuels, or a fuel cell system.

“What we are building is a flexible powerplant for the boats which you can choose and tailor depending on what type of fuels you have,” he said. “You can now start playing with your powerplant, investigating the latest technology to put into this to continue driving down your carbon footprint.”

A new smart Eco Mode feature automatically starts/stops individual engines based on the power needed for a given situation, optimizing fuel consumption and engine running hours. About 50% of the time, half of the power sources can be on standby, not only enabling new levels of efficiency but also extended service and maintenance intervals.

 

Software-controlled pods

As Inden explained to Futurride at CES, IPS is a through-hull pod system with pulling propellers. Each twin-motor pod has twin propellers working on the forward side in non-disturbed water, so it’s highly efficient. The propulsion axes of the propeller system are more in line with a boat’s travel direction and not angled like a traditional shaft system, adding to efficiency.

“You save 25% to 30% fuel when you implement a system like this compared to a regular shaft system, with superior maneuverability, and reduced fuel consumption,” he said.

Each turning pod is individually steerable via a software layer, controlled electronically, and actuated by an electric engine, so a separate rudder is not needed. With the arrangement, a boat can be made much more controllable, for instance going completely sideways or diagonally.

“You [can] make it dance, with software controlling these individually steerable engines,” said Inden. “It gives you a level of control you haven’t experienced before.”

The platform includes intelligent technology features like Volvo Penta assisted docking, dynamic positioning, and a professional-level glass cockpit helm display on some models to ease manual operation and semi-automated features for every level of operator. Its connectivity offers remote diagnostics and improves maintenance.