The UIM is happy to announce that the 2011 UIM ENVIRONMENTAL AWARD WINNER is the motor yacht MAGELLANO 50 by Azimut Yachts. The UIM Environmental Award has been launched in order to inspire and recognize excellence in innovation, development and application of environmentally friendly technologies.
The UIM Environmental Award is open to UIM National Authorities, partners, racing teams, boat builders, engine manufacturers, universities, research centres, scientists, Non Governmental Organizations (NGO’s), companies in order to recognizes outstanding environmental leaders, whether individuals or organizations, that have exemplified inspiration, vision, innovation, leadership and applications for the Environment.
Among the main selection criteria are: Innovation, Significance, Practicality, Usability, Economic Feasibility and Environmental Benefit. For the 2011 edition there is a Winner and three Special Mentions. The prestigious trophies will be given at the annual UIM Awards Giving Gala which will take place on Saturday, February 11th 2012 at the magnificent Salle des Etoiles in Monaco where the UIM will host and entertain a truly international crowd of 300 VIP guests from 25 different nations to honour over 70 World Champions of Powerboat racing.
ENVIRONMENTAL AWARD WINNER
AZIMUT MAGELLANO 50 – AZIMUT YACHTS – Azimut-Benetti Group
The Magellano 50 yacht is a vessel that can cruise continuously, everywhere, and with the greatest respect for the environment, thanks to its Class CE A (NMMA Certification) and Rina Green Plus Class notation. For many years now,
Azimut Yachts has considered the quest for optimum eco-compatibility as one of its top priorities.
For this reason, being the world’s first shipyard to achieve RINA “Green Plus” notation in the mid-sized vessel segment (under 50’) is an exceptional triumph for the company’s design team. The Magellano 50 yacht meets all the requisites demanded from her low-emission engines (the Magellano 50 yacht is powered by two brand-new latestgeneration 425 hp Cummins common rail engines, with electronic fuel-consumption management) to her highperformance hull and propellers; from the anti-UV film applied to reduce heat exchange through the glass surfaces to the tracking of consumption and tank levels, with a charging and discharging log; and from the LED lighting to the infusion lamination of the principal fiberglass components, a procedure carried out in the Azimut shipyard in Avigliana, Italy, which has the ISO 14001 Environment standard certificate and the BS OHSAS 18001.
Quote from Mr. Paolo Casani, CEO of Azimut Yachts, “Creating luxury products while paying maximum respect to the environment and workers has always been part of Azimut’s DNA. The ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 certificates demonstrate it and this award is additional confirmation that we are steering in the right direction!”
Special Mention for “ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY” to:
“MERCURY RACING” – BRUNSWICK Corporation- Mercury 60 EFI and Mercury Optimax 200 XS
Emissions Fall – Big & Small – Mercury Marine leads the marine industry in the development of low emissions marine propulsion systems. Mercury Racing has introduced Mercury’s industry leading emissions compliant technology to outboard powerboat racing throughout the world.
Low Emissions 4-Strokes – Mercury’s efforts in sustaining the environment extend to entry level racing as well. Mercury Racing’s 60 EFI Formula Race outboard is featured in the UIM F-4S outboard racing series. Brunswick Marine Sweden and their performance dealer started the series over six years ago under the name Mercury Formula Four.
Safety and environment sustainability are the main criteria for the series featuring strong, composite boats with reinforced cockpits and environmentally friendly engines. It has grown into a successful UIM International series which includes lowemissions four stroke competition in Sweden, Germany, Poland, Latvia, Norway, Hungary, France, the Netherlands, China and other UIM nations, with approximately 60 boats registered world-wide.
Low-Emissions 2-Strokes – Global demand for low emissions race engines continues to grow as event promoters realize the need for creating affordable classes featuring clean, environmentally responsible engines. The OptiMax
200XS SST is the official power of the UIM F1H2O Nations Cup Series.
The series features drivers competing in identical boats using identical engines and props. Mercury Racing has made an impact in the greening of UIM Class 3C offshore racing as well. The low-emissions OptiMax 200XS ROS (Race offshore) has replaced the carbureted 2.0 Liter Mercury XR2 race outboard as the power of choice for this exciting outboard offshore racing class.
“Mercury customers, myself included, want to boat on clean water and in a healthy environment. Mercury Racing showcases our environmentally responsible technologies through powerboat racing and performance boating worldwide,” said Mercury Racing President Fred Kiekhaefer.
Special Mention for “ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFIT” to:
PLANET SOLAR PROJECT
PlanetSolar is the largest solar boat in the world. The 537 m2 of solar panels supply 6 blocks of lithium-ion batteries; a technology that provides power and energy density for an autonomy never achieved before. Indeed, each sunrise supplies the catamaran with the needed energy to continue its route.
The designer of PlanetSolar, Craig Loomes from New Zealand, has already developed many innovative ships throughout the world. Several months of research have determined the dimensions and the design of this great ship according to the chosen route. The engineers had to find andoptimize solutions for converting and storing energy as well as for the aerodynamics, the propulsion of the boat and the choice of materials.
The incredibly lightweight carbon structure of this futuristic vessel is extremely durable. The clean and quiet boat is called Tûranor PlanetSolar which means « power of the sun » in the mythology of the novelist JRR Tolkien. It was launched in March 2010 in Kiel, Germany, in the shipyards of Knierim Yachtbau, after 18 months and more than 65,000 hours of construction. Having accomplished almost already of the World Tour, the crew is proud of
the work and the options chosen.
PlanetSolar has proven that solar energy works and that its history is just beginning… Singapore, Mumbai, Abu Dhabi… These stop-overs are more than mere moments for the crew to stretch their legs. They are unique opportunities to meet local people and to promote both solar energy and clean mobility!
The « SolarVillage » (powered as it should be by solar panels) is deployed near the boat to educate visitors and to host cultural events, games, lectures, interactive exhibitions and film screenings. Wherever it stops, PlanetSolar creates enthusiasm and admiration, touching the hearts and minds of the people by sharing with them a different vision of the future that is already available today.
“PlanetSolar is very proud and honored to receive that Special Mention for “Environmental Benefit” from the UIM. By completing the first around the world tour only propelled by solar energy, PlanetSolar aims to demonstrate that we have the technologies available today to reduce our dependency on fossil energy. This Special Mention is a great help to convey our message,” stated Raphael Domjan, Planet Solar’s founder.
Special Mention for “INNOVATION ” to:
FRAUSCHER Shipyard
In the last couple of years, Frauscher has proved that even a smaller company can take a leading position through continuous innovation and the use of new technologies. Frauscher changes the perception of a whole industry regarding “green” eco-friendly propulsion technology for pleasure crafts.
Frauscher shipyard has taken action in several fields in the last 40 years: As production of electric boats they started in 1969. Today, Frauscher shipyard is the most successful electric boat manufacturer in Europe, maybe in the whole world. In 2008 they introduced the world’s first serial hybrid propulsion system for pleasure crafts in cooperation with Steyer Motors.
In San Francisco they built the first serial electric boat, in cooperation with two Austrian companies, powered by a hydrogen fuel-cell in 2009. In 2010 they have started a cooperation with Mastervolt, in order to have the latest
technologies internationally available, with the aim to increase the range of electric boats which is possible through the usage of lithium-ion phosphate batteries.
They wrote in their application that the 2011 UIM Environmental Award would validate their hard work towards a lower environmental footprint and acknowledge their constant efforts to innovate in their industry and UIM is honoured to award their several efforts.
Stefan Frauscher, Managing Director Sales & Marketing, stated, “Frauscher shipyard is not just well known as a manufacturer of motor and electric yachts of outstanding quality, award winning design and exceptional driving characteristic but also for our continuous efforts to innovate in boat building: For more than 40 years Frauscher is building boats with electric propulsion – like our newest green boat, the Frauscher 650 Alassio – and with numerous other innovations like the first hybrid boat propulsion and the first boat with a fuel cell drive, Frauscher continues to be at the forefront of the industry.”
“To create eco-friendly propulsion systems for pleasure crafts plays an important role in all our considerations. The UIM Environmental Award Special Mention for Innovation confirms that we are on the right track to achieve that objective. The team at Frauscher shipyard will not stop their effort to develop eco-friendly innovations for the future.”