Already featuring IPS engines on all its boats, Absolute Yachts will become the first shipyard to provide Volvo Penta’s brand-new Assisted Docking system – launched this year – on its entire range.
The technology will feature on at least three Absolute models on display at the Cannes Yachting Festival from September 7-12 – the new 48 Coupé, a 50 Fly and a 47 Fly destined for Hong Kong, where Absolute Marine represents the brand.
Absolute boats with Assisted Docking will soon be seen around the world, from Europe to the USA and Asia-Pacific, reaching Auckland on a Navetta 58 and Fort Lauderdale on a Navetta 73.
Sergio Maggi, Absolute’s founding partner, Vice President and Director of R&D, said: “Our dialogue with suppliers is a great source of inspiration, especially strategic ones who share our values and objectives like Volvo Penta. Instead of following trends, we try to analyse and evaluate them, to set an evolutionary trend ourselves.”
Absolute is offering the new Assisted Docking technology on its entire 47-73ft portfolio of models across the Navetta, Fly and Coupé ranges, all with either Volvo IPS 10, 15, 20 or 30 engines.
Volvo Penta launched Assisted Docking to make docking easier and safer regardless of conditions and owner experience. Featuring software that coordinates engine electronics, positioning, IPS propulsion and sensors, the system interprets and automates the captain’s intentions, compensating for dynamic variables such as wind and current, to ensure safe docking.
The system includes a joystick and a GPS-based dynamic positioning antenna. The captain manoeuvres the boat with the joystick, informing the system which direction it should head and at what speed. Using the joystick, the software holds the boat’s course automatically, adjusting for wind or current drift.
Already available for boats with the IPS 10 propulsion system, Volvo Penta and Absolute are testing the system on boats featuring IPS 15 and IPS 30.
Andrea Piccione, Head of Marine Sales for Volvo Penta, said: “Our collaboration with Absolute Yachts is an opportunity to test the Assisted Docking system on the entire range of Volvo Penta IPS-powered boats, in line with our Easy Boating philosophy. The goal is to add value to both the shipyard and the end user, by creating a truly integrated system from the propeller through to transmission and throttles.”