The Monaco Yacht Show marks the beginning of the season for shipyards and naval designers.
“Traditionally, the show marks the start of a very busy period”, says Daniel Kerkhof, Director of Crestron Marine. “The Mediterranean season has ended, which means the refit season has begun — and we start working toward deadlines for new deliveries”. The Caribbean season will soon begin, and the industry is buzzing with activity as vessels are prepared for their journey across the Atlantic.
This year, the show was also full of news about one of the most advanced vessels in the world. “Just before the show, the largest brokerage deal in the history of superyachting was closed”, explains Kerkhof. Specifically, it was the sale of the M/Y Breakthrough, a 119-meter yacht — the first superyacht partially powered by hydrogen fuel cells.
We were involved in the Breakthrough project from a very early stage, and the excitement surrounding custom-built superyachts like the Breakthrough shows that there is still tremendous interest in these types of vessels at the very top of the luxury market, says Kerkhof.
Innovative solutions
Crestron’s presence this year focused on relationships, meetings, and the latest technological solutions. “The booth had a very clean design focused on the new solutions that Crestron has introduced, with plenty of space for everyone to get hands-on experience”, explains Kerkhof.
Highlights included Crestron’s Cevo Mini remote and the new metallic finishes of the Horizon keypads. “The development of the remote was largely driven by dealer feedback, and the new metal finishes perfectly match the upscale aesthetic that interior designers demand for their superyacht clients”.
The remote was complemented by another AV solution: the addition of Multiview functionality to the DM NVX® AV-over-IP ecosystem. Multiview allows configuration of up to six sources in fixed layouts and offers flexibility and scalability with 18 compositions, ideal for marine environments.
“Watching multiple sports games at once or displaying CCTV camera feeds alongside content are just two examples of how this feature can be used”, explains Kerkhof. Another big hit at the booth was the DM NAX® Audio-over-IP Edge Devices, capable of bringing virtually any source into an audio network.
New partnerships
Kerkhof was enthusiastic about the collaboration between Crestron and the online portal (superyachts.com), which specializes in all things luxury marine and hosted a networking terrace.
We provided the audio, video, and control systems for that space — all managed by the Crestron Home OS — which created the perfect atmosphere for a glass of rosé and a great conversation. And on Thursday afternoon, we joined our fantastic partners — and neighbors at the show — Bond Technology Management, says Kerkhof.
One of Bond’s specialties is training in marine cybersecurity and satellite communications. “We invited their team to join us for discussions on training programs. This coincided with the official launch of the Marine training path on our CTI portal. It’s now easier than ever for the yachting industry to follow Crestron’s relevant courses and, of course, earn certifications to strengthen their professional development”.
Thanks to this joint initiative, students can gain the knowledge needed to work on today’s most advanced superyachts.
Current trends
Beyond the Crestron booth, several key industry trends were evident. “The superyacht sector has become much more environmentally conscious in recent years”, notes Kerkhof. “The industry has realized it has a unique opportunity to drive technological innovation in sustainability”.
As is often the case, these innovations will ultimately have a major impact on other industries. The use of hydrogen fuel cells in the Breakthrough is a perfect example. “It’s easy to see how that could be applied elsewhere”, says Kerkhof. He adds: “Automation and energy control systems, for example, have long been essential in commercial buildings — and that technology easily translates to the marine environment”.
Another major trend is the growing demand for streaming and on-demand content at sea. “Thanks to satellite internet solutions like Starlink, broadband is now available everywhere. Owners and guests are changing the way they consume media, and it closely resembles the high-end residential technology market, an area where Crestron has extensive experience”, explains Kerkhof.
Looking ahead
Kerkhof highlights that this event gives Crestron the opportunity to demonstrate how closely aligned the company is with the evolving marine market.
We’ve identified several opportunities to develop solutions that can make a real difference in this field. Together with our R&D and product development teams, we’re working on new designs that we’ll showcase at future editions of the Monaco Yacht Show. In the short term, keep an eye out for our invitation code for ISE 2026. I can’t share details yet, but we’ll be unveiling a couple of new solutions that our partners in the yachting sector have been eagerly anticipating, he says.
It’s a more challenging sector than many others, as Kerkhof admits. “Superyachts are, while afloat, complete ecosystems. Everything needed must be onboard or generated there. Being at sea means dealing with all the elements and rapidly changing weather conditions. This drives us to develop highly specific technologies, and with the help of our partners, we ensure that we always deliver the best possible experience for owners and their guests”.
“Superyachts are the pinnacle of technology”, says Kerkhof. “There is so much innovation happening in this market, with new technologies being integrated and combined into custom-designed superyachts where everything onboard is controlled, monitored, and managed. These key aspects of this market align perfectly with Crestron’s core values: taking challenging environments and turning them into the best possible experience for the end user”.
