EU HYBRID MARINE (HYMAR) PROJECT WINS OCEAN GOING AND COASTAL DIVISION TECHNOLOGY AWARD

The EU Hybrid Marine (HyMar) Project – a collaborative research project led by the International Council of Marine Industry Associations (ICOMIA) funded under the EU's Seventh Framework Research Program – won the ‘Ocean Going and Coastal Division Technology Award’ at the Royal Thames Yacht Club’s Mansura Trophy Awards Ceremony on Thursday 21 March 2013 at the Royal Thames Yacht Club.

The primary aim of the HyMar project was to provide reliable and practical information about the effectiveness of marine hybrid propulsion in small craft. Extensive, practical testing of many different design concepts over the last three years has led to the development of a range of innovative technologies.

In 2012, the team consolidated all of the lessons learned in a 13m test boat, the Hallberg Rassy 42 “Armorel”. The final HyMar hybrid system in Armorel is optimized for energy efficiency and is based on design principles which allow any compliant equipment to be used regardless of supplier. ICOMIA has provided HyMar with project management, scientific and technical co-ordination and technology foresight.

The Royal Thames Yacht Club Mansura Trophy, supported by Bosch Engineering GmbH, is an important biennial competition to identify and reward excellence in the design, development and operation of hybrid marine craft. The Trophy, inaugurated in 2006, is the most prestigious international maritime award presented for the latest innovative development in hybrid power.

In addition to the HyMar Project winning the Technology award, this year’s Royal Thames Mansura Trophy Medal was presented to the European Commission in recognition of the EU funding that made the HyMar Project possible. Ms Jacqueline Minor, European Commission Head of Representation in London, accepted the Mansura Medal, which is awarded to a national or international body that has done most to promote hybrid technology in a maritime context during 2012.

Previous Mansura Medal winners include Agni Motors for the Lynch DC motor and British Electric Boat Association.

Whilst previous Mansura Trophy winners from across the globe include: the South African Green Motion FastCat 445 sailing catamaran ‘African Cats’; the French-manufactured ‘Lagoon Catamarans’; Australia’s ‘Sydney Solar Sailor’; UK EnviroBoat Developments Ltd; the Canadian Tamarack Electric Boat Company’s all-electric hybrid ‘The Loon’ and American Island Pilot LLC, DSe Hybrid.

For more information visit:   www.icomia.org or  www.mansuratrophy.com