Lessons from 2025 and what to prepare for in 2026
Looking back at technology developments on yachts in 2025, one recurring theme stands out: innovation is accelerating, but adoption remains uneven. New solutions continue to enter the market at pace, yet many technology suppliers still underestimate the specific dynamics of yachting, from regulatory lag and conservative risk profiles, to the reality of crew operations, owner expectations and lifecycle costs.
As a result, the industry continues to see a mismatch between what is technically possible and what is practically deployable on board. Roel van der Zwet takes a look at the following five developments from 2025, illustrates where genuine progress has been made, and where 2026 will demand sharper choices from owners, shipyards and managers.
1. Lithium-ion batteries: from compliance to true risk management
One of the most critical technology discussions of 2025 has been the safe storage, charging and management of lithium-ion batteries on board. The number of batteries carried on yachts, from tenders and toys to e-bikes and flyboards, has increased dramatically. Yet the associated fire risk is still widely underestimated, while we have seen several events in 2025.
Yachting presents a uniquely hostile environment for lithium-ion batteries: saltwater exposure, high humidity, vibration and prolonged sunlight all increase the likelihood of failure. Despite this, regulation and guidance, such as MGN 681, continue to lag behind real-world risk. Many shipyards remain focused on minimum compliance rather than on a client-centric risk assessment.
In 2025, we saw specialised distributors such as Liiontek lead the way in improving awareness and practical solutions. However, manufacturers of battery storage and protection systems faced serious supply-chain challenges, highlighting how fragile this segment still is.
Looking ahead to 2026, the real innovation lies not in containment alone, but in early detection and prevention. Schneider Containment is introducing premium battery storage solutions that go beyond passive fire resistance. Their systems are designed to detect initial cell-venting situations, before smoke and off-gassing occurs, fundamentally changing how lithium-ion risks are managed on board.
Importantly, this approach has been recognised by RINA, which is now working towards the first formal type approval framework for this category. Once classification societies move, shipyards follow. This marks a turning point that could finally prevent the serious lithium battery incidents that have already affected yachts globally.
2. Entertainment systems: complexity versus simplicity
A second major trend in 2025 has been the continued evolution of yacht entertainment and control systems. Larger system integrators have invested heavily in proprietary platforms that allow guests to control lighting, climate, media and service requests through highly customised interfaces.
Built largely on established backbones such as Crestron, these “Ferrari-style” systems remain a strong differentiator at the very top end of the market. They deliver a bespoke user experience for owners and guests, while giving crew powerful tools to manage complex onboard environments professionally.
However, from a market-efficiency perspective, this model also introduces duplication, high infrastructure costs, extensive hardware footprints and vendor lock-in. In 2025, a clear shift became visible in yachts below approximately 80 metres: owners are no longer asking for more features, they are asking for less complexity.
And that does not just mean an intuitive user interface. It means fewer racks, fewer points of failure, reduced heat load, lower energy consumption and systems that crew can manage without specialist intervention. In short: the ease of use of consumer technology such as Apple TV, combined with essential yachting functionality and professional management tools.
Solutions such as SimplyStreamTV are emerging directly in response to this demand. With significantly lower hardware requirements and infrastructure costs, these platforms are particularly well suited to the smaller and mid-size yacht segment. For 2026 and beyond, we expect this “less is more” philosophy to gain momentum, especially with first-time owners and cost-conscious owner’s teams, which we see more than a few years ago.
3. Panoblu and the long road to adoption
A third innovation that finally gained real traction in 2025 is the Panoblu 360-degree camera system. With my backgrond in yachting technology, I have seen firsthand how long it can take for even the most obvious improvements to be embraced by the market.
Panoblu represents a genuine step change compared to traditional marine cameras, a category that has seen remarkably little innovation over the past decades. The system provides a live, full 360-degree view, both day and night, dramatically improving situational awareness for captains during navigation, manoeuvring and anchoring.
Beyond safety, Panoblu also delivers something entirely new: immersive, high-quality recordings of voyages and charters, creating a unique experiential and commercial value for owners.
While the benefits have been clear from the start, adoption required the market to be ready. In 2025, that tipping point was reached. Looking into 2026, we expect many more yachts to integrate this technology as part of their core navigation, safety and entertainment systems.
4. Cyber security: from buzzword to operational reality
Cyber security remains one of the most misunderstood and underestimated risks in yachting. It is still often treated as a buzzword, rather than as an operational discipline requiring specialist expertise.
I am often reminded of my grandparents, who never locked their doors at night because “nothing ever happened on their street.” Even after a burglary nearby, the assumption remained that it would not happen to them, until it did. (The TV got stolen, yes, one of those heavy ones..)
In 2025, we saw the consequences of this mindset play out at sea. An 80-metre yacht was rendered inoperable for almost two months following a cyber-attack. After paying a ransom, there is still no certainty about what happened to sensitive data such as passport copies. On another private yacht in Italy, CCTV feeds were found to be openly accessible on the internet.
As an industry, we tend to keep these incidents quiet, sometimes for understandable reasons, but silence also slows maturity. Cyber security is often delegated to ETOs or system integrators who are simply not specialised in this field. It is unrealistic to expect anyone to stay current on cyber threats without being immersed in them daily.
The result is an immature market in both suppy and demand, where expensive subscription services are sold without real monitoring, response or accountability.
Specialist companies such as Cydome, which focus exclusively on maritime cyber security and offer IMO-aligned compliance frameworks, represent the direction the industry must take. By actively tracking emerging threats and translating them into practical, non-technical guidance, they provide something the yachting industry urgently needs. In 2026, we expect these specialist providers to become far more visible, and far more necessary.
5. Drone detection and mitigation: the next security frontier
The final technology area gaining momentum is drone detection and mitigation. Drones present a growing threat to yacht privacy, safety and security, from unauthorised surveillance and photography to potential physical and cyber risks.
While still relatively new to yachting, this technology is already being deployed at airports, critical infrastructure sites (stadiums) and major events worldwide. Detection systems identify drones well before they reach a vessel, allowing crew and security teams to respond appropriately.
Paul Thames has recently delivered a yacht-specific drone detection system based on the same core technologies now used in aviation environments. As drones become cheaper, more capable and more autonomous, this will quickly move from “nice to have” to “essential” particularly for high-profile owners and charter operations.
Closing perspective
At Paul Thames, we operate at both ends of the technology spectrum. We advise shipyards, owners’ teams, crew and yacht managers as they navigate technically complex, fast-evolving decisions. In parallel, we actively scout emerging technologies and help innovative suppliers understand the realities of the yachting industry — its dynamics, expectations, and unwritten rules. In selected cases, where there is a clear strategic fit, we also support and represent these technologies commercially.
