METSTRADE 2025 — 13 halls, 1,600 announced exhibitors, and a record threshold of 31,000 visitors — clearly showed where the market is heading: owners with elevated expectations, captains seeking reliable tools, and shipyards increasingly involved throughout the entire lifecycle of their vessels.
In this landscape, the technology that monitors and governs onboard systems is a strategic asset.
For those who build yachts. For those who manage them. For those who own them.
What we brought to Amsterdam
SailADV presented a complete platform designed for an industry entering a new phase:
- D.gree V26, an asset-agnostic architecture built for both new builds and refits;
- Predictive models grounded in years of real-sea data;
- Sailly, the onboard AI agent that interprets the yacht’s state and understands its operational context; (Now advanced testing in closed Beta).
- A modular interface tailored to the different roles that govern or supervise the yacht, onboard or remotely.
What the market told us
Conversations across the METS floor revealed a remarkable alignment among shipyards, captains, and owners. Shipyards are pushing for greater predictability in post-delivery operations and for more stable control over onboard quality. Owners are increasingly vocal about transparency, safety, comfort, and cost governance. Captains, in turn, seek a synthesis that cuts through operational noise and elevates the quality of every decision they take.
For owners, these expectations translate into a clear request: continuity of operations, long-term preservation of asset value, and an onboard experience that feels more stable, more comfortable, and better protected.
How the economic and tech press interpreted it
Il Sole 24 Ore framed this shift within the rise of “maritime intelligence,” highlighting the ability of Italian companies to bring advanced onboard technologies into the global market — an interpretation articulated by journalist Luca De Biase.
DigitalWorld emphasized the emergence of a new architectural layer enabling intelligent autonomy. StartupBusiness, through the analysis of Emil Abirashid, positioned D.gree as “the artificial intelligence for Italian yachting with a Silicon Valley heartbeat.”
Across these perspectives, the conclusion is consistent: with V26, the industry steps into a phase of technological maturity.
Normalizing technology: what happens at sea, what happens on land
Leandro Agro, Chief Product Officer, speaking from Palo Alto, captured it this way: “Robots belong to everyday life and come in many forms. In San Francisco, the streets are full of autonomous cars. These AIs have found a job alongside people: moving, interpreting, supporting. They are robots in every respect, used almost without a second thought.”
Giovanni Palamà, Founder & CEO adds: “Onboard AI is built on the yacht’s real data. It measures, interprets, informs.” – “It alerts the captain if an engine vibrates more than usual, if a pump draws too much power, if sea conditions are worsening. It’s a working companion.”
The parallel with automotive is immediate — especially for yacht owners.
A Tesla costing €35–45K knows its own state, updates its software autonomously, supports driving, and can be controlled remotely. If a car in that segment offers such intelligence, a yacht worth ten or twenty times as much deserves an even higher level of operational awareness. Owners know this — and increasingly expect it.
Conclusion: Sea Robots as the new normal
The signals seen at METS confirm that yachting is entering a new season — one defined by operational AI, real-world data, and engineering continuity.
The digital transformation of the sector, accelerated by onboard AI, is moving along a clear trajectory. And this market — built on complex yachts, demanding clients, and world-class shipyards — is ready for a new generation of vessels: beautiful, and intelligently designed by the sea.
In fact, a Sea Robot is simply a yacht that is not left behind — a vessel that has moved beyond polished fittings, evolved from craftsmanship alone, and now integrates intelligence as a core part of its architecture.
Luxury cannot be unfamiliar with modern tools, or stopped by a preventable mechanical problem.
AI is already here, and the world has moved forward. Pretending it isn’t happening, or assuming to be the exception, will only create a chasing cost or even a loss in market position — exactly as it happened in the automotive sector. And as technology becomes robust and feels “normal,” it becomes inevitable.