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Day: 12 October 2022

Superyachts: the adventure playground

by: Claire Griffiths
12/10/2022

The new Adventure Area at the Monaco Yacht Show was a terrain set aside for superyacht toys and travel off the yacht: landside, airside, and into the hidden depths of the ocean.

Monaco Life skipped along to find out more.

The Bubble

It began on the back of a beer mat, last year at the Monaco Yacht Show (MYS), when two men went for a drink. The result of that drink was launched in September and it is known as Project Hercules – a collaboration between Espen Øino International (EOI), Dark Ocean DeepSea and Triton Submarines. It is the world’s first patent-pending elliptical advanced versatile acrylic (AVA) pressure hull submersible.

The two men were John Ramsay of Dark Ocean DeepSea Design, the world’s leading submersible design and engineering studio, and Andrea Bonini, yacht  designer and project manager at EOI.

The Hercules sub-sea craft takes a total of seven people down deep (200m) for up to 10 hours and is designed to travel at eight knots (twice that of traditional private subs). Option ideas for this very big bubble (2.35m H x 2.75 W) include twin designer chaise longues in high grade leather, an oversized daybed, or a large glass bottom floor space with scatter cushions.

John Ramsay of Dark Ocean Deepsea and Andrea Bonini of Espen Oeino Interntational, discuss the project. Photo by Monaco Life

The luxury subcraft idea bloomed from Bonini’s “what if” fantasies that Ramsay was ready to run with: What if you glided instead of dived straight down? What if the inside was as wonderful as the outside? “When I met Andrea last year it was quite obvious straight away that he was amazingly talented and also incredibly enthusiastic about submarines,” says Ramsay. “He has this ability to create beautiful things but also package them up with sensible engineering so you know it’s going to work.”

Ramsay loves the switch in focus of the project; it’s not just about the deep-sea world outside, but the experience inside too: “You go down for a few hours, in private, see what you see might see, and have a wonderful time with people. That’s never been the focus of the sub before.” It could also possibly be used as a tender, Ramsay suggests: “We are talking with some hydro dynamicists about how quickly it’s going to move along the surface, so potentially guests get in and you can have them arrive on the shore and you’d absolutely know you’re not going to get splashed!”

The Bike

Founder René Renger and co-designer Marcus Weidig have built a bike with a hole in the middle – Novus. It’s a handcrafted, limited series full carbon fibre motorbike and it launched at the MYS. Explains Renger, “When you get on a Novus bike you feel like you’re James Bond in the next James Bond movie. This is the only light bike on the market. It’s a ride into the future.” The battery powered motorbike goes from 0-50 km/hr in 1.9 seconds, weighs 103kg, has a range of 150km and a maximum speed of 125km/hr. “It’s sustainable luxury,” explains Renger. “It’s super light, weighing 50% less than a comparable performing motorbike.” The idea for Novus sprang from E bikes and electrified motor cycles, “but neither of them were very inspiring and we wanted to create  for the future using electricity.”

Novus sold two bikes at the MYS but, says Renger, “More importantly, we connected with the yacht charter companies and they are all very interested. Monaco is, anyway, a very special place for us; it is moving towards sustainable mobility and we offer the first premium electric light bike that can be the perfect tool for crowded city commute.”

CEO and Founder René Renger on the Novus bike. Photo by Monaco Life

The Beast

The limited edition (15) bonkers-big, Brabus 900 Crawler was sold out on the last day of the MYS. The off-street supercar was built to celebrate the company’s 45th anniversary – the ultimate off-road racer that is strictly not for street driving.

“If you’re looking for an exciting ride, this is it,” suggests Brabus’ Dirk Möller: “It’s a super-special professional off-road vehicle for the desert or forest, and for competition or family use,” he explains. The Brabus 900 Rocket V8 twin-turbo rockets from 0-100km in 3.4 seconds. Bumper fun for everyone.

The Brabus Crawler, photo by Monaco Life

 

 

Image above: the Hercules project

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASM Preview | Clement: “It’s important for us to not be mathematicians”

by: Luke Entwistle
12/10/2022

Speaking ahead of Thursday night’s clash against Trabzonspor, Philippe Clement said that his side mustn’t overly focus on the different scenarios, with their Europa League group finely poised.

Monaco Life has made the trip to eastern Turkey for Thursday night’s match in the Medical Park Stadyumu, where an intense, fiery atmosphere awaits Clement’s young side.

“My players proved in Belgrade that they are prepared [for intense atmospheres]. They are focused on their job and what they need to do. It’s a good thing that the fans can’t get onto the pitch [laughs]! On the pitch, it’s 11v11. We like playing in full stadiums; when the players were little, they dreamed of that. We want to play a good match here, but we know that the atmosphere is intense, the fans have a lot of passion for their team,” said Clement.

Not only are they heading into an intense atmosphere but they are also, to a certain degree, heading into the unknown. Despite facing Trabzonspor at the Stade Louis II just a week ago, the match was heavily impacted by an early red card for Trabzonspor’s Maxi Gomez. That altered the game state to such an extent that it was difficult for Monaco to truly get to know their opponent.

“We have only played 10 minutes against this team with 11v11. Now it’s different. They are a team with a lot of quality. They proved last year by winning the Turkish championship. That’s a big thing. We know that it’s very important to perform well tomorrow (Thursday) and we are very motivated to do that. It’s necessary to take points here,” Clement told Monaco Life.

However, whilst Clement is focused on taking away the three points from Thursday night’s match (which would almost certainly seal qualification), he doesn’t want his side to spend energy on calculating the multiple scenarios that could guarantee progression to the knockout phases of the competition.

“I have been in European competitions for over 20 years at this point, and I know there can be many scenarios,” began Clement. “There are always many scenarios. It’s important for us not to be mathematicians, but to be players and coaches that do everything to win. There are still three matches in this group. We mustn’t calculate and think about all of the possible scenarios. We need to look at our level, what we can do with and without the ball, and confirm the good things have shown in the past weeks.”

Monaco are on a great run. In all competitions, they have won four on the bounce, and seven of the last eight. Should Clement’s side continue that run in Turkey, they will massively boost their chances of progression to the group stages. The Principality side are currently second in the group, level on points with Ferencváros, but only three points ahead of Thursday’s opponents.

For the fixture, Clement has a wealth of options to choose from. As Clement told Monaco Life, “In training and in the matches, I see more and more starters. I am seeing the players progress week-on-week because they’re pushing each other in training.”

Only Ruben Aguilar remains absent from Clement’s squad, although the Belgian coach could decide to rotate his team given the packed run of fixtures. Whoever he picks, the task is simple: win in Turkey to all-but seal progression in the Europa League.

AS Monaco predicted line-up v Trabzonspor

Nübel – Henrique, Badiashile, Disasi, Vanderson – Golovin, Fofana, Camara, Diatta – Boadu, Ben Yedder

 

Photo by Monaco Life

 

 

 

Renovation work begins on heliport

by: Cassandra Tanti
12/10/2022

Monaco’s busy heliport is undergoing a major redesign for the comfort of both passengers and staff.

The government on Wednesday revealed that the Public Buildings Maintenance Service (SMBP) has initiated work to redevelop the heliport and surrounding environment.

It includes a complete renovation of the reception hall and a reconfiguration of the layout for a better use of space. Access will also be improved.

Staff and passengers will benefit from increased thermal and sound protection as the SMBP will wrap the entire external facades of the building with thermal insulation which, coupled with new windows, will significantly reduce noise and air pollution generated by the helicopters.

The future Monaco Heliport. Image source: SMBP

As part of its commitment to sustainable building practices, the BD2M has chosen to use biosourced insulating materials (wood fiber), ‘smart’ glazing, and 180 m² of solar panels that will prevent more than 4.6 tons of CO2 emissions a year.

The BD2M will also strengthen security by raising the fences around the site and installing an additional anti-intrusion device.

Around 250 m2 of temporary modular offices have been set up in the parking lot to ensure the heliport continues to operate throughout the six-month project.

 

Photo source: SMBP

 

 

 

 

 

 

Road accidents on Moyenne Corniche plummet thanks to new radars

by: Stephanie Horsman
12/10/2022

The six radars on the Moyenne Corniche between Roquebrune-Cap-Martin and Beausoleil flashed over 120,000 times in 2021, with “an over-representation of Monegasque drivers among the major speeders”, say authorities.

There is hardly a motorist out there who hasn’t had that “Awww, no!” moment when seeing the flash of a speed camera as they zoomed past doing well over the limit.

Being caught speeding is an annoyance for sure, and on the roads around Monaco, namely on the Moyenne Corniche, there a total of six radars set up to do just that job.

The Roquebrune-Cap-Martin radar, just above the Principality, photographed 65,566 vehicles in 2021, or around 180 flashes per day, giving it the distinction of being the second biggest “flasher” in the region behind the Cagnes-sur-Mer radar on the A8, direction Nice-Aix, and the one located in the tunnel of Las Planas on the A8, north of Nice, direction France- Italy.

Whilst six speed cameras in such a short stretch may seem excessive, they are not all working at the same time. There are typically only two in operation at any given time, but the trick is that no one knows for sure which ones are on and which aren’t, thus creating a deterrent for the more lead-footed drivers on the roads.

Those being caught with French tags have surely found notices in the post, but with Monegasque drivers, the numbers are less clear as they are not part of the EU-wide system.

In the Alpes-Maritimes as a whole, 15% of traffic fines concern foreign drivers. “There is an over-representation of Monegasque drivers among the major speeders,” Benoît Huber,

Chief of Staff to the Prefect of the Alpes-Maritimes, told France-3.

These radars may also, in future, do more than catch speeders. They may also catch those who are doing other illegal acts, such as texting or talking on the phone whilst driving.

Despite the fact that speed cameras are an income earner for the region, the authorities insist it is not revenue they are after.

“The objective is not to fill the coffers of the State,” said Huber. “It’s about reducing the accident rate in our department. Since 1st January, we are already at 41 people who have died on our roads.”

With 122,027 flashes in 2021, the speed cameras between Roquebrune-Cap-Martin and Beausoleil may have done more than just given people points on their licenses, they may also have saved lives.

Figures from the Alpes-Maritimes Prefecture have shown a significant drop in accidents since the radars have been operational. In 2019, there were 10 accidents on this stretch of road, including a fatality and two serious injuries. In 2020, there was only one minor accident, but as the world was in lockdown, this isn’t a huge surprise. In 2021, though, with people back on the roads, there were only two accidents, one being serious.

“Vehicle traffic speed has dropped. When accidents occur, they are less serious,” said Huber, showing that speed radars are producing the desired effect for authorities.

 

 

Photo credit: Mads Eneqvist on Unsplash

 

 

 

Synbio Day Conference: science for environmental preservation

by: Stephanie Horsman
12/10/2022

The Novotel Hotel and the Oceanographic Museum are playing host to an extraordinary conference bringing together experts explaining how they propose using synthetic biology to help preserve the environment.

More than 25 international authorities are meeting up on 13th and 14th October for the Synbio Day 2022 Conference, being held at the Novotel Hotel and the Oceanographic Museum.

Synthetic biology, or Synbio, is a field of science that involves redesigning organisms for useful purposes by engineering them to have new abilities. Researchers and companies around the world are now harnessing the power of the ecosystem to solve problems in medicine, manufacturing and agriculture, making this field a particularly interesting one for future developments in the cross-pollinating worlds of science and nature.

The experts, brought together in Monaco by Eurekare and the Monaco Scientific Centre (CSM), will be joined by researchers, industry partners, government officials and investors to discuss the opportunities and challenges of applying synthetic biology solutions to combat climate change and other environmental concerns.

The conference will include topics such as innovations in greener products such as biofuels, to reduce global carbon and greenhouse gas emissions, the creation of bioplastics to replace chemical plastic, ubiquitous in everyday objects and packaging, and the design of bacteria to degrade synthetic materials, which could reduce more than 165 million tonnes of plastic now polluting the seas.

Local speakers include Professors Patrick Rampal, President of the CSM, and Denis Allemand, CSM’s Scientific Director.

 

Image credit: Sangharsh Lohakare on Unsplash

 

 

 

 

EU plan to mobilise young people for change

by: Stephanie Horsman
12/10/2022

The European Commission, the executive arm of the EU’s governing institutions, has adopted a new plan, the Youth Action Plan, which targets young people around the globe to come together to “build a more resilient, inclusive and sustainable future”.

The European Union’s latest strategic partnership isn’t with a continent, country or even a government. It is with the young people of the world, whom they hope to mobilise as a powerful force for change.

As part of the European Year of Youth, the new Youth Action Plan in EU External Action is looking to unite youth in partner countries with those in the European Union, and it is guided by three principles: engagement, empowerment, and connections.

By engaging, the EC intends to increase youth voices in policy and decision-making. They will also endeavour to fight inequality and provide young people with the skills needed to be effective members of a global society, thus empowering them. Finally, the plan will connect youth through networking and exchanges, giving them opportunities outside their normal spheres and fostering friendships and understanding.

“With the world undergoing a demographic transition, the Youth Action Plan will be an important contribution to our pursuit of intergenerational solidarity and equity,” said European Commission Vice-President for Democracy and Demography Dubravka Šuica. “We need to empower children and young people across the world, ensure that they have concrete opportunities and promote the effective engagement of young people and children as a right, ensuring no one is left behind. We share the collective responsibility to build more democratic, equal and peaceful societies, also for future generations.”

Some of the new and ongoing initiatives falling under this umbrella plan include the Youth and Women in Democracy Initiative, a €40 million project that will give youth and women activists and organisations the chance to participate more fully in political affairs. They will also be backing the Youth Empowerment Fund, a pilot scheme that will provide direct financial backing to youth-led projects in partner nations who are promoting sustainable development at a grass-roots level. Additionally, the plan will fund the Africa-Europe Youth Academy, which will funnel €50 million in fiscal support to young people from Africa who are willing to improve their leadership skills and become policy-makers.

As Commissioner for International Partnership Jutta Urpilainen said of the overall good that is hoping to be achieved: “The Youth Action Plan lives up to our commitment to putting youth at the centre of the EU’s external action for sustainable development, equality, and peace and giving them a real voice to shape the solutions for a better future. We have heard young people and will meaningfully engage, empower and connect with them while providing them with opportunities, starting with the Global Gateway Strategy, the EU’s offer to partners for investments that work for people and the planet.”

 

Photo by Brooke Cagle on Unsplash