The Yacht Club de Monaco has upgraded part of its marina with an intelligent hydraulic damping system aimed at keeping boats more secure and comfortable, particularly through the winter months when the sea is at its roughest. 

The device, known as Seadamp and built by Italian manufacturer Seares, reduces the impact of waves before the force reaches the mooring lines. This can cut the peak stress on the lines by up to 90%.

Tests in other Mediterranean marinas show the system can make boats twice as stable while docked, reduce pontoon movement by half, and lower the motion felt on board by nearly 50%.

Beyond the mechanical benefits, the technology has a digital side as well. Sensors inside the units constantly measure the tension on each mooring line and send the information to a central display.

If the strain becomes too high, the system automatically issues a warning. Additionally, the device powers itself, generating electricity from the movement of the surrounding water rather than relying on the grid.

Over time, the data gathered is set to give port managers a much clearer picture of how infrastructure is performing, allowing maintenance and planning decisions to be based on solid evidence.

Seares had also previously worked with the Yacht Club through Monaco’s Smart Marina programme, a partnership that set the foundation for this new development.

Giorgio Cucè, CEO of Seares, said the partnership represented a significant milestone for the company. “This collaboration allows us to deploy and refine data-driven mooring solutions in one of the most demanding and visionary marinas in the world,” he said.

This installation makes part of the club’s Capital of Advanced Yachting initiative, which seeks to push marina operations toward greater sustainability.

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Main photo: Primo Cup Trophy, credit: Studio Borlenghi