MB92 publishes report on AI and digitalisation in refit

MB92 Group has published the fifth report in its series on trends affecting the superyacht industry. The document, titled "The Intelligent Refit Era: How Digitalisation and AI Will Redefine the Future of Yacht Refit", examines how digitalisation is changing yacht design, operation and maintenance, and the capabilities the industry will need to benefit from it.

The findings draw on MB92's operational experience, research and interviews, a panel of specialists from yachting and other industries, and a survey of more than 70 stakeholders in the superyacht ecosystem, including captains, crew, owner and manager representatives, shipyards, designers and service providers.

According to the report, the most significant change will not come from artificial intelligence or any other technology on its own, but from what it calls "connected intelligence": the integration of reliable data, compatible systems and skilled people throughout the yacht lifecycle. Digital twins and predictive-maintenance tools can help anticipate technical problems, reduce downtime and improve lifecycle planning. Wider connectivity is also expanding the use of remote technical support, training and digital services.

Rubén Carmona, IT & Digitalisation Director at MB92 Group, said: "It is becoming increasingly clear that the future of refit will not be defined by a single technology, whether artificial intelligence, IoT or digital twins. Instead, it will be connected intelligence, capable of integrating systems, people and data throughout the refit lifecycle, that will help drive continuous optimisation and offer clients and shipyards a real opportunity to plan more effectively."

The report identifies data quality, interoperability, organisational readiness and cultural adoption as some of the principal barriers to digital transformation. Superyachts are highly customised environments that often combine legacy equipment and systems supplied by multiple specialist companies, which can leave operational information fragmented and make it difficult to introduce new platforms or scale the use of AI.

The document states that technology will only create value if the underlying data is reliable and the people using it understand and trust the tools. The report therefore proposes a "smart assistance" approach: using technology to organise information, improve diagnostics and automate repetitive work, while keeping experienced professionals responsible for judgement, creativity and accountability.

Digitalisation will also change the capabilities required on board and ashore. Traditional expertise in navigation, engineering, maintenance and project management will increasingly be complemented by skills in data, cybersecurity, advanced diagnostics, systems integration and human-machine collaboration.

According to the survey, maintenance tracking is the leading future onboard use for digital technology, cited by 64.3% of respondents. Reporting to owners and management follows at 54.8%, with route planning cited by 35.7%.

The report notes that cybersecurity and privacy will become increasingly important as navigation, communications, entertainment, maintenance and energy-management systems become more connected. The industry will need to preserve technical histories while protecting personal and commercially sensitive data throughout the yacht lifecycle. Better data can also make environmental performance more measurable, by improving the monitoring of energy use, emissions and lifecycle impact.

MB92 has increased its investment in digitalisation to make refit projects more transparent, efficient and easier for clients to follow. The Bridge by MB92, the Group's proprietary client platform, brings project information and communications together in one place, giving clients real-time visibility throughout the refit process and faster access to the information they need.

Since the platform launched in 2023, 484 projects have been managed through The Bridge, with clients reporting a high level of satisfaction. In 2025, 6% of the Group's total investment was allocated to IT and digitalisation, while MB92 delivered 246 refit, repair and maintenance projects worldwide.

Ben Mennem, CEO of MB92 Group, said: "The real challenge now is not simply whether the technology exists, but whether our industry can create the conditions for it to work effectively. Intelligent systems depend on reliable, connected data, yet yachting is an industry built on discretion, confidentiality and a natural reluctance to share information. As we enter the era of intelligent refit, we need to find ways to collaborate and learn from data without compromising client trust, cybersecurity or the competitive position of individual businesses. If we can achieve that balance, while keeping human judgement and accountability firmly in place, connected technologies have the potential to revolutionise the superyacht industry."

©PressMare - All rights reserved