BlueNav has won 1st prize at the AFBE Awards 2026, awarded during the first edition of the Nice Boating Tomorrow show This distinction highlights a key innovation: BlueNav’s patented Virtual Anchor, a position-keeping solution without anchoring, on the BlackPearl 7 x BlueNav, developed in collaboration with the shipyard AtlantiCraft.
Organized by the AFBE (French Electric Boating Association), these awards recognize major advancements in electric boating. This year, the jury honored an approach to hybridization based on innovation and designed for real-world use.
At the heart of the award-winning project, BlueNav’s patented Virtual Anchor enables a boat to maintain its position with a single click for several hours, thanks to intelligent electric propulsion that compensates for wind and current. An alternative to traditional systems, it eliminates the need for anchoring, reduces noise pollution, and limits impact on seabeds, an increasingly important issue in regulated areas and marine protected areas.
Integrated into the BlackPearl 7 by AtlantiCraft, this technology fully comes into its own within a hybrid configuration combining combustion engine and electric propulsion. The combustion engine is used for transit phases, while electric propulsion is dedicated to maneuvers, positioning, and low-speed navigation, delivering precision, silence, comfort, simplicity, and safety.
Following this recognition, BlueNav announced the launch of its Virtual Anchor 8 and 11 Packs, designed to make this new functionality more widely accessible. Offered as all-in-one solutions, these configurations include electric motor, batteries, 3D joystick, and Smart Navigation software, enabling easy installation and immediate use. They address a clear market need by providing an electric alternative to existing positioning systems for boats ranging from 7 to 22 meters.
Presented and tested on the water in Nice, the BlackPearl 7 x BlueNav illustrates a broader industry trend: the emergence of smart hybrid solutions capable of improving operational performance, user experience, and the environmental footprint of boats.
The other winners of this edition are Millikan Boats, SeaZen, E-NAV Systems, and Weenav.
