CyberCat is an electric catamaran designed by Belisama Yacht for cleaning bodies of water from floating trash. With sustainable boat technology, quiet propulsion, and a hull that minimizes wave production, it operates with minimal impact on aquatic ecosystems.
A Purpose-Driven Innovation
CyberCat is a vessel expressly designed to tackle one of today’s most critical environmental challenges: marine waste collection. Its electric propulsion, combined with an efficient hull design, allows it to recover floating debris while maintaining a low ecological footprint.
Agile and Sustainable
CyberCat features a robust yet lightweight structure for easy operation and minimal maintenance. More than just a cleaning solution, it is a symbol of green yachting technology. Originally developed for the Venice eco boat initiative, its compact dimensions make it highly maneuverable in narrow canals while remaining stable in open waters. These characteristics make it ideal for applications in ports, lakes, rivers, and urban canals.
Venice: A Unique and Fragile Ecosystem
The Venetian lagoon is a delicate ecosystem threatened by pollution, boat-generated wave motion, and climate change. Increasing tourism—over 12 million visitors per year—has amplified these issues. Motorboats in the lagoon emit pollutants into the air and water, stirring up sediment and harming marine life. Additionally, their waves damage historic buildings’ foundations, necessitating ongoing restoration efforts.
Tourism and Waste Management Challenges
With rising visitor numbers, marine waste collection becomes increasingly complex. Plastic debris accumulates on beaches and along canal banks, contributing to microplastic pollution. Floating trash in Venice’s waterways impacts both the environment and the city’s aesthetic appeal.
A Sustainable Solution
To address these challenges, the City of Venice has implemented green initiatives, including “Green Sundays” (temporary boat traffic suspensions) and transitioning to sustainable boat technologies. As part of this movement, Belisama Yacht partnered with the city and its waste management agency to develop CyberCat.
Stable and Safe Catamaran Design
CyberCat’s electric catamaran design ensures optimal stability, a critical feature for efficient waste collection. Its hull shape results from extensive hydrodynamic studies, allowing smooth navigation with minimal wave motion.
The lightweight aluminum alloy hull consists of five modular, detachable sections, making maintenance and transport more efficient. The modularity also enhances safety—each section remains waterproof and independent, enabling fail-safe operation. Aluminum was selected for its sustainability, as it is infinitely recyclable while also offering durability and lightweight properties.
Navigation, Waste Collection, and Storage
During operation, CyberCat’s automated collection system lowers into the water. A conveyor belt, positioned just below the surface, continuously retrieves floating debris and deposits it into a high-capacity storage bag.
This system, developed in collaboration with CMM Meccanica, is designed to withstand marine conditions and corrosion. The belt’s adjustable speed allows the crew to optimize collection based on navigation speed, waste density, and environmental conditions. Energy consumption is kept low, with power supplied by a 35 kW battery and a 1 kWh solar panel that helps sustain operations.
Advanced Electric Propulsion
CyberCat is powered by an advanced electric propulsion system developed in partnership with Mitek. The vessel utilizes the Revolve pod-equipped engine, which offers 180° thrust direction for enhanced maneuverability, particularly in Venice’s confined waterways.
The 12 kW motor, coupled with a 35 kW battery, provides:
⚡ Max speed: 12 knots
⚡ Cruising speed: 7 knots
⚡ Operational range: 8 hours
⚡ Sustained garbage collection at 3 knots for 20 hours
Project Launch and Future Developments
The Belisama Yacht team recently presented CyberCat at H-Farm’s Storming Pizza Mozart Edition, where it was recognized as the best ESG startup at the Mozart International Event.
- CyberCat will officially launch in August 2024.
- A passenger transport version with foils (cabs and cargo) is scheduled for release in December 2024.
It all originated in late 2023 from the idea of a group of young people who have always been interested in the boating world, and who do regattas together, so already very close-knit. This led to the project of developing electric boats that would make boating more sustainable by applying cutting-edge technologies.
Belisama Yacht’s mission is to bring innovation and sustainability to the marine market, transforming marine mobility and abating the problems arising from marine pollution and wave motion.
Here are the company’s team principals: L. Narduzzi (Founder & CEO), A. Tantille (Operational Management), P. Davanzo (Sustainable Development), C. Moretti (Head of Engineering), P. Requale (engineer), P. Amato (designer) and G. Carli (racing boat expert).
The concept of the hub that Belisama Yacht wants to build, for boat development and the creation of a landmark in the city of Venice for the world of electric mobility, also includes other various services such as e-bike rental, restaurant, Airbnb
