Photo: Yacht Club de Monaco, Udruga primijenjenih tehničkih znanosti
The Association of Applied Technical Sciences from Rijeka bases its projects on developing experimental vessels on modern technologies and engineering ethics, with special emphasis on sustainability
The Latin phrase Navigare necesse est, vivere non est necesse (meaning ‘to sail is necessary, to live is not necessary’) shows the powerful role that seafaring has had on the entire human civilisation. Navigation, as we have known it for centuries, is at a crossroads of sorts, and the era of sustainability can be seen on the maritime industry’s horizon. Among many international projects experimenting with different alternative propulsion systems is the Association of Applied Technical Sciences from Rijeka, which has proved to be an exceptional hub of learning and ideas in the past several years. All the projects of the Association are based on modern technologies and the problem-solving approach, emphasising the importance of environmental protection and engineering ethics.
Established in 2018, the AATS is a civil society organisation that promotes technical sciences, advances the education of young people and develops and carries out technical projects. As early as 2019, they won first prizes in two categories in the international Hydrocontest-X competition, held in Switzerland. For the past several years, they have participated, achieving great results, in the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge, a competition held under the auspices of Albert II, Prince of Monaco, which promotes sustainability and the technological ‘tour de force’. The aim of the competition is to develop new forms of boats, hydrofoils and alternative propulsion systems, using only clean energy sources for the boats of the future. To create energy-efficient boats and develop new boat technologies with a special emphasis on environmental protection and engineering ethics is a real technological challenge. How demanding the competition is can best be illustrated by the fact that, in order to be presented, each project entering the competition has to be subjected to a very detailed technical boat inspection that is carried out according to a 30-page long book of technical rules.
