Netherlands

Eekels Technology BV

While the superyacht industry has largely kept pace with land-based AV advancements, streaming remained a bridge too far – until now. With fast global marine broadband unlocking new possibilities, AV-over-IP is finally finding its sea legs. What does this mean for AV architecture on board, and how is it transforming guest control interfaces?<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/377941/image/large-b51f8a6d6f7cc6451015c5cae0707b21.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/377941">Anyone involved in a new-build or refit project knows the question is coming: When can I stream the same content I enjoy at home on my yacht? For years, that request has been met with disappointment. In the meantime, yachts have become more complex with bespoke control apps and dedicated touchscreen remotes that often felt more like piloting the USS Enterprise than kicking back for a casual movie night. But that’s finally changing.&nbsp;“The availability of a broadband connection at sea was always a limiting factor – VSAT simply didn’t deliver the bandwidth to stream a Netflix movie,” says Daniel Kerkhof, Director of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/3897" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Crestron (Company)">Crestron</a> Marine. “Now the possibility is there, and everything is moving very quickly.”The dawn of low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellations – vast networks offering high-speed, low-latency, and relatively cost-effective 200Mbps+ internet – has brought full streaming capability to nearly every ocean. And with the new tech comes a new aesthetic as VSAT domes are ditched in favour of the sleek silhouettes of yachts built for seamless streaming.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/377944/image/large-b0b51de90db92dc8d73bb37dba85f295.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/377944">The BackboneWhile it has taken time for the internet side of things to catch up, AV/IT systems onboard have evolved. The inclusion of IT networks using wired Ethernet or wireless connectivity isn’t new.&nbsp;“The backbone has definitely changed – everything we do today is based on TCP/IP traffic and standard LAN [local area network] connections,” Kerkhof explains. That shift is the foundation of a broader move away from the traditional split between audio and video systems.Today’s LAN-based systems replace hard-wired, point-to-point signal paths with IP-based architecture. Encoders and decoders stand in for traditional transmitters and receivers, while IP switches replace AV switchers. And because data is packet-based, there’s no inherent limit to the number of inputs or outputs-– you just add more switches.This approach also eliminates the need for expensive specialty cabling to carry signals over long distances. Ethernet connections daisy-chained through switches deliver connectivity across virtually unlimited lengths – helping overcome signal degradation in steel or aluminium hulls. This is, essentially, the same packet-switching technology that powers modern streaming services.<img src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/377945/image/large-bbac6ece82186047529cd5e73e1a4954.gif?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&amp;X-Amz-Credential=AKIA52TLVJASOPFTPHWY%2F20251112%2Feu-west-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&amp;X-Amz-Date=20251112T103906Z&amp;X-Amz-Expires=900&amp;X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&amp;X-Amz-Signature=7dc7c8b5fb3db9bf6937a79ff47da5b030e0dc9be294209a48d589c2fd76266f" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/377945">Fortunately, many yachts already run CAT-5 or higher-grade Ethernet cabling, so upgrading doesn’t always require a costly, invasive refit. AV-over-IP has been around for a while – <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/3897" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Crestron (Company)">Crestron</a>’s DM NVX, launched in 2017, can distribute high-quality audio and 5K video over 1-gigabit CAT-5 cables.“We predict there will be a lot less hardware on board, because data storage on board will be gone and yachts will use the cloud for file sharing and email hosting, plus streaming,” says Kees Groen, Director Technology &amp; Innovation at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2213" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="VBH (Company)">Van Berge Henegouwen</a> (<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2213" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="VBH (Company)">VBH</a>). “But this means a requirement for a heavy IT backbone. We recognised that a few years ago so most of our yachts already feature Cat6a, Cat7 and multi-core fibre optic cables. Clients are experiencing the benefits of that now.” <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/377943/image/large-4e5c0542a6182034e3a76d3db2111c94.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/377943">“For at least five years we have been witnessing a progressive transition regarding the architecture of entertainment systems towards AV-over-IP,” adds Daniele Bonetti, technical engineer at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/212" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Benetti SpA (Company)">Benetti</a>’s Livorno shipyard. “The evolution of AV sources and the way they are used have started the process, while technological development has made new features available and increased the performance achievable in transmission and distribution of content.”The arrival of high-speed connectivity has only accelerated the trend: “Today, for projects above a certain size, maintaining traditional AV architecture isn’t even on the table. AV-over-IP is the only option,” adds Bonetti.AV-over-IP unlocks new possibilities. Instead of routing audio from the back of a TV to a soundbar, it can be pulled from the HDMI signal, encoded, and transmitted over the IP network – allowing distribution to premium speakers in that space or across the entire yacht. Video distribution is also possible although sending video-over-IP tends to be the preserve of larger yachts.&nbsp;“For sub-60-metre projects, IP video distribution is less typical due to cost,” Kerkhof notes. “But that doesn’t mean it can’t be done – we’ve even seen tenders with compact AV-over-IP setups.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/377947/image/large-ea01e56da9ed46212bc17e11363e1b77.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/377947">Taking Control The rise of streaming onboard has shifted expectations around control interfaces and how guests interact with systems. Earlier this year, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/3559" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Videoworks Group (Company)">Videoworks</a> introduced a new domotic control system that blends tactile control technology with the practicality of a traditional remote. Moving away from complex tablet interfaces in a return to intuitive design, users can easily manage not only TV channels and audio levels, but also lighting scenes and climate settings, all from a single, easy-to-use device.&nbsp;“The idea came from listening to our customers,” explains Francesco Pierpaoli, Chief Information Officer at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/3559" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Videoworks Group (Company)">Videoworks</a>. “More and more, they’re asking for systems that are simple and intuitive. In a cabin, for example, having a physical remote with just a few clearly marked buttons is much more convenient than a touchscreen iPad.”Bonetti agrees. “Custom remotes still play a key role – they simplify a wide range of functions beyond just AV,” he says. “But streaming platforms have changed the game. What I see is a return to the classic handheld remote for essential functions, often paired with tablets for managing larger environments.”Kerkhof concurs, noting that while guests often stream from their phones, universal remotes remain popular – especially for watching TV from the comfort of a bed. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/377949/image/large-7609f5d0d11251b8db6a19a7188ee627.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/377949">“Tactile buttons you can navigate by feel are still valued,” he says. “We’re also seeing more QR code integrations – walk into a room, scan the code, and access all controls from an HTML page on your phone.<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2213" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="VBH (Company)">VBH</a>, meanwhile, has blended the concept of easy remotes with the interface that owners and guests are used to when streaming content at home. The result is Guida, a widget-based system that can control all aspects of the yacht’s domotics. Key is the MediaHub widget that pools all your streaming services under one app with a familiar interface. “Guida lives on the App Store and Play, and MediaHub allows for easy searching of content across the different streaming services,” says Groen. “Then you can instantly play that content on your TV or tablet or wherever on board you want to stream it.”For Brian Faerber, Business Unit Manager at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/3869" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Eekels Technology BV (Company)">Eekels Technology</a>, the Smart TV is now central to the guest experience and at the heart of their SimplySmartTV solution. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/377948/image/large-23d4841617b5848530250f4a316924ba.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/377948">“We called it that because it’s easy to use,” he explains. “Clients often say iPad-based controls are too complicated. You sometimes need to press several buttons just to connect via Bluetooth. Our setup is like a hotel system – simple remote, intuitive interface, straightforward architecture, and reliable. How often does your Smart TV at home fail?”He adds that guests want to stream their own content and play music from their own libraries, at which point the TV becomes an extension of their phone: “That’s where we’re heading. The Smart TV is the streaming source, so we can eliminate everything except the IT network. Our app integrates with the TV, enabling AirPlay, Chromecast, and familiar interfaces.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/377942/image/large-aa92bdc130da6b14b21b1958a19881e6.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/377942">Design Today for Tomorrow&nbsp;The full potential of streaming and AV-over-IP is realised only when legacy systems – VSAT, TVRO, media servers, outdated AV equipment – are removed. Some owners are ready. Others, not quite. “There are still those asking for some form of local storage,” Kerkhof acknowledges. “But is it really necessary? I don’t think so.”For owners, representatives and project teams planning new AV/IT installations, Bonetti is direct: modern integrators need telecoms expertise. He points out that RJ45 plugs have replaced RCA connectors and that designs must follow structured cabling principles for long-term scalability.“The real value in a yacht’s AV system lies in how easily it can be modified or expanded in the future with minimal disruption,” he concludes. “That means choosing the right cables, reserving space, planning for integration, and selecting the right brands. Most importantly, design it today so it’s still relevant tomorrow.”This article was featured in <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/magazine/how-to-build-it-issue-8-download" target="_blank">Issue 8 of How To Build It</a>. You can read all the articles from this edition <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/magazine/how-to-build-it-issue-6https://www.superyachttimes.com/magazine/how-to-build-it-issue-8-download" target="_blank">here</a>, and stay up-to-date with all previous editions <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/magazine" target="_blank">here</a>.

A digital transformation: AV-over-IP found it's sea legs

Crestron Electronics makes dreams of streaming onboard a reality.

<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/865" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Carinthia VII97.2m (318'11&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2002">Carinthia VII</a>, the renowned 97.2-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a> superyacht, has undergone a major bridge refit at IGY Sète Marina in France, introducing a new level of technological refinement and design. The project was overseen by Ralph de Joode, Founder and Director of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4530" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="RYacht Management (Company)">RYacht Management</a> Monaco, who led the technical and project management of the works following the vessel’s extensive refit in 2023. SuperYacht Times' Sophie Spicknell went for a tour of the yacht during the Monaco Yacht Show, to see the new system in situ. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/327288/image/large-01b50a2ed7e5bc9d0a14fe19c42faa51.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/327288">YachtEye at the centreThe centrepiece of the refit is the seamless integration of YachtEye, now installed on a custom-built 75-inch touchscreen on the bridge. YachtEye’s multifunctional display gives crew and guests easy access to live vessel data, itineraries, positioning, weather updates, crew profiles, and more. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;The wider IT system extends these capabilities further, supporting functions such as Zoom calls, BYD laptop input, Apple TV streaming, and onboard lighting control. Up to three data sources can be shown at once, with a single tap enabling fullscreen focus on any selected input.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/372850/image/large-f9a5e92de2d2d5fe168119a866bf0db3.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/372850">Beyond the bridge, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7736" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="YachtEye (Company)">YachtEye</a> extends across the vessel via iPads, offering guests convenient access to menus, daily activities, and custom content. The integration underscores <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/865" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Carinthia VII97.2m (318'11&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2002">Carinthia VII</a>’s reputation as one of the world’s most technologically advanced yachts, blending high-end design with precision engineering and expert coordination.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/372849/image/large-acd9af28415320cf1ebef90e43985df3.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/372849">A collaborative refitThe bridge upgrade was carried out in close partnership with several leading specialists. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/3869" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Eekels Technology BV (Company)">Eekels Technology B.V.</a> provided the foundation of the installation, while <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/3631" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Vedder GmBH (Company)">Vedder</a> delivered expert carpentry, leather finishing of the bridge console, and the integration of both floors and ceilings. The company also built the console for the Furuno planning station. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1552" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Radio Zeeland DMP (Company)">Radio Zeeland</a> supplied the integrated bridge foil alongside advanced navigation and communication systems, including <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/8350" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Furuno (Company)">Furuno</a> radars, an ECDIS upgrade, an electronic logbook, seven 27-inch displays, a redundant conning system, a gyro compass, Helm chairs with trackball operation, a Sailor GMDSS suite, and AIS safety equipment.Interior styling was entrusted to Bizzozero Cassina, the Milan-based studio led by Riccardo Cassina and Paolo Bizzozero. Their clean and contemporary design concept complements the upgraded technical environment with understated elegance.

Carinthia VII yacht YachtEye refit

Carinthia VII has had a major bridge upgrade with YachtEye and RYacht Management.

Carinthia VII receives advanced bridge refit with YachtEye integration

There’s building superyachts – and there’s building the superyacht experience. It’s a subtle art and one that requires painstaking attention to detail and a deep understanding of an owner’s needs and lifestyle.&nbsp;The superyacht experience extends well beyond idyllic cruising grounds and impressive destinations. The experience is all about the mood and onboard ambiance – it’s a deft art and one that <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6808" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Marpower eXperience (Company)">Marpower eXperience</a> has mastered. “We pride ourselves on delivering tailor-made solutions not only per client or per project, but per room and per area onboard a yacht,” Brian Faerber, Business Unit Manager eXperience, told SuperYacht Times. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/248733/image/large-8bb33a2bd34b900d159f3f81ccf966cc.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/248733"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6808" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Marpower eXperience (Company)">Marpower eXperience</a> provides solutions for all audio-visual, lighting, control, IT &amp; communications, and security needs. The experience, however, doesn’t start from the yacht. It starts from those initial conversations, by gauging the client’s needs. The onboard mood is subjective and the journey to creating the atmosphere takes its origins from the drawing board. “We’re a client-centric organisation,” Faerber explained, “and that begins from the moment we meet them.”&nbsp;The <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6808" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Marpower eXperience (Company)">Marpower eXperience</a> application is the beating heart of the ecosystem, it’s where an owner can change the lights, the music, the movie and even the security cameras. This same application can be shared among guests, so that everyone onboard can set the ambiance, the mood that they’re looking for. A key function is control: the owner of the superyacht can allow access to the lighting, to the audio but not to the security – for instance.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/248736/image/large-f5ae2af0aa33d3713606a194e804b275.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/248736">&nbsp;Trusted by some of the world's leading shipyards, including <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a> and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/64" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Oceanco (Company)">Oceanco</a>, the approach of the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6808" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Marpower eXperience (Company)">Marpower eXperience</a> ecosystem has served itself well. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6808" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Marpower eXperience (Company)">Marpower eXperience</a> ensures that superyachts, whether new-builds or refits, are delivered to their owners with an easy-to-use, tailor-made audio-visual and lighting system that has been created with the client, for the client – and the epicentre of this ecosystem is available on any device.“Functionality is so important to us, we knew that we had to do away with multiple remotes and devices. It just doesn’t add to the experience,” Danny Schouten, Manager Sales &amp; Technology of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6808" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Marpower eXperience (Company)">Marpower eXperience</a>, added. “Everyone has a device of some sort and knows how to use it. It makes much more sense to utilise the technology that our clients are familiar with.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/248732/image/large-7826555dcdffc0775da127721cba2f15.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/248732"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/3869" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Eekels Technology BV (Company)">Eekels</a> is <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6808" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Marpower eXperience (Company)">Marpower eXperience</a>’s parent company, and has a breadth of experience and expertise, developed over more than a century of operation. Eekels is a one-stop tech solution provider for yachting – and the maritime industry, more generally – and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6808" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Marpower eXperience (Company)">Marpower eXperience</a> handles the entertainment and atmospheric side of things. The company works closely with the interior designers on any given project, to enhance the onboard experience. Superyachts embedded with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6808" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Marpower eXperience (Company)">Marpower eXperienc</a>e solutions are seamless, well integrated and, when needed, entirely customised.&nbsp;For every project, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6808" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Marpower eXperience (Company)">Marpower eXperience</a> conducts a needs assessment for each area of a superyacht, analysing how spaces are used and how best to curate and improve both mood and feel. With a broad portfolio of products, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6808" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Marpower eXperience (Company)">Marpower eXperience</a> can confidently create bespoke features for the yacht’s many audio-visual units, from exterior lighting, to the overall connectivity onboard. Despite the acute attention paid to each of a superyacht’s regions, the approach remains holistic, considering the overall atmosphere which flows throughout the yacht to fashion the superyacht experience. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/248737/image/large-e3f3ae86e1f3998b208dc5e7aad7100f.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/248737">

Marpower eXperience and onboard ambiance

SYT joined Marpower eXperience to learn more about the art of curating the perfect superyacht experience. 