Safely removing barriers to entry

The METSTRADE show, considered the world’s largest trade exhibition for the marine industry, revealed the winners of the annual DAME Awards which recognizes the newest products in the marketplace.

Andre Hoek, Chair of the DAME Jury, presented the 30th anniversary DAME Award 2021 to the Volvo Penta Assisted Docking System. A further five products were named as Category Winners and 15 received Special Mentions.

The jury had previously selected 53 products from a total field of 103 entries spanning 25 countries which had been nominated to enter the final rounds of judgement of the 2021 DAME Award competition.

The Volvo Penta Assisted Docking System works with the company’s proven IPS propulsion drives to provide hitherto unknown levels of fine maneuvering control in motor yachts, with the ability to take wind and current into account.

It is easily operated via a joystick controller, even by a novice user of a motor yacht. Its Glass Cockpit System assists situational awareness. If the person at the helm needs more time to think, they can take their hand off the joystick and the boat holds its precise position until the control is touched again.

In reaching its decision, the DAME Jury recognized the Assisted Docking solution is the result of much research, development, and extensive software and hardware design. The system is intuitive while the ergonomics and aesthetics of the hand controller provide a feeling of confidence in the system even before you use it.

Great design has a critical role to play in bringing new people into boating. Volvo Penta’s Assisted Docking is a welcome development to address changing market landscapes where boating needs to become less difficult and more accessible.

“The world has changed in so many ways since we last physically gathered as a Jury in 2019,” noted Hoek. “Pandemic restrictions have greatly heightened our appreciation of the environment. The lifestyle benefits of marine leisure are drawing in a whole new generation in a way that we could not have imagined just two years ago.

“Sustainable product lifecycle and making boating more accessible for novice users are critical design priorities as we move through this decade. It is appropriate therefore that the Jury selected the Volvo Penta Assisted Docking system as its DAME Award for 2021. This product is a brilliant example of how we can harness great design and evolving technology to safely remove barriers to entry.”

DAME AWARD 2021:
• Volvo Penta Assisted Docking

CATEGORY WINNERS:

Marine Electronics and Marine Related Software
• Garmin Surround View Camera System

Interior Equipment, Furnishing, Materials, and Electrical Fittings used in Cabins
• Dometic Voyager TX Series

Marina Equipment, Boatyard Equipment, and Boat Construction Tools and Materials
• No category winner this year.

Deck Equipment, Sails, and Rigging
• Bonomi JOY Self-Tailing Cleat

Clothing and Crew Accessories
• No category winner this year

Lifesaving and Safety Equipment
• ACR Electronics ResQLink View RLS Personal Locator Beacon

Machinery, Propulsion, Mechanical, and Electrical Systems and Fittings
The Jury named joint winners in this category:
• Mastervolt MLI Ultra 1250
• Volvo Penta Assisted Docking

SPECIAL MENTIONS:

Marine Electronics and Marine Related Software
• Calypso Instruments Ultrasonic Portable Mini
• ICOM IC-M94DE
• Pixel sur mer EXOCET Gold
• Raymarine Cyclone

Interior Equipment, Furnishing, Materials, and Electrical Fittings Used in Cabins
• Dometic M65 Gravity Toilet
• Morbern MorGreen Evohide Mistral FRee

Marina Equipment, Boatyard Equipment, and Boat Construction Tools and Materials
• No Special Mentions were awarded in this category.

Deck Equipment, Sails and Rigging
• Karver Systems KF Bio Concept
• Rapid Marine Universal Chocks
• Rigging Projects RP Steering Hub

Clothing and Crew Accessories
• Spinlock Waterproof Essentials Packs

Lifesaving and Safety Equipment
• Plastimo SLR196
• SEA-FIRE 2 Litre AVD Fire Extinguisher
• Spinlock Nemo Baby & Junior 150N Lifejacket Harness

Machinery, Propulsion, Mechanical and Electrical Systems and Fittings
• Mercury 7.6L V12 600hp Verado
• REMIGO RemigoOne