Also this year the Principality of Monaco has enthusiastically accepted the university team “Messina Energy Boat”(Meb). On July 6, 2025 the Twelfth edition of the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge (MEBC), a prestigious international event at the Munich Yacht Club which promotes innovation and sustainability in the nautical sector, through the search for cutting -edge energy solutions.
The Meb team, born in September 2022, has already participated in the previous two editions before facing this new challenge, obtaining a 7th place out of 15 participating teams with the “Scirocco 48” prototype in 2023, in 2024 a 5th place out of 20 participating teams with the “Guglielmino” prototype. This year the team managed to improve the result obtained in previous editions, conquering 4th place out of 20 teams in the race.
Among the participants, the Peloritano team was the only representative of Central-South Italy to compete in the prestigious Energy Class category, confronting another 19 university teams from all over the world (France, England, Indonesia, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Qatar, India, Croatia, Denmark, Austria, Principality of Munich).
For the 2025 edition, the university team was able to count on the main sponsors Palumbo Shipyards and Palumbo Superyachts Refit. Two realities that they believed strongly in the team MeB renewing the relationship of collaboration with the University of Messina and the realities of the territory. The Palumbo group, in fact, has been investing in activities aimed at local development, the training of new generations and innovative research for years.
The new boat was baptized “Guglielminino 2.0”, a tribute that renews the deep bond of the team with the memory of Professor Eugenio Guglielminoformer director of the engineering department and disappeared last year. It was he, with great determination, who strongly supported and promote the participation of the University of Messina in this project.
The new “Guglielminino 2.0” prototype is completely new compared to the previous ones and has been designed on the basis of the results obtained with the previous “Guglielmino” prototype during the tests at sea carried out at the tennis club and sailing with the support of its president, dr. Antonio Spatari.
Among the innovations introduced, the prototype has been lightened by about 14 kg compared to the previous one, thanks also to the design and construction of a new structure, the result of a process that occurred in collaboration with the Main Sponsors Palumbo Shipyards and Palumbo Superyachts Refit have opened the doors of their Messinese construction site to welcome students and students, providing a tangible technical and operational support through their own workers and own teams. A 25 kW engine was also installed, to replace the 15 kW one used in the last edition. The capacity of the batteries has been significantly increased: 9.5 kWh for traction and 420 WH for on -board services. Finally, a new system of helmsman was developed, lighter and more precise, designed to ensure greater efficiency and maneuverability. A path, that of the students and professors, who after stages of comparison on the development and structure of the boat that occurred together with the technicians of the Palumbo group, led to the launch of June 25 at the tennis and sailing club.
The new prototype has been shipped and assembled at the Munich Yacht Club, which provides the hulls to the participating teams. Subsequently, he underwent the technical inspections, overcome with great enthusiasm and pride by the team.
After the checks, the boys faced four different tests provided for by the competition, confronting teams from all over the world. Among these, the Qualifying Laps, a race on a closed circuit of 0.5 nautical miles to be completed in the shortest possible time, in which the Messina team has conquered fourth place, improving its result of three positions compared to the previous year. In Speed Record, a speed test on a 1 km straight to travel at maximum speed, Messina Energy Boat reached fifth place, gaining a position compared to the last edition. During the Endurance Race, resistance race in which the boats must take, in three hours, the largest number of turns on a 0.66 nautical miles long route, the team has obtained an excellent fourth place, improving two positions compared to the previous year. Finally, in the Slalom Race a test of maneuverability and speed on a zigzag course between six Boe the team faced a demanding challenge: during the first heat, a technical problem put the race at risk. In addition, the pilot accused shoulder pain during this phase, further complicating the test. Despite everything, in just thirty minutes, the boys managed to intervene promptly, restoring the boat and returning to the water to successfully complete the second heat. The pilot, with great determination, completed the challenge, contributing to the achievement of the fifth final place. A result that confirms the high level of technical preparation and the team spirit that for three years have distinguished the Messina Energy Boat team.
The team present in Montecarlo was made up of the following members: prof. Vincenzo Crupi, as Faculty Advisor, Prof. Gabriella Epasto, Vice Faculty Advisor, Giuseppe Brando (Team Leader), Giovanni Briguglio (Team Liaison), Gabriele Barraco (pilot), Daniele Rizzo, Fabio Distefano, Vittorio Geraci, Marco Pavan, Enrico Mara Orfanò, Filippo Rossini, Simone Cristiano and Roberto Antonio Carmelo Fonte. (Design and Propulsion Group), Francesca Maria Larosa, Michela Michelizzi and Anna Crisafulli (Communication and Marketing Group).
The Palumbo group did not fail to support the team also on the competition field, making its support feel as much as operating. Offering support, competence and constant encouragement through the first -person involvement of representatives of team marketing, technical and company management team.
The group is profoundly proud of the result obtained and having once again represented the University of Messina, ranking among the first four teams in an international competition of the highest level. The work done throughout the year was intense, passionate and full of challenges, and seeing the efforts in such a prestigious milestone concretized has filled all the members of the team of great satisfaction.
The excellent result achieved is the result of the activities carried out throughout the year: a design phase, carried out at the Meb classroom of the engineering department, followed by the construction phase at the laboratory of the Department and the Palumbo Shipyards construction site in Messina under the guidance of the General Manager La Latino, and finally the tests at sea at the Tennis and Vela Club. These activities were very training because they allowed the team to combine the practice with theory and to work in a group. The team has always been supported by the University of Messina and in particular by the magnificent rector of the University of Messina, Prof. Giovanna Spatari, and by the director of the Engineering Department, prof. Ernesto Cascone, to which the official MEB team was delivered on the occasion of the event “1925-2025 hundred years of the engineering department” during the day 11 July 2025.
For the children of Messina Energy Boat, representing Sicily and, in particular, the city of Messina, also means promoting love and respect for the sea. Their commitment is oriented not only to technological innovation, but also to environmental sustainability: with their electricity solutions, they intend to contribute to reducing marine pollution and enhancing the beauty and fragility of the ecosystem that surrounds us.