SailADV: managing the yacht with the distributed intelligence of D.gree
by Il Tirreno22 September 20255 min read
In this article, SailADV provides an overview of what is changing in the nautical sector with the advent of artificial intelligence. It explains how the segment is still largely undefined and introduces D.gree, the distributed intelligence platform based on deterministic AI, already deployed on dozens of yachts to best support shipyards, yacht owners, and fleet management.
SailADV is a company specialized in the yachting sector, offering high-tech services and products to support shipyards, fleet management agencies, yacht owners, and stakeholders in addressing the diverse operational and management needs of vessels.
Thanks to its experience working with leading Italian and international shipyards, the company has conceived and developed D.gree: a powerful distributed intelligence platform that unifies the more than 100 systems on board a yacht into a single digital infrastructure.
Marine-grade technology
With D.gree, SailADV brings on board a complete and integrated view of the yacht’s condition. This means real-time technical awareness, predictive diagnostics, and immediate decision support: from routing to maintenance, from fuel consumption to safety—no aspect is overlooked. All data is coordinated in a continuous, coherent flow, with regulated access for the shipyard, captain, owner, or fleet manager.
“A modern yacht is made up of over 100 heterogeneous subsystems,” explains Giovanni Palamà, CEO & Founder of SailADV. He adds: “Without a system that truly connects them, every innovation risks remaining isolated. D.gree was created precisely to overcome this fragmentation.”
At its core lies proprietary technology: the Intelligent Node Technology, a network of software, hardware, and artificial intelligence interlinking every part of the yacht. Within this network, each system is integrated: data travels in real time, is analyzed locally, and is returned in a synthetic, actionable form.
A continuous evolution
D.gree acts as a technical and operational assistant, supporting supervision through predictive insights, contextual notifications, adaptive dashboards, and dynamic recommendations. For each yacht, it creates a personalized, secure, continuously updated digital profile.
Management is simple, even for fleets, with full respect for privacy, thanks to a distributed, encrypted, GDPR-compliant architecture. D.gree evolves every day at sea, learning from real-world usage and constant dialogue with designers and navigators.
The platform’s deterministic intelligence eliminates ambiguity, delivering contextualized and relevant information. Large Language Models (LLMs) are not the source of the information but rather the natural interface that enables users to access it quickly. AI here is not only LLMs, but the combination of these foundational technologies with expert systems and reliable data. The result is improved usability, a stronger relationship between human and machine, and operational precision on every journey.
Monitoring beyond the ‘black box’ concept
One of D.gree’s onboard functionalities is the ability to collect data through continuous, real-time monitoring.
In practice, the platform creates a dynamic, detailed archive of both vessel movements and conditions, functioning as the equivalent of an aircraft flight recorder—commonly known as the “black box.”
However, D.gree’s capabilities extend far beyond this, as the data is also analyzed through comparison.
For instance, consider an increase in engine temperature. This information carries different meanings depending on the yacht’s context: if crossing strong currents, a certain rise is normal; if sailing in calm waters, the same increase may indicate a potential anomaly.
D.gree can interpret such navigational details and issue an alert only when necessary, thereby reducing notifications to what truly matters. Not every anomaly requires immediate action: some can simply be monitored, postponing maintenance to a more suitable time.
Finally, users can manage all anomaly notifications by selecting which alerts to receive.
RINA certifies D.gree ‘Type Approval’ for Digital Yacht
In 2024, D.gree obtained its first Type Approval certification, confirming that the distributed intelligence platform enables any RINA-classed yacht (Registro Italiano Navale) to qualify for the additional notation of Digital Yacht.
To validate D.gree’s effectiveness and achieve certification, SailADV and RINA engineers carried out a year-long process of project reviews and functional testing.
The entire validation procedure was conducted directly on board the Sanlorenzo SP110 yacht, which was subsequently awarded the first-ever Digital Yacht class notation by RINA.
With D.gree on board, the Sanlorenzo SP110 became the first yacht in the world to obtain this certification.
If it’s measurable, it’s improvable – with SailADV
SailADV began as a start-up and evolved into an innovative SME, specializing in sea trials, testing, measurements, and analysis. It has built multidisciplinary engineering and technology divisions while maintaining its guiding philosophy: a system can only be improved by knowing its data.
The company operates three offices and several facilities in Italy, a design thinking team in Palo Alto, three service centers abroad, and an extended team of more than 100 technicians, engineers, and specialists.
The future of the segment is yet to be built
Over the past two decades, the average age of yacht owners has dropped by 10–15 years. Habits are changing, with a younger, more tech-savvy generation emerging—bringing new expectations.
While aesthetics still play a key role in yacht selection, sustainability and functionality now matter as well. This generational and cultural shift coincides with the acceleration brought by AI, which is redefining the boundary between sectors already digitally transformed and those yet to fully embrace innovation.
For shipyards, this means facing two parallel challenges: meeting owners’ expectations for a seamless, transparent, traceable onboard experience, while avoiding further complexity in yachts already made of hundreds of subsystems.
D.gree offers a solution: without directly controlling yacht operations, it understands usage patterns and owner behaviors, delivering services aligned with expectations.
Made in Italy and Designed in Palo Alto, CA, D.gree brings autonomy and control on board the world’s most beautiful and innovative yachts.
Thanks to its experience working with leading Italian and international shipyards, the company has conceived and developed D.gree: a powerful distributed intelligence platform that unifies the more than 100 systems on board a yacht into a single digital infrastructure.
Marine-grade technology
With D.gree, SailADV brings on board a complete and integrated view of the yacht’s condition. This means real-time technical awareness, predictive diagnostics, and immediate decision support: from routing to maintenance, from fuel consumption to safety—no aspect is overlooked. All data is coordinated in a continuous, coherent flow, with regulated access for the shipyard, captain, owner, or fleet manager.
“A modern yacht is made up of over 100 heterogeneous subsystems,” explains Giovanni Palamà, CEO & Founder of SailADV. He adds: “Without a system that truly connects them, every innovation risks remaining isolated. D.gree was created precisely to overcome this fragmentation.”
At its core lies proprietary technology: the Intelligent Node Technology, a network of software, hardware, and artificial intelligence interlinking every part of the yacht. Within this network, each system is integrated: data travels in real time, is analyzed locally, and is returned in a synthetic, actionable form.
A continuous evolution
D.gree acts as a technical and operational assistant, supporting supervision through predictive insights, contextual notifications, adaptive dashboards, and dynamic recommendations. For each yacht, it creates a personalized, secure, continuously updated digital profile.
Management is simple, even for fleets, with full respect for privacy, thanks to a distributed, encrypted, GDPR-compliant architecture. D.gree evolves every day at sea, learning from real-world usage and constant dialogue with designers and navigators.
The platform’s deterministic intelligence eliminates ambiguity, delivering contextualized and relevant information. Large Language Models (LLMs) are not the source of the information but rather the natural interface that enables users to access it quickly. AI here is not only LLMs, but the combination of these foundational technologies with expert systems and reliable data. The result is improved usability, a stronger relationship between human and machine, and operational precision on every journey.
Monitoring beyond the ‘black box’ concept
One of D.gree’s onboard functionalities is the ability to collect data through continuous, real-time monitoring.
In practice, the platform creates a dynamic, detailed archive of both vessel movements and conditions, functioning as the equivalent of an aircraft flight recorder—commonly known as the “black box.”
However, D.gree’s capabilities extend far beyond this, as the data is also analyzed through comparison.
For instance, consider an increase in engine temperature. This information carries different meanings depending on the yacht’s context: if crossing strong currents, a certain rise is normal; if sailing in calm waters, the same increase may indicate a potential anomaly.
D.gree can interpret such navigational details and issue an alert only when necessary, thereby reducing notifications to what truly matters. Not every anomaly requires immediate action: some can simply be monitored, postponing maintenance to a more suitable time.
Finally, users can manage all anomaly notifications by selecting which alerts to receive.
RINA certifies D.gree ‘Type Approval’ for Digital Yacht
In 2024, D.gree obtained its first Type Approval certification, confirming that the distributed intelligence platform enables any RINA-classed yacht (Registro Italiano Navale) to qualify for the additional notation of Digital Yacht.
To validate D.gree’s effectiveness and achieve certification, SailADV and RINA engineers carried out a year-long process of project reviews and functional testing.
The entire validation procedure was conducted directly on board the Sanlorenzo SP110 yacht, which was subsequently awarded the first-ever Digital Yacht class notation by RINA.
With D.gree on board, the Sanlorenzo SP110 became the first yacht in the world to obtain this certification.
If it’s measurable, it’s improvable – with SailADV
SailADV began as a start-up and evolved into an innovative SME, specializing in sea trials, testing, measurements, and analysis. It has built multidisciplinary engineering and technology divisions while maintaining its guiding philosophy: a system can only be improved by knowing its data.
The company operates three offices and several facilities in Italy, a design thinking team in Palo Alto, three service centers abroad, and an extended team of more than 100 technicians, engineers, and specialists.
The future of the segment is yet to be built
Over the past two decades, the average age of yacht owners has dropped by 10–15 years. Habits are changing, with a younger, more tech-savvy generation emerging—bringing new expectations.
While aesthetics still play a key role in yacht selection, sustainability and functionality now matter as well. This generational and cultural shift coincides with the acceleration brought by AI, which is redefining the boundary between sectors already digitally transformed and those yet to fully embrace innovation.
For shipyards, this means facing two parallel challenges: meeting owners’ expectations for a seamless, transparent, traceable onboard experience, while avoiding further complexity in yachts already made of hundreds of subsystems.
D.gree offers a solution: without directly controlling yacht operations, it understands usage patterns and owner behaviors, delivering services aligned with expectations.
Made in Italy and Designed in Palo Alto, CA, D.gree brings autonomy and control on board the world’s most beautiful and innovative yachts.