Maiden Voyage of HighSpeed Catamaran Monaco One

In attendance at the launch were His Serene Highness Prince Albert II, his niece and godmother of Monaco One, Ms Camille Gottlieb, Her Royal Highness the Princess of Hanover, Her Serene Highness Princess Stéphanie, Mr and Mrs Louis Ducruet, and Ms Pauline Ducruet.

The Monaco One is a powerhouse of state-of-the-art technology, built in a sandwich-structured composite of carbon and glass, measuring 12m in length and 7.5m in width and powered by two 350hp Yanmar engines.

The brand-new power catamaran can sail 250 miles on a full tank, and will be used as a shuttle service between Monaco and Ventimiglia carrying up to 12 passengers in absolute comfort. Guests of both ports will be able to travel between the two marinas in just 15 minutes aboard Monaco One, travelling at speeds of 45 knots. The design combines a need for speed with a reliable and sustainable approach thanks to cutting-edge aerodynamic solutions that allow for fuel consumption at top speeds to be half that of conventional designs.

Aleco Keusseoglou, President of the Société d’Exploitation des Ports de Monaco, welcomed guests to the Yacht Club de Monaco’s waterfront, where all necessary health and safety rules were followed, with a few opening words. “Today is a day we should all be celebrating,” said Keusseoglou. “The Monaco One, with her futuristic design, symbolises the hope we hold for a better tomorrow, a tomorrow we actively work towards, a tomorrow we believe in.”

After thanking those who came to witness such a momentous occasion, the SPEM President continued by stressing “the importance of the direct connection now possible thanks to the Monaco One for private clients of the Principality’s ports and of Cala del Forte, reinforcing the strong bond Monaco already shares with Ventimiglia and Liguria’s Ponente coast.

“Finally, I would like to thank all those involved, especially Ms Camille Gottlieb for having agreed to act as godmother to the Monaco One, we are all deeply honoured. The Société d’Exploitation des Ports de Monaco will join Monaco One in establishing a partnership with the BE SAFE Association, of which Ms Gottlieb is President. The Association pursues a particularly noble purpose and we are thrilled to be able to help in this endeavour.”

After the religious ceremony enacted by the Archbishop of Monaco, Monsignor Dominique-Marie David, followed by the traditional smashing of the sacrificial bottle against the hull carried out by godmother Camille Gottlieb, the Grimaldi Family joined President Keusseoglou onboard the Monaco One to enjoy the catamaran’s inaugural launch at sea.