What the ISS Leadership Series in West Palm Beach revealed about where the industry is heading
During the Palm Beach International Boat Show, ISS hosted two Leadership Series sessions at the Canopy by Hilton West Palm Beach Downtown, drawing captains, designers, technologists, legal professionals, and management experts for an afternoon of honest, forward-looking conversation. Both sessions are now available to watch in full.
SESSION ONE
Alastair Callender – Moravia Yachting, Christina Norris – Oversee Yachts, Claire Hagen – Armada Club, Jake Lazarus – Fenton Innovation, Sara Shake – Vacancy, Kristina Agustin – Southern Sky AI / Moderator
AI in Yachting: From Buzzword to Operational Reality
The first session cut through the noise around artificial intelligence and focused on what is actually happening across the industry right now. Panelists examined how AI is being applied to yacht management, operations, safety, and decision-making, with a particular focus on automating repetitive and bureaucratic tasks that consume crew and management time, from procurement and recruitment to onboarding. This shift is beginning to free teams to focus on the high-value interpersonal work that defines the industry.
This perspective set the tone for a broader conversation around augmentation rather than replacement, positioning AI as a tool to enhance human capability rather than diminish it. The discussion also addressed the legal, ethical, and cultural considerations that come with adopting AI in a sector defined by discretion and trust. The superyacht industry operates within a unique framework of confidentiality between owners, charter clients, captains, and crew, and panelists were clear that any technological integration must respect and reinforce these expectations. Jake Lazarus, from Fenton Innovation, highlighted the scale of opportunity ahead, saying, “Think of it as having an infinite number of PhD graduates in your companies. If that is what is available to you today, what would you do with it? Would you ask it to rewrite your emails or can we take it a step further in this industry? Be a little bit more imaginative with the applications and see how you can push your individual usage.” AI is not a future disruption but a present reality, capable of transforming efficiency across the industry. However, its success will depend not on the technology itself, but on how thoughtfully it is applied within a human-centered industry built on relationships, trust, and expertise.
SESSION TWO
AJ Anderson – Wright Maritime Group, Derek Munro – Divergent Yachting, Espen Øino – Espen Øino International, Joep Bollerman – Lloyd’s Register, Sam Wheaton – SeaHub, Luiz DeBasto – DeBasto Design / Moderator
Future Technology and Innovation: Fuels, Propulsion, and the Next Frontier
Moderated by designer Luiz DeBasto, the second session shifted focus to one of the most consequential and forward-looking discussions in the superyacht industry today: the role of nuclear power in shaping the next generation of yacht propulsion. What emerged was not a speculative debate, but a grounded and increasingly credible case for nuclear as a viable, and perhaps inevitable, solution. The panelists spoke candidly about the pace of development and the likelihood of adoption.
Unlike alternative green fuels that continue to face scalability and production challenges, nuclear power offers a fundamentally different value proposition, including exceptional power density, true energy independence, and operational periods of 10 to 15 years without refueling. The technology discussed is not that of earlier generations. Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), operating at around 5 megawatts, are described as intrinsically safe, with encapsulated fuel, robust shielding, and fire-resistant materials tested to extreme conditions.
The operational model is also reimagined. Reactors would function under a leasing structure, with manufacturers retaining licensing responsibility and managing fuel cycles and disposal. When combined with AI-driven predictive maintenance, real-time sensor integration, and satellite connectivity, this represents a significant evolution in how superyachts could be operated and maintained.
Beneath the technical discussion was a broader reflection on what superyachting ultimately represents and what remains irreplaceably human within it.
Safety — often the most scrutinized aspect of nuclear technology — was addressed directly. Espen Øino pointed to a significant advancement in how risk is now managed:
When combined with AI-driven predictive maintenance, real-time sensor integration, and satellite connectivity, this represents a significant evolution in how superyachts could be operated. Sam Wheaton of Seahub framed the broader maintenance shift clearly:
AJ Anderson of Wright Maritime Group noted that beyond technology and regulation, one factor above all will determine the pace of adoption:
This development may prove critical in shaping both regulatory acceptance and public perception. Ultimately, the session highlighted that the next frontier for the superyacht industry may extend beyond design and luxury alone, toward a deeper reconsideration of how vessels are powered and operated in a rapidly evolving energy landscape.
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