BBA 2026: Inside the race for Innovative Design Solution

The countdown is on for this year’s Boat Builder Awards for Business Achievement, in association with Teledyne Raymarine, and with tickets selling fast, now’s the time to grab yours.

Finalists across five categories have been revealed, and today we’re turning the spotlight on another of the industry’s most closely watched honours: Innovative Design, sponsored by JL Audio.

This category recognises designs, systems and construction approaches that push the boundaries of what a boat can be, whether through radical layout thinking, breakthrough engineering, modular flexibility or production innovation.

Meet this year’s standout finalists:

Galeon 570 SKY

Galeon Yachts is recognised for the 570 SKY, a revolutionary addition to the acclaimed Skydeck line that blends the sporty silhouette of a hardtop with the full functionality of a flybridge. The top deck provides a hidden flybridge area with a full helm, sun loungers and convertible seating, all without compromising the yacht’s elegant lines, a design achievement built on nearly 45 years of entirely in-house production across Galeon’s two Gdańsk-area shipyards.

MC-ZERO 450

MC-ZERO Tenders are recognised for the MC-ZERO 450, the world’s first tender with a movable helm and the world’s first twin electric jet tender, developed through the joint venture between McConaghy Boats and ZeroJet. A one-person helm and seat assembly can be repositioned forward, midship or aft in minutes, freeing up to 40% more usable space than a comparable RIB while removing exhaust emissions at the point of use.

MIRAVA M800

MIRAVA Boats are finalists for the M800, a mono-volume smart boat platform designed by Arman Fissette and Emanuele Bomboi that swaps a fixed layout for transformable stern and bow structures, a detachable electric tender and wristband-based positioning, all tied together by an intelligent interface handling navigation, automatic docking and position holding.

Riva 54Metri

Rounding out the list is Riva Yacht’s 54Metri, a 54.83-metre superyacht with a 9.18-metre beam and 499 GT, shaped around sleek lines and panoramic, sea-facing spaces with full-height windows and fold-down bulwarks that extend the beach area into a terrace over the water. Interiors blend teak, Tunisian Sahara Noir and African Bianco Rhino marble with leather detailing, while twin MTU 12V2000 M96L engines deliver a top speed of 18 knots, built at Riva’s Superyacht Division in Ancona.

Book your tickets now

Now in its 12th edition, the 2026 Boat Builder Awards for Business Achievement is jointly organised by IBI and Metstrade, in association with Teledyne Raymarine. The ceremony returns to Restaurant Harbour 8 on Wednesday evening, November 18, 2026, celebrating six key categories, including the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award.

Individual tickets, half-table and full-table reservations are available, with places allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Whether attending with colleagues, entertaining clients or meeting industry contacts, the awards offer an opportunity to celebrate the people and businesses driving progress across boatbuilding.

Book your tickets now

Individual tickets, half-table and full-table reservations are available, with places allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Whether attending with colleagues, entertaining clients or meeting industry contacts, the awards offer an opportunity to celebrate the people and businesses driving progress across boatbuilding.

                                  Reserve your place for 18 November.

                To ensure your ticket reservation for a night to remember

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