How Yacht Trace and Liiontek Are Redefining Safety for Electric & Hybrid Tenders in the Superyacht Sector
The shift toward electric and hybrid tenders isn’t a future concept anymore — it is firmly part of today’s superyacht landscape. As more builders introduce high-capacity lithium-ion propulsion systems, the operational demands placed on captains, ETOs and engineering teams have expanded dramatically. Managing towing, monitoring battery health, supervising charging cycles, and maintaining safety compliance all require far more sophisticated oversight than traditional combustion-powered tenders ever needed.
To support this evolution, Yacht Trace has entered a strategic collaboration with Liiontek, a specialist in lithium-ion battery fire detection and marine safety systems. Together we are shaping a new standard for electric tender monitoring, battery-safety visibility, and long-range towing capability, engineered specifically for the operational environment of modern superyachts.
The Growing Complexity of Electric & Hybrid Tender Operations
Electric and hybrid tenders introduce new layers of responsibility on board:
- High-energy lithium-ion battery packs require continuous monitoring to detect thermal deviations and off-gassing events.
- Charging demands early-stage fire detection, not just conventional alarms.
- Tenders must remain trackable, tow-safe, and operationally verified even when stored remotely or under tow at night.
- Insurance underwriters increasingly expect measurable risk-reduction systems for lithium-based propulsion.
These realities create an environment where conventional tender-tracking devices or basic alarm systems fall short. Electric tenders need integrated, multi-signal data, delivered in real time, with hardware engineered for marine vibration, moisture and RF-dense environments.
This is the exact intersection where Yacht Trace and Liiontek combine their respective strengths.
A Collaboration Built on Technical Capability, Not Marketing Claims
Yacht Trace’s Contribution
Yacht Trace brings a purpose-built monitoring ecosystem designed specifically for tenders and chase boats, including:
- Two-way RF communication engineered for extended towing distances
- Wireless sensor networks for bilge, voltage, movement and vessel health
- Real-time GPS from both mother vessel and tender – tracks distance between tender and mothership
- Night towing support with precise telemetry
- Non-invasive installation via a Peli-case based architecture, but now sending to the chart plotter in the bridge
- Insurer-ready monitoring data
- Bespoke add-ons such as prop shafts, depth sensors, jet ski.
This system already supports captains seeking longer tow lengths, more predictable tender behaviour, and transparent health reporting — whether the tender is in the water, onboard, or operating independently.
Liiontek’s Contribution
Liiontek focuses on one of the most critical aspects of modern tender safety: the behaviour of lithium-ion cells under stress. Their systems provide:
- Early off-gas detection (the earliest warning of cell failure)
- Thermal event suppression products tailored for marine environments
- Charging and safety technology
- Specialised equipment for high-energy packs used in electric tenders
This early-stage detection is vital because lithium cells typically signal distress minutes — sometimes hours — before thermal runaway occurs. Catching these early signs avoids severe incidents, protects crew, and satisfies insurer and class-driven safety expectations.
What This Integration Delivers for the Superyacht Industry
Bringing these two technologies together creates an ecosystem that goes far beyond traditional tender tracking or battery monitoring. Key advantages include:
1. Unified Safety & Operational Intelligence
Yacht Trace handles operational performance: towing, motion, GPS, bilge, voltage and tender-to-mothership communication.
Liiontek delivers early battery failure detection and the ability to stop the charging.
Combined, this creates one coordinated safety framework rather than fragmented alerts.
2. Tow-Safe Confidence for Long-Range Routes
Electric tenders are heavier, carry more critical systems, and produce more data. Captains can tow with clarity, even on long passages, because the Yacht Trace RF link continues transmitting full telemetry.
This is particularly valuable at night or during busy charter seasons.
3. Enhanced Insurance Alignment
Underwriters recognise the emerging risks of electric propulsion. A tender fitted with:
- real-time RF monitoring
- lithium off-gas detection
- charging safety equipment
…demonstrates a proactive mitigation of high-risk systems.
This collaboration makes electric/hybrid tenders not just compliant — but technically validated.
4. Seamless Installation for New Builds & Refits
Yacht Trace’s plug-and-play system means new builds, refits, and tender swaps require minimal downtime. Liiontek’s modules integrate into existing lithium battery compartments without structural changes and link up with the tender side of the Yacht Trace system.
This suits operational yachts that cannot be out of service for long periods.
5. Futureproofing Your Tender Fleet
As electric propulsion grows, tenders will generate more data streams: battery cycles, cell behaviour, thermal load, charging sessions, vibration impact and more.
The Yacht Trace ecosystem is built to evolve with these demands.
Why This Matters for Superyacht Captains, Fleet Managers & Builders
Electric tenders are not a like-for-like replacement for petrol outboards. They introduce:
- new risk categories
- new monitoring requirements
- new compliance considerations
- new performance metrics
This collaboration acknowledges the reality that electric tenders need specialised tooling, not repurposed yacht sensors or generic trackers.
For captains, it means predictable performance.
For engineers, it means real technical insight.
For builders, it means a robust safety specification they can deliver to clients.
For owners, it means reliability and reduced operational uncertainty during charter or private use.
Electric and hybrid tenders are reshaping the expectations placed on superyacht operations. The collaboration between Yacht Trace and Liiontek delivers an integrated framework that supports these new demands with precision, reliability and forward-thinking engineering.
To equip your fleet with next-generation monitoring and lithium-battery safety, contact us for installation specifications or a technical briefing.