CrewMateAI is born, artificial intelligence at the service of shipowners and captains

From the management of yachts and superyachts to the daily life of a small business, artificial intelligence is making a tangible impact on operational processes. CrewMateAI was born from an idea by Mateusz Kulig, Alberto Barovier, and Mattia Belleri, with the aim of supporting owners and captains in the technical management of their vessels by centralizing data, manuals, and maintenance in a single digital environment. SUPER YACHT 24 spoke with Alberto Barovier, a renowned Italian professional sailor with three America's Cup campaigns under his belt and founder of the rigging company Fabrica, based in Valencia, Spain, who discusses the project's origins, applications, and potential developments.

Alberto Barovier, how did CrewMateAI come about?
The idea came from a meeting with one of the partners, Mateusz Kulig, who was already working on this project. I was struck by the technology's potential and decided to get involved, also involving Mattia Belleri (boat captain and PM of Dario Segre's Baltic 142 Canova, ed.) for his technical and operational expertise. From there, we created the AbmWise company and developed the CrewMateAI application.

What is the purpose of the application and what is it used for?
The goal is to simplify and streamline the technical and operational management of the vessel through artificial intelligence. It centralizes all the vessel's information—manuals, components, serial numbers, spare parts, maintenance history—and makes it instantly accessible, even via voice interaction. At any time, the captain or owner can ask how to service a system, where a specific component is located, or which supplier is the right one. Added to this is the community: a network of captains, owners, and professionals who use the platform and share experiences in real time. It's a way to discuss specific technical issues and quickly find solutions or useful contacts.

What is the community's role within the app, and how will it be used operationally? Can you give us a concrete example?
The community connects shipowners, boat captains, technicians, and suppliers who use the app in real time. It's not a static forum, but a dynamic space for exchanging operational information. Members can ask specific questions and receive answers or helpful contacts from those who have already faced the same problem.

Which are the prices?
"It's an application with three levels: Essential at 49 euros per month, Pro at 99 euros, and Enterprise, dedicated to large fleets or superyachts, with pricing to be defined based on the system's complexity. It's suitable for any type and size of yacht, whether sailing or motor."

Is it an easy-to-use tool even for a historically conservative market like yachting?
"Yes, it's very simple. You can give the voice assistant a custom name and interact with it like you would with a smartphone. If you ask how to change a light bulb, it shows you the cross-section, wattage, location, and instructions for your boat, because all the manuals are loaded into the system."

Why should a shipowner or captain subscribe?
CrewMateAI also helps optimize management costs. Today, a captain must manage maintenance, deadlines, spare parts, suppliers, technical documentation, and team coordination. To cover everything in a structured way, a structured team would be needed. The application, however, allows us to absorb part of this burden through...

What further developments or business models could the application have in the future?
"We'll apply the same technology to the management of small and medium-sized businesses like mine, Fabrica, where I'm already testing it. AbmWise will therefore have both a nautical and an industrial component."

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