DNV MED-B certification opens yacht market for Navis AP4000 autopilot.
Helsinki-based Navis Engineering Oy has passed an important milestone in the yacht sector, after receiving MED-B type approval for its latest generation type AP4000 autopilot from classification society Det Norske Veritas (DNV). Issued for a five-year period, the MED-B certificate provides assurance that the product complies with all the relevant international standards imposed on marine equipment of this type. The approval covers equipment delivery to newbuildings or existing vessels for retrofit.
Since its recent launch, uptake for the AP4000 has been rapid, with notable contracts including the 67m ketch Hetairos-II. This is the largest carbon-fibre sailing yacht in the world, and was completed at Baltic Shipyards last year. The AP3000, the AP4000’s predecessor, has an extensive reference list and can be found on the bridges of several distinguished yachts. These include the 62m sailing yacht Athos of London (built at Holland Yachtbouw shipyard), the 70m mega-yacht Numptia (built at Rossi Navi Yachts), the 61m mega-yacht Diamonds are Forever (Azimut-Benetti S.p.A), the 53.7m mega-yacht Prima (Palumbo shipyard) and the 50m motor yacht Papi du Papi (ISA Yachts), among others.
The AP4000’s IP67 level protection of the front panel and high-contrast anti-glare colour display are in line with its contemporary, while the unit also benefits from additional functionality. One of its new features is the fully self-adjusting Auto Tune algorithm that facilitates the adaption of the autopilot’s performance to the hydrodynamic parameters of any yacht of its displacement and dimensions. The AP4000 is one of the few autopilots on the market that has a configuration for two independent rudders. In addition, it is designed to allow for an interface with bow thrusters, making it possible to keep the yacht’s heading at low speeds.