Posted on December 20, 2023
Maritime manufacturers Al Seer Marine (Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates) and Abu Dhabi Maritime (UAE) recently secured The Guinness World Records title for the largest 3D-printed boat. Dubbing it the “world’s first” 3D-printed water taxi, the 11.98-meter-long, 3.5-meter-wide construction surpasses the 7.72-meter-long 3Dirigo developed by the University of Maine Advanced Structures and Composites Center (ASCC), which originally held the record.
The boat consists of two hulls, which were each printed in 5.5 days. It uses 67% recycled materials — 30% of it fiberglass and UV stabilizer — emphasizing both UAE company’s core principles of sustainability and inclusivity. The 3D printing feat was made possible using CEAD’s (Delft, Netherlands) Flexbot, a flexible robot-based solution for large-scale additive manufacturing that the company claims is the largest worldwide (4 × 36 meters). Installed at Al Seer Marine’s facility, CEAD provided on-site assistance during the process.
According to ship-technology.com, the 3D-printed boat has a “capacity of 6.4 tons, [and is] powered by two 15-kilowatt electric thrusters.” It “accommodates 29 passengers with ease, crew included, while offering dedicated spaces for bicycles and wheelchairs,” says voxelmatters.com.
In November 2022, Abu Dhabi Maritime and Al Seer Marine signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for cooperation in maritime-related developments and environmental protection, which include the introduction of “state-of-the-art boats.” According to reports, the water taxi is set to be implemented into the water taxi platform by 2024.
“This record-breaking accomplishment is a testament to our unwavering dedication to sustainable practices and pioneering engineering,” Guy Neivens, CEO of Al Seer Marine, told voxelmatters.com. “Beyond achieving a Guinness World Record, this endeavor serves as a clarion call to the industry, urging the adoption of greener technologies. We take pride in crafting this water taxi within our own facility, a beacon of our commitment to a sustainable future.”
