Novenco Brings Energy-Efficient Marine Ventilation to METSTRADE

Marine ventilation joins the energy-efficiency agenda

Novenco Marine & Offshore has confirmed its participation in METSTRADE 2026, scheduled for 17–19 November at RAI Amsterdam, where it will present marine heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration solutions to boatbuilders, equipment integrators and refit professionals. The company will operate from stand 07.506 in Hall 7, with the focus on improving the performance of existing systems as well as designing efficient installations for new vessels.

The Danish-headquartered supplier is highlighting its ZerAx fan technology as an example of how improvements to familiar auxiliary machinery can contribute to energy-management objectives. Novenco identifies lower sound levels, reduced power use, longer service life and reduced maintenance as potential advantages of replacing older equipment. The announcement does not give a quantified saving for a specific yacht, and such a figure would depend heavily on its ductwork and operating profile.

A fan is part of a complete onboard system

Ventilation fans in machinery rooms, galleys, crew zones and technical compartments can operate for long periods, sometimes under variable loads as the yacht moves between harbour, anchorage and passage-making. Their energy demand can be overlooked alongside propulsion and hotel equipment, yet a high-duty ventilation installation makes a continuing contribution to the vessel's electrical balance.

A more efficient impeller or drive can help only when the selected fan operates appropriately against the static pressure of its complete duct system. Filters, dampers, bends, grilles, noise attenuators and required airflow levels determine that operating point. For that reason, a refit assessment should examine the full airflow and pressure schedule, not assume that a new fan can simply be swapped into every existing mounting and achieve the manufacturer's optimum performance.

Comfort, reliability and specification

Air movement is also an acoustic issue on a large yacht. Guests may notice vibration, duct turbulence and fan noise in accommodation spaces even when the temperature is maintained correctly. Engineering staff therefore have to balance sound power, airflow, electrical demand and safe ventilation rates, especially where a duct system crosses sensitive cabins or an occupied bridge.

Routine service requirements matter as well. A quieter fan that is difficult to access, clean or isolate may produce additional downtime, while an easy-to-maintain assembly can simplify inspections and replacement work over a yacht's life. Marine corrosion exposure, applicable fire and smoke controls, electrical compatibility and supplier support should remain part of the specification process.

Novenco's exhibition and service network

Novenco Marine & Offshore provides ventilation and climate-control equipment for several marine sectors, including merchant vessels, cruise ships, offshore structures and special-purpose craft. It reports more than 75 years of sector experience and a network of local representatives, with offices listed in Denmark, Norway and China.

At METSTRADE the company is presenting engineering advice and retrofit opportunities rather than claiming a named superyacht contract or a newly certified one-size-fits-all upgrade. Technical buyers should request current ZerAx performance curves and installation data to establish whether a particular fan and control arrangement can deliver the expected result aboard their yacht. The accompanying image is Novenco's original exhibition visual, not a photograph of a commissioned installation.

A useful first step for yards considering energy upgrades is to record fan operating hours, existing electrical draw and cabin noise complaints before requesting proposals. Measurements taken at realistic operating modes provide a baseline against which a replacement can be assessed. Without that record, a claimed improvement can be hard to distinguish from seasonal variations in temperature, hotel load and the condition of existing filters.