Turkish shipyard Sirena Yachts is set to introduce a new era of intelligent yacht control thanks to a three-way collaboration with remote monitoring specialist Vanemar and digital switching provider EmpirBus by Garmin. Beginning with Q4 2025 production, the shipyard will offer an optional factory-installed AI-assisted and voice-controlled ecosystem across all models, from the Sirena 48 up to the flagship Sirena 118.
The move makes Sirena one of the first yacht builders to bring true natural-language vessel control to production yachts, fusing cloud intelligence with onboard automation to create a more intuitive relationship between owner and boat.
A new layer of intelligence on board
The new technology combines Vanemar’s cloud-based intelligence layer with EmpirBus by Garmin’s proven digital switching platform. This integration enables owners and crew to operate or query onboard systems simply by speaking or interacting through the dedicated app. In practical terms, this could mean asking the yacht to check fuel levels while approaching a marina, requesting that the underwater lights be switched on when returning by tender or pre-cooling the interior before guests step aboard on a hot afternoon. It could also support operational reassurance during more demanding conditions, such as verbally requesting an update on bilge activity during a heavy-weather passage or asking whether “everything is secure for the night” and receiving a system-wide report in return.
Every installation is tied directly to the yacht’s build-sheet data, ensuring the system understands the precise configuration of each individual hull. Critical operations are safeguarded by confirmation prompts and comprehensive audit trails, while an offline operational mode ensures that essential functions remain available even without network access.
A collaboration built on a shared vision
Sirena’s engineering and R&D manager, Sertac Ogdum, said the project was born from a long-standing question inside the shipyard: “How can we make the bond between a yacht and its owner more natural and effortless?” He added that the breakthrough was only possible with partners who shared the same ambition.
For Vanemar, the project represents a milestone in bringing connected intelligence to wider yacht ownership. CEO Mevlut Sahin said: “At Vanemar, we strive to create a seamless, uninterrupted connection between the boat and its owner. Through this collaboration with Sirena and EmpirBus [by Garmin Ltd.], our technology becomes a new standard for boat ownership.”
The managing director of Garmin Sweden Technologies & EmpirBus, Magnus Jirhem, echoed the sentiment: “At EmpirBus, we design technology to be an enabler of visions. Working with Sirena Yachts and Vanemar, we created an entirely new experience.”
Two years of development across three countries
The collaboration began as an exploratory project in 2023 and was formalised in early 2024. Since then, engineering teams have held joint workshops, conducted prototype evaluations and run integration trials at Sirena’s facilities, complemented by design reviews in Sweden, Turkey and Dubai.
Industry insiders note that AI-driven assistance and connected ecosystems have long been standard in the automotive sector, but only recently has the yachting industry begun to embrace the same level of interaction and automation. With this launch, Sirena Yachts, Vanemar and EmpirBus by Garmin aim to set a new benchmark for how owners experience and manage their vessels.
Production integration began in Q4 2025 on the Sirena 48, 60, 68, 78, 88 and 118, with further rollout planned.
For more information about integrating the new AI-assisted control system on a Sirena yacht, contact Sirena Yachts directly.
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