In A First, Monaco Energy Boat Challenge 2022 Has An Indian Entry. Shashi Tharoor Shares Team's Plea For Aid

The Monaco Energy Boat Challenge is scheduled to be conducted from July 4 to 9, 2022. 

New Delhi: Built by Tamil Nadu-based Team Sea Sakthi, "first and only" Indian energy-boat YALI is all set to participate in the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge 2022 to be held in July. The team, comprising 14 students from Coimbatore's Kumaraguru College of Technology, will be representing India at the Monaco event, which is a boat-racing competition for university students organised as an "initiative to support clean energy in the marine Industry".

The race will take place from July 4-9, and as the team prepares for the event, they are also looking for help in the form of donation or "partnership".

In a Twitter thread, user @SanaaSpeaks, "the project lead for @TeamSeaSakthi", shared details of the event and sought "support/donation/partnership".

"A young tamil team representing India requires SO MUCH OF YOUR SUPPORT AND SUSTENANCE. We are looking for your assistance," one of the posts read.

The plea got a big thumbs up from senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, who retweeted the post and congratualted the team for being selected for the "prestigious" competition. "Great news! Team Sea Sakthi, an energy-boat team representing India in the prestigious Monaco Energy Boat Challenge 2022 (July 4 - 9), are 14 engineering students from Kumaraguru College of Technology, Coimbatore. They're the First & only Indian Team to participate in this challenge!" the Thiruvananthapuram MP posted.

The annual event will be held in Monaco, the international centre of yachting, and will bring together over 20 nations, largely from Europe, but also from America and China. The event aims to "invent, innovate, and exhibit" the future of maritime transportation.

YALI, the energy-efficient boat designed by Team Sea Sakthi, is claimed to be the first from India ever to compete in the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge.

A small solar panel, white rudders, an electrical battery, and a cockpit characterise YALI.

Sea Shakti is a team of 14 engineering students from departments such as Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronics, and Information Technology. It started in December 2021 with an open request for energy-efficient solutions for marine trade and transportation.