Gemini WR880 Hybrid Cabin RIB is designed for survey, inspection, surveillance and offshore wind applications, with zero-local-emission capability
Novi Marine is showcasing the Gemini WR880 Hybrid Cabin RIB at the International Workboat Show in Hoorn, Netherlands, highlighting a 9-metre hybrid workboat capable of fully electric, zero-local-emission operation in urban and environmentally sensitive waterways.
The Gemini WR880 Hybrid Cabin RIB has been developed as a professional demonstration platform for hybrid and electric propulsion and is also available for charter. The vessel is designed for a range of professional applications, including survey, inspection, surveillance and law enforcement.
The enclosed wheelhouse protects against wind and weather, enabling extended operations even in challenging conditions. This aligns with a growing regulatory trend in neighboring countries, including Germany, where a cabin is increasingly required for offshore operations involving crew on board for more than two hours. The Gemini WR880 Cabin RIB meets these requirements and is well suited for international deployment.
The vessel’s hybrid propulsion system allows operators to select fully electric operation when zero local emissions are required, or conventional propulsion for longer transits and high-speed deployment.
Conventional propulsion is provided by a Yamaha F350NSBU four-stroke outboard, featuring steer-by-wire technology and integration with Yamaha’s HelmMaster system up to Level 5+. The system provides precise control and enhanced manoeuvrability.
For emissions-free operation, two Yamaha Harmo 2.0 electric rim-drive units provide propulsion. The drives can rotate through 140 degrees and are controlled via joystick, delivering high levels of manoeuvrability for operations in confined urban waterways and during infrastructure inspections. The Vetus Bow Pro bow thruster further enhances directional control.
A Victron LiFePO4 Next Generation 48V battery system supplies power to the electric drive system, combined with a Victron Multiplus II inverter/charger.
The Gemini WR880 Hybrid Cabin RIB is equipped with a fully integrated navigation and detection package. Garmin GPSMap 8416 chartplotters with radar, Garmin Panoptix
Livescope sonar and a Garmin MSC10 GPS compass form the core of the navigation system. A SiOnyx Nightwave D1 night vision camera with Black Silicon CMOS sensor is fitted for operations in low visibility and at night. Starlink satellite communications provide connectivity while operating offshore or in remote locations.
