Hydro Tec won two 2026 ISS Design & Leadership Awards: Darwin 102 Haze² for Best Motor Yacht under 300 GT, and Flexplorer 146 Nasiba for the 300–500 GT category.
Hydro Tec announced a double achievement at the 2026 International Superyacht Society (ISS) Design & Leadership Awards, where two of company’s projects received top honours in their respective categories. Darwin 102 Haze² was awarded Best Motor Yacht under 300 GT, while Flexplorer 146 Nasiba received the award for Best Motor Yacht 300–500 GT. Both yachts were built by Cantiere delle Marche, combining the shipyard’s well-established expertise in explorer yacht construction with Hydro Tec’s naval architecture, engineering and exterior design. Together, these projects are a clear example of Hydro Tec’s holistic approach, bringing naval architecture, engineering and exterior design together under one roof to ensure a fully integrated vision from the earliest stages of development.
These two awards represent an important recognition of the design approach and technical expertise behind both projects. While each yacht responds to a distinct owner’s vision and requirements, they share a common philosophy: combining distinctive exterior lines, sound engineering and the technical capabilities required for long-range cruising and exploration. The success of Haze² and Nasiba also reflects the value of close collaboration between the shipyard, design studios and all the professionals involved throughout the development and construction process. The ability to bring together different areas of expertise is essential to creating yachts that are not only distinctive in design, but also carefully conceived to perform at sea.
With over 30 years of industry experience, Hydro Tec has evolved from an engineering company into a renowned yacht design firm with a distinctive proposition: an integrated design vision. This transformation has been accompanied by significant growth in both the company’s size and client base. In response, Hydro Tec has adopted a specialized approach, diversifying its services to cover every aspect of yacht design and engineering, from conceptual development through to final steel cutting. A multidisciplinary team ensures excellence across both aesthetic and functional dimensions, with highly customizable services ranging from individual disciplines to fully integrated solutions. Hydro Tec is increasingly establishing itself as a unique point of contact, offering a 360° service package that spans the entire project journey, from initial concept to steel cutting.
