At Boland Marine, staying informed on technological progress is a priority. As a member of the British Marine Federation and a host of other societies, the company attends regular seminars on relevant topics. And, by working with high-profile names in the industry, Josh and the team are increasingly exposed to fascinating new and emerging technologies. Josh explains: “Being surveyors as well as naval architects and understanding what’s coming in terms of new technology and legislation, enables us to provide a better service to our clients. If a client requests an autonomous or semi-autonomous system on their boat, we work with them to ensure it meets their needs. We also investigate new products outside of the marine environment. For example, materials designed to cope with the hardships of a building site, or a corrosive environment, may offer good opportunities on a boat.” With a deep understanding of vessel lifecycles, from concept through build, operations and disposal, Boland Marine provides clients with valuable insights at every stage of their boat’s life. Boland Marine boats are built or modified with maintenance, reliability and the client’s wishes in mind. When clients work with the company, they are not just a job on a list. Josh and the team are truly invested in each client’s success on the water. We ask Josh about key recent developments in the boating industry. He explains: “Of course, sustainability is on everyone’s mind. Harbour masters are spending a lot of time disposing of abandoned vessels. This has raised the issue of composites like glassfibre, which most boats are made of, that currently can’t be easily recycled. On the positive side, electric boats are becoming more popular. Eliminating combustion on a vessel, they are excellent for operating in sensitive and protected areas. They’re quieter too, meaning wildlife is disturbed less and passenger comfort is increased.” Based in the Solent, Josh has noted several companies trialling autonomous boats. As automation of tasks such as seabed surveying becomes more popular, there are already journeyplanning apps that can integrate with a boat’s electronics. Josh thinks it’s only a matter of time before leisure boats can have electronic copilots that help keep watch, warn of dangers, and navigate the boat. For the remainder of 2026 and the first half of 2027, Boland Marine’s focus is on boat building. With a commercial-grade prototype currently in the design phase, Josh and the team hope to have their first in-house designed boat in the water by summer 2027. The company is also working on a range of small dinghies for leisure yachts. With these designs, Josh aims to resolve several known issues that vessels currently on the market experience. He plans to have a couple of demonstrators ready for launch this summer. Although mainly marine-focused, Boland Marine recognises the need for sturdy inshore vessels too. The company is currently collaborating on a medium-sized RIB destined for use in water safety, search and rescue, and commercial inshore applications. Whilst Boland Marine has big ambitions for the future, at present Josh and the team are focused on laying strong foundations. He says: “Stable and steady growth is what we’re aiming for right now. It’s important to ensure that all the right elements are in place at the right time. The development of our first products must allow us time to resolve issues during the design process. Our ultimate aim is to design and build seaworthy, robust and reliable vessels without compromise.” Contact: Josh Boland Company: Boland Marine Ltd Web Address: www.bolandmarine.co.uk | www.nyala-boats.co.uk
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