„Nicht nur Öko-Schick-Schnack, sondern ein klarer taktischer Vorteil.“
“Not just eco-chic frills, but a clear tactical advantage.”
At the 2025 Symposium “Sustainably Acting, Defending Securely – The Bundeswehr in Times of Transformation” at Helmut-Schmidt-University, I had the opportunity to present BlackBoats’ contribution to a sustainable and resilient defence strategy.
My core message: Sustainability and security are not opposing forces. On the contrary – in an age of geopolitical realignment and systemic upheaval, coherent action means staying the course without losing sight of the destination. That includes technological solutions built not just to protect today’s status quo, but to shape tomorrow’s operational readiness.
Energy policy is security policy. And European sovereignty demands independent, resilient systems – mobile, smart, quiet. BlackBoats was built on this principle: autonomous vessels, designed not primarily for conflict, but for presence, protection, and strategic advantage. Sustainability in defence means permanence – in function, in relevance, and in alignment with planetary boundaries.
We are witnessing a shift: Silent hybrid vehicles are no longer a novelty – they are a tactical asset. The electronic and electric systems dominating the battlefield today in Ukraine highlight that energy is not a side topic. It is central. AI systems demand new infrastructures – and challenge all projections based on yesterday’s data.
What we need are technologies that are both resilient and transformative. This isn’t just about replacing fossil fuel with hydrogen. It’s about reshaping the logic of mobility, decision-making, and supply chains – from the waterline up.
BlackBoats stands for exactly that convergence: Clean tech meets tactical edge. And sustainable systems meet the need for sovereignty. We don’t build for war. We build to prevent it.
Thank you to the Bundeswehr’s Logistics School and Helmut-Schmidt-University for an inspiring exchange. Let’s keep course.
Diana S. Engelhard