Romsey, Hampshire, 12 October 2026 — Oyster Yachts is piloting Frigomar SCU12VFD and SCU16VFD variable-capacity air-conditioning units on one of its Oyster 595 models, supplied and supported in the UK by Advance Yacht Systems (AYS).
The pilot programme covers cabin cooling and heating with silent operation and drawing a maximum starting current of 2 A. The SCU12VFD and SCU16VFD are self-contained inverter units rated at 12,000 and 16,000 BTU/h respectively, each providing cooling and heating from a single seawater-cooled unit.
The modern Frigomar technology delivers enhanced comfort and silent operation, rather than the noise from traditional air conditioning compressors. This enhances the luxury of owning and cruising an Oyster yacht.
A variable-speed BLDC compressor runs anywhere between 20% and 100% of capacity, holding cabin temperature steady rather than cycling on and off. Frigomar states an average 50% reduction in electrical energy consumption (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) against an equivalent conventional unit. This allows air conditioning to very potentially operate for periods of time, such as overnight, from a boat’s battery energy storage rather than a generator, creating a silent, comfortable yacht.
Both models share a 500 × 290 × 334 mm main unit and weigh 27 kg including the detachable electrical box, which can be mounted separately. A touchscreen thermostat and an air outlet that rotates through 135° allow flexible ducting. Each unit is tested individually at the factory before dispatch, and the SCU range won the British Marine (BMEEA) Product of the Year award in 2019.
Nick Creed, Supply Chain Project Manager, at Oyster Yachts, said: “Air conditioning is high on the list for owners heading to warmer cruising grounds, and silence, comfort and the electrical load it places on the boat operation is very much part of that decision. This pilot allows us assess the Frigomar units on our yachts before offering them more widely.”
Rob Cotterill, Managing Director, at Advance Yacht Systems, said: “A 2amp start-up demand changes how air conditioning sits in the power budget and demand of a sailing yacht, bringing it within reach of a sensible and optimised sized generator, inverter and battery bank. Oyster’s pilot programme will confirm how that translates on their boats.”
Alberto Pruzzo, Sales Engineer, at Frigomar said: “We are proud to supply Oyster with silent, comfortable efficient air conditioning. The Oyster marque is a perfect customer for the luxury that our systems provide.”