Who we are
Blue-Airco: research, industrial experience, and innovation in marine air conditioning
We design and produce in Italy variable speed marine air conditioning systems, developed to offer comfort, energy efficiency, and quietness on board.
Blue-Airco specializes in low-voltage marine air conditioning. The range includes Full Low Voltage self-contained marine air conditioners in 12V, 24V, and 48V DC versions, seawater pumps, and solutions for managing the seawater circuit and air distribution.
The units incorporate a patented Blue-Airco technology, specifically developed for variable-speed marine DC air conditioning.
We work with shipyards, refitters, dealers, installers, and shipowners, supporting each project from the choice of configuration to the system sizing, through to support during installation and after commissioning. Technical assistance is an integral part of our way of working.
Complementary skills, a single project
The complementarity between the scientific rigor of Prof. Nannei and the industrial and nautical experience of Eng. Cerrai represents one of the distinctive elements of Blue-Airco.
Today the team brings together expertise in thermodynamics, mechanical and electrical design, control electronics, production, testing, and technical support. The continuous interaction between research and production allows ideas to be transformed into concrete industrial solutions, developed to meet the real needs of shipyards, refitters, installers, and shipowners.
The founders
Prof. Enrico Nannei
Co-founder - Research, innovation, and product strategy
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Formerly a professor of Technical Physics at the University of Genoa, Prof. Enrico Nannei dedicated his academic and scientific activity to applied thermodynamics, heat transfer, energy efficiency, and the development of innovative air conditioning and dehumidification systems.
During his academic and scientific career, Prof. Enrico Nannei carried out intense research activities, producing multiple scientific contributions, including articles, conference proceedings, and patents. He was also the scientific coordinator for the University of Genoa of the European project LIFE NOTRE - Novel Technology to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions.
As part of the Horizon 2020 XERIC project, he contributed to the study of new architectures for efficient air conditioning in electric vehicles and to the development of innovative systems for air treatment and dehumidification. Some of the work carried out within the project was published in the IEEE Xplore Digital Library.
His scientific and design experience forms one of the foundations of Blue-Airco technology and the method by which the company develops, tests, and improves its solutions.
Eng. Bernardo Cerrai
Co-founder - Design, industrialization, and system development
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Mechanical engineer, Bernardo Cerrai has gained over twenty years of experience in marine air conditioning and refrigeration, developing skills in the design, industrialization, and production of systems intended for boating.
During his professional career, he has worked in Italy and abroad, holding positions of technical responsibility and gaining direct knowledge of the needs of shipyards, installers, and shipowners. Before the founding of Blue-Airco, he participated, on behalf of the company he worked for, in the European Horizon 2020 XERIC project and in the definition of the architecture of new high-efficiency air conditioning systems for electric vehicles.
He was co-author of the paper awarded the Best Paper Award on Ecological Vehicles at EVER Monaco 2017. At Blue-Airco, he translates research and experimentation into industrial products, coordinating technical development, industrialization, production, testing, and the integration of solutions into onboard systems.
Our story
From scientific research to industrial experience
Prof. Enrico Nannei and Eng. Bernardo Cerrai met many years before the birth of Blue-Airco, at the University of Genoa, where Prof. Nannei taught Technical Physics and Eng. Cerrai was his student.
After completing their studies, their professional paths continued in distinct areas: Prof. Nannei in scientific research and applied thermodynamics; Eng. Cerrai in industry and, in particular, in the development of refrigeration and air conditioning systems for the nautical sector.
In the following years, they had the opportunity to collaborate on research projects, including the European Horizon 2020 XERIC project, in which Bernardo Cerrai participated on behalf of the company he was working for at the time.
In 2017, Nannei and Cerrai were co-authors, along with other researchers and professionals, of the paper New Climate-Control Units for More Energy-Efficient Electric Vehicles: System Architecture, awarded the Best Paper Award on Ecological Vehicles at EVER Monaco 2017.
This experience contributed to consolidating a working method based on the intersection of scientific research, design, experimentation, and industrial application. The shared passion for the sea and the desire to develop more efficient air conditioning systems subsequently led to the testing of the first prototypes and, in 2022, to the birth of Blue-Airco.
From the combination of thermodynamics, mechanical design, experience in the nautical sector, and industrial development, the technological platform underlying DC Blue-Airco marine air conditioners was born.
Our working method
Each boat requires a specific configuration
A marine air conditioning system is not chosen by considering only the power expressed in BTU/h. It is necessary to evaluate the voltage and battery bank capacity, the type of vessel, the layout of the spaces, insulation, air distribution, the seawater circuit, and the modes of use on board.
For this reason, our method always starts with project analysis.
01
Analysis of the boat
We examine the characteristics of the boat, the environments to be air-conditioned, the electrical architecture, and the desired energy autonomy.
02
Configuration design
We define the required power, supply voltage, number and position of units, seawater flow rate, pumps, and air distribution.
03
Installation support
We support shipyards, dealers, and installers during the most delicate phases of installation, providing technical guidance and dedicated documentation.
04
Post-delivery assistance
The relationship continues even after the system start-up, with technical support for configuration verification, diagnosis, and operation optimization.
The Blue-Airco system is configured according to the boat, its energy architecture, and the specific usage requirements on board.
Designed, produced, and tested in Italy
The design, production, and testing of Blue-Airco units are carried out in Italy, at the San Colombano Certenoli plant, in the province of Genoa.
Every product is born from direct collaboration between design, electronics, and production. This allows the different development phases to be followed internally, enables quick intervention on the product, and maintains constant control over build quality.
Each unit is individually tested
Before shipping, each individual unit undergoes three distinct testing protocols.
01
Helium leak test
The refrigeration circuit is subjected to a leak test using helium, used for its high detection sensitivity.
02
Electrical safety check
The main electrical safety parameters of the unit and its components are checked.
03
Verification of actual performance
The air conditioner is started and tested both in cooling and heating, verifying its operation and actual performance.
Only after the completion of the three checks can the unit be prepared for delivery.
International recognitions
The Blue-Airco innovation has been recognized at some of the main international events dedicated to components and nautical technology.
2023
DAME Design Awards 2023
Special Mention - category “Comfort & Entertainment Afloat”
The Blue-Airco variable-speed self-contained DC marine unit received a Special Mention at the DAME Design Awards 2023 in Amsterdam.
2023
IBEX 2023
Nomination
Blue-Airco presented its marine air conditioning DC technology in the United States, receiving a nomination at the IBEX Show.
2024
DAME Design Awards 2024
Nomination - Efficient Flow AC Controller
Efficient Flow has been nominated for its contribution to the efficient management of the seawater circuit in air conditioning systems.
2025
IBEX 2025
Nomination - Efficient Flow AC Controller
The Efficient Flow AC Controller was selected for the 2025 IBEX Innovation Awards and showcased in the event's Innovation Way.
They talk about us
Il Secolo XIX - January 2, 2024
“Green air conditioners. Award-winning Blue-Airco”
The article tells the story of the birth of Blue-Airco, the professional relationship between Prof. Enrico Nannei and Eng. Bernardo Cerrai, the development of the first prototypes, and the path that led the company to present itself on international markets.
The trust of our partners
“Over the years, we have successfully installed a significant number of low voltage BLUE-AIRCO units in high-performance powerboats across the region.
The performance of these units has been exemplary. Client feedback has been consistently positive, even under the most demanding summer conditions in the Middle East, where ambient air temperatures can exceed 50 °C and seawater temperatures can reach 40 °C.
The exceptional quality of BLUE-AIRCO products, together with the reliable technical support provided by the manufacturer, has consistently met and often exceeded our expectations. Based on this proven track record, we have complete confidence in recommending BLUE-AIRCO solutions to our clients and partners.”
Exalto Emirates LLC
Let's talk about your project
Are you designing a new boat or a refit project?
The Blue-Airco team can assist you in choosing the voltage, sizing the cooling capacity, and defining the units, pumps, and distribution of air and seawater.