TONJO will present its Intelligent Helm System to the US marine industry at IBEX in Tampa from 6 to 8 October 2026. The Shanghai company's platform brings navigation and a range of onboard controls into one integrated interface rather than treating each function as a separate application.
The first installation has been completed aboard an Allegro Yacht 62CAT, and TONJO says it has secured orders for more than 500 units from multiple Chinese boatbuilders. It also plans its first sailing-yacht retrofit for an owner preparing a round-the-world voyage.
One interface for several onboard functions
The platform combines navigation, engine and systems monitoring, lighting, climate and entertainment. Its software architecture is intended to be configurable for different yacht layouts and boatbuilder requirements.
TONJO says voice control and vessel monitoring run on the device so that core functions remain available when internet connectivity is weak or unavailable. Actual integration depends on the systems fitted to the particular yacht.
An in-scope first installation
The Allegro Yacht 62CAT is a cruising catamaran in the approximate 19-metre segment, bringing the completed installation into LYG's sub-24-metre market. TONJO says the project preceded the vessel's launch and delivery.
The initial installation is a real project, not proof that the system has been delivered across all 500 ordered units. Its planned retrofit will provide another test case beyond factory-fit construction.
US partners are the next step
TONJO is joining the Yachting Ventures Start-Up Pavilion at IBEX, where it wants to meet distributors, service providers, builders and OEMs. It expects these relationships to support installation and after-sales work rather than relying on direct software sales alone.
The company is also exploring senior US industry advisers and the establishment of a US subsidiary in 2027. Those are plans, not completed appointments or a currently operating subsidiary.
Assisted navigation has a separate timeline
A second product line for assisted navigation is scheduled to reach Chinese customers from late 2026, with an international launch planned for 2027. TONJO says assisted docking and undocking form part of that future programme.
Those features should not be confused with capabilities already proven in the installed helm. The immediate IBEX story is the integrated control platform and its move toward a wider market.
