Sustainability & Zero Carbon Emissions
From the ultra-luxe, superyacht packed Monaco Yacht Show to the biggest boat show in the world, the Ft. Lauderdale International Boat Show, sustainability seemed to be the word on everyone’s lips this Fall. Ocean and sea lovers globally want to keep enjoying the boating and yachting lifestyle for future generations to come. The ultimate goal voiced by many in the industry is ‘zero carbon emissions.’
“A substantial wave of individual and collective action has taken place across the industry, helping to reduce its environmental footprint and shape a more sustainable future.”
“The oceans are the lifeblood of our planet and the driving force behind yacht ownership. The superyacht industry is intrinsically connected to the oceans and its future relies on their health.”
SYL SuperYachtLife
MONACO YACHT SHOW
The Monaco Yacht Show is the jewel in the crown of the yachting industry and promotes the future of superyachting. This year the show gave a nod to sustainability, adding a Sustainability Hub. Yes, the stunning Port Hercules was still jam packed with striking superyachts, but the new buzz was about “sustainability. Even Peter Lurssen of Lurssen shipyards that build the biggest boats in the world, dreams of one day building a truly sustainable superyacht.
“My grandfather built the first motoryacht in 1886 and my dream is to be the first to build a yacht without a combustion engine,” remarked Peter Lurssen.
Sunreef Yachts
There are several yacht industry companies that actually walk the talk on sustainability. One such notable is Sunreef Yachts. This Polish company has been revolutionizing the yachting world for two decades. They aim to continue to do so by shifting the minds of superyacht owners around the world in the direction of eco-innovation. During the Monaco Yacht Show, Sunreef Yachts celebrated their 20th anniversary. Noteables like former Polish President and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Lech Walsea as well as sustainability entrepreneur and famed F1 driver, Nico Rosberg and professional explorer Mike Horn joined in the festivities.
Sunreef Yacht’s Founder and President Francis Lapp along with Co-Founder and CTO Nicolas Lapp, shared exclusive news on a ground-breaking hydrogen yacht project. They were recently commissioned to build an 80-ft sailing catamaran combining hydrogen power and electric compulsion to achieve unrivaled autonomy for a new level of eco-conscious cruising. Additionally, they showcased the electric Sunreef 80 Eco Marie-Joseph for the first time at the Monaco Yacht Show and she even received a royal visit by HSH Prince Albert II.
Their green superyacht of the future is the Sunreef 43M Eco, the ultimate eco catamaran. It offers the best emission-free cruising experience.
Sunreef Yachts is broadening its reach with both a new manufacturing site and office in the UAE.
Silent-Yachts
A relative newcomer to the yachting industry is Silent-Yachts. They are leading a green revolution for the marine industry. They are offering fully electric, solar-powered catamarans from 60 to 120 feet for noiseless, zero-emission cruising. Their solar panels are placed on the roof for maximum sun exposure and can even slide out on the120 model into two sections to reveal a sun deck that doubles as a touch-and-go helipad.
At the Monaco Yacht Show Silent-Yachts declared having the first serial production solar powered yacht in the world, marking the dawn of a new era of sustainable luxury yachting. On every Silent-Yacht, solar power is used for propulsion, powering all navigation, household and comfort appliances plus charging water toys and tender. This allows the yacht owner to enjoy all the luxury onboard in a sustainable manner while having the possibility of unlimited range with zero emission.
Silent-Yachts announced at the show, a new cooperation with a shipyard in Turkey. Their first hybrid yacht making use of both conventional propulsion and renewable solar energy will be an 82-foot model built in partnership with VisionF Yachts. Silent-Yachts also are adding to their offerings Silent-Tenders and Silent-Speedboats as well as totally sustainable Silent-Resorts.
Michael Kohler, Austrian Silent-Yachts Founder and CEO said, “This is the age of the super catamaran.”
Wider Yachts
This yacht company went through a recent transformation with industry leader, Marcelo Maggi taking over the helm in 2019. With a tagline like “Electrifying Yachting”, we anticipate more industry breakthroughs from Wider Yachts.
“We believe in progress and in the revolutionary power of technology. We advance the electrification of the nautical world by designing and engineering future-conscious and future-ready catamarans and yachts,” shared Marcello Maggi, Owner & President, Wider Yachts.
Wider Yachts is one of the most innovative Italian yacht design ateliers in the world, challenging unsustainable ways of designing yachts. They are heralded as the first yacht builder to have applied serial hybrid propulsion technology to its superyachts. Moonflower 72 is the first hybrid superyacht signed by the brand-new Wider generation to be delivered in 2025. It incorporates the Wider hybrid propulsion system. Widercat 92 is the first of their new catamaran brand range and has met with wild popularity.
During the Monaco Yacht Show, Wider Yachts hosted a private cocktail soiree up on a hilltop in Eze overlooking the Mediterrean Sea. Head honcho, Marcelo Maggi electrified the guests with a high-energy speech about “The Future Belongs to the Visionnaires.” It was an ideal setting for sharing his enthusiasm about the future of Wider Yachts and sustainable yachting.
FT. LAUDERDALE INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW
“The 63rd annual Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, the largest in-water boat show in the world, ushered in a five-day exhibition of chart-topping achievements for the marine industry. Along with historically generating more than $1.79 billion economic impact for the state of Florida and an impactful revenue for South Florida’s marine, hospitality, and tourism industries, this year’s event made strides in sustainability that have set standards for shows to come.
The show had a more festive feeling this year. Visitors were happy to be out and about. The show’s water taxis provided fun, scenic sightseeing to and from the various venues. Crystal clear blue skies along with the warm Florida sunshine was idyllic for viewing and touring boats and yachts.
Sunreef Yachts
Sunreef Yachts celebrated its Ft. Lauderdale showcase with the reveal of a brand-new luxury hybrid yacht model, the 55 Ocean Sunreef Power. The yacht’s standout features include a vast semi-open saloon and spacious aft with two fold-down bulwark platforms. They also announced a new build contract for a Sunreef 100 Eco, a fully-electric superyacht catamaran equipped with composite-integrated solar panels and electric engines. Additionally, to handle their growing demand in the U.S., Sunreef Yachts opened a new office in Ft. Laudedale. They hosted an evening party to celebrate its opening.
Silent-Yachts
Silent-Yachts may have had the smallest booth at the Ft. Lauderdale show, but probably one of the busiest. They were packed to the gils with potential customers eager to learn more about their ‘silent’ yachts’ solutions to sustainability. Clients were signing on the dotted line for their very own Silent Yacht. This is a good sign for the sustainability movement and willingness amongst consumers to conserve our oceans for future generations.
Silent-Resorts Exuma flagship development in the Bahamas was also showcased at their booth. Many were intrigued by the combination of a resort with both sustainable villas and yachts being sold on a shared equity basis.
Sustainability is the Future,
Saving the planet with sustainable efforts takes a village. Not one company, one shipyard, one owner or one foundation can do it alone. Fortunately, the yachting industry is forward-thinking with innovation and technologies. And luckily, many superyacht owners/buyers are willing to pay the price of investing in the future.
There needs to be a greater adoption of innovative new propulsion systems to reduce emissions and decrease superyachts environmental footprint. Hydrogen fuel cell technology yields noiseless, emission-free superyachts. Other sustainable options include wind, solar and hybrid solutions. Designers are also doing their part by swapping rare materials with sustainable interiors. For example, Winch Design recently announced using only sustainable materials including a leather alternative made from pineapple leaves. Shipyards are also making their facilities more sustainable. Feadship’s yard in Amsterdam has their rooftop covered in solar panels. Oceanco has also installed solar panels on their facility’s rooftop. Ferretti Group generates electricity through solar power and uses LED lights. San Lorenzo also has installed solar panels.
There are a variety of organizations also doing their part for sustainability and saving our oceans. Water Revolution Foundation is a non-profit that accelerates sustainability in the superyacht industry. They initiated a Code of Conduct of companies to uphold ten commandments for sustainable consumption. Blue Marine Foundation is an NGO on a mission to put 30% of the world’s oceans under protection by 2030. Many superyacht companies are supporting Blue Marine including Lurssen, Benetti, Imperial and Winch Design. Superyacht crew support Clear Ocean Pact. Yacht brokerages like Camper & Nicholsons are helping Mission Blue and Fraser is onboard with Plastic Oceans Foundation. Marinas and yacht clubs are installing rubbish bins to collect plastic debris. Some superyacht owners are contributing by supporting the International Seakeepers Society allowing scientists to do research from their yachts. Yacht owners also often help with disaster relief and humanitarian efforts through Yacht Aid Global.
Notable Norwegian owner of REV Ocean, Kjell Inge Rokke will soon have the largest yacht in the world and will use it for scientific research worldwide. REV will have capacity for 60 scientists and 30 crew members, allowing for ground-breaking research on climate change, overfishing and plastic pollution.
And lastly the Bertarelli Foundation, set up by Ernesto and Kirsty Bertarelli, owners of Vava II provides funding for marine reserves.
In summary, sustainability seems to be on everyone’s mind in the yachting industry. Luckily for the planet and our oceans many want to preserve our natural resources for future generations.
Concerned citizens can contribute to the following:
Water Revolution Foundation: https://waterrevolutionfoundation.org/
Blue Marine Foundation: https://www.bluemarinefoundation.com/
Mission Blue: https://missionblue.org/
Plastic Oceans Foundation: https://plasticoceans.org/
International Seakeepers Society: https://www.seakeepers.org/
Yacht Aid Global: https://yachtaidglobal.org/
Bertarelli Foundation: https://www.fondation-bertarelli.org/