Yachting is a pleasure relying on the environment, offering access to the sea, beaches, harbours, reefs and fishing. As such, it’s subject to public and governmental scrutiny, and has increasingly become viewed as an unsustainable, damaging activity due to growing concerns about environmental preservation.

The ultimate vision of a growing number of yacht designers and builders is to transition towards a zero-emission system, although entirely neutral boats might take years to be fully operational and safe, never mind affordable for many owners.

However, a series of measures can be explored to make yachting greener and simultaneously reduce operating costs, while also maintaining safety and enjoyment at sea.

Yachting is a pleasure relying on the environment, offering access to the sea, beaches, harbours, reefs and fishing. As such, it’s subject to public and governmental scrutiny, and has increasingly become viewed as an unsustainable, damaging activity due to growing concerns about environmental preservation.

The ultimate vision of a growing number of yacht designers and builders is to transition towards a zero-emission system, although entirely neutral boats might take years to be fully operational and safe, never mind affordable for many owners.

However, a series of measures can be explored to make yachting greener and simultaneously reduce operating costs, while also maintaining safety and enjoyment at sea.

Also, how often will the boat be used and what’s the most energy-demanding equipment such as desalinisation, air-conditioning, fridges and galley appliances, lights and other automated equipment?

Many owners are attached to their existing yacht or brands they trust, or they rely on good deals in the second-hand market, where futuristic designs are scarce. Yet a yacht is not just a hull and many of its components can be optimised.

What’s the fuel consumption for a particular voyage or regular passages? Which equipment can be upgraded and modernised, or used in a less systemic way? Which equipment could rely on alternative sources of energy?

Let’s look at alternative sources of energy. In this domain, sailboat owners have a head start by using wind, although most still use fossil fuel to refill batteries, especially during long journeys. However, this is probably the sector with the biggest technological changes, resulting in increased efficiency.

Solar panels can now have a 30 per cent return rate and are used extensively by Silent-Yachts and Sunreef on its Eco range, for example. Wind turbines are more silent and efficient ¹ and hydro-generators – while not sufficient for heavy equipment – can replenish IT-induced power consumption.

For the most adventurous, new batteries such as sea-water powered batteries or fuel cells can complement the available energy.

Fuel consumption will remain the main source of pollution of a yacht. Switching to hybrid power is possible and encouraged by several yacht companies, but require important investment and are not always technically compatible with yacht design.

Alternatives include using biofuel (HVO), which Azimut is offering for use on its new Magellano 60 and has been adopted on some Caterpillar engines and by the 44m Lammouche superyacht. This can be a solution, although not for long hauls, while kites can be used to support or replace engine propulsion ² and have been used successfully, such as on the Silent 60 solar-electric catamaran.

Yachting is an integrated experience, so we need to consider other ways to reduce our footprint. These can include treating ballast and cooling water, choosing less toxic anti-fouling paint, using a waste compactor ³, reducing single-plastic use (such as bottles, cutlery and sanitary products), using more non-refrigerated food and not damaging reefs when anchoring.

Fishing responsibly and paddling instead of using a dinghy with an engine are also little steps in the right direction.

Back to the shore. Marinas have a direct impact on the environment and greening possibilities include looking at alternative energy sources, proper waste management, recycling policies and the use of native species for decoration, instead of trees or plants demanding watering beyond rainfall. And we need to encourage citizen initiatives such as beach cleaning and participating in carbon-offset activities.

The above is far from exhaustive and will not make yachting a green activity overnight, but they’re among real actions that are being considered by the industry and boat owners to protect the core of what we like about yachting: access to a pristine environment.

To read about more ideas and initiatives, visit www.sealogical.com/is-green-yachting-possible or www.waterrevolutionfoundation.org

¹ Some vertical ones such as the ones from Phileole are particularly compatible with yachts: www.phileole.com/en/product/phileole-sailing/

² www.kite-boat.com/en/

³ www.nauticexpo.com/boat-manufacturer/yachtwaste-compactor-45246.html

JEAN-BENOIT MANHES

This article was first published on yachtstyle.co

The original article appeared in Issue 73 of Yacht Style

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