Until recently, green yacht charters were a distant dream. But thanks to advancements in design and construction, eco-conscious cruising is now a reality. Yacht builders, owners and crew are all contributing to a more sustainable future on the water.
First of all, there are some truly amazing yachts being built which are as eco-friendly as it’s currently possible for a yacht to be. Some yacht builders have adopted hybrid diesel-electric engine technology to reduce the amount of fuel that yachts consume greatly. The addition of solar panels and large, more efficient, battery storage systems contribute to supporting a yacht’s power demand for air conditioning, lighting, generators and more when at anchor, and possibly enabling the yacht to cruise self-sufficiently even if only for a limited time. The development of alternative propulsions and fossil-free fuels will help push the change towards eco-friendly yachting becoming a reality even faster.
Eco yachts will almost certainly have efficient HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) systems. They might have advanced sails and rigging, a different hull design, controllable pitch propellers, dynamic positioning, etc. They will also be reducing dangerous emissions, such as nitrogen oxides, and lowering fuel consumption as focused upon in IMO Tier-III regulations.
The yachting industry is certainly doing its part to push for more environmentally friendly practices, including more efficient treatment of waste, using non-toxic anti-fouling products and cleaning materials in general, and the local sourcing of materials – all of which contribute to reducing its carbon footprint. Using sustainable materials in the building of yachts or sometimes synthetic alternatives, LED lighting and even recycled everyday materials can all be incorporated in one way or another.
The good news is that hybrid propulsion and power generation systems can also be retrofitted, as well as making use of the new technology – every time an older yacht is refitted, it can come out as a much more environmentally friendly vessel. But that still leaves a very large number of vessels which do not have these latest eco-friendly features. You may ask, “What can they do to help limit their carbon footprint and how does this affect the luxury yacht charter industry?”
Well, for charters, sailing yachts should be more environmentally-friendly. Even though they still need power generation to enable the various hydraulic systems, air conditioning, electronics and onboard ‘hotel’ facilities, they do not have the same demand as a motor yacht. For charterers looking for the internal space and stability of a motor yacht, a catamaran might not be out of the question. Some of the newer builds of cats and power-cats are every bit as technologically advanced as anything else on the market, and all-electric powered.
There are a number of things which can be done without massive investment.
- One of the most pressing of issues is reducing (or better still, eliminating) single-use plastics on board charter yachts, such as water bottles. At Marlow Worldwide Yacht Charters, the majority of charter yachts that we would work with will have onboard water-making capabilities and water filtration processes, which make the purest of waters. An initiative by CYBA (the Charter Yacht Brokers Association) to reduce the use of plastic bottles has been the sponsorship of the ‘Designer Water Competition’ at some of the big international charter shows around the world. More than just flavoured water, it encourages yacht crew to always have an enticing glass of water ready for guests.
- On trips ashore, instead of guests taking plastic bottles of water with them, great use is now made of insulated stainless steel water bottles. Replacing plastic straws with paper or reusable straws is another very simple step. Cleaning with sustainable products, reef-safe sun creams, natural shower gels and toiletries also all help.
- The sourcing of local produce for the provisioning of a yacht ready for charter is not always possible, as some remote charter destinations rely on imported produce. But where possible, yacht chefs would prefer to buy locally.
And maybe charter guests can do their bit to help as well, by requesting eco-friendly products and avoiding waste wherever possible.
If you would like to discuss a yacht charter in a more environmental industry, please do get in touch.
