Natalie Quevert discusses the SEA Index mission to support and guide superyacht stakeholders towards more eco-responsible yachting
Sustainability is becoming increasingly important in the yachting world. As the maritime sector faces increasing regulatory pressure, yacht owners are beginning to embrace sustainability for a wider variety of reasons: environmental protection, reputational management and, increasingly, asset value preservation.
Once seen as a potentially costly endeavour, sustainability is now tightly linked to financial performance. In today’s climate, remaining unsustainable may carry a higher cost than investing in emissions reductions and mitigating other environmental impacts such as noise and atmospheric pollution.
Maximising asset value
Superyachts may be a symbol of luxury, but owners want to ensure they maximise their return on investment. Whether it’s in the form of resale value or demand for chartering, preserving asset value is central to yacht ownership and forward-thinking owners will recognise the importance of sustainability in this aspect.
The financial and insurance sectors increasingly favour low-emission, certified superyachts, recognising that these vessels are better prepared for future regulation and carry less environmental liability.
Similarly, owners of sustainable superyachts may be able to access preferential terms from insurance companies and brokers, whereas you may pay higher premiums for high-emission vessels or struggle to get coverage at all.
Reshaping the charter market
Putting your superyacht on the charter market can be a viable way to offset high ownership and maintenance costs, but it must be an attractive option for charterers.
Many charter companies are already reporting clients declining specific yachts due to their lack of sustainability credentials. The increasing trend towards more environmentally friendly vessels is one of the clearest indicators that demand for sustainable yachts is on an upward trajectory.
In response, charter companies are actively increasing the sustainability of managed vessels, seeking to certify their existing fleet and even declining some yachts due to their high emission profile.
Retaining the freedom to sail
While sustainability can have a direct impact on asset and operational value, there are additional, indirect ways it can affect your yacht’s fiscal value – and your freedom to sail.
In a bid to prevent environmental damage and protect biodiversity, some destinations are preventing superyachts from anchoring or accessing their shores. In the French Riveria, for example, superyachts are now banned from anchoring in the seabed in certain areas of the Alpes-Maritimes in order to protect the vital Posidonia oceanica seagrass, with courts already issuing fines to captains who have damaged these meadows.
The message is clear: the larger and less environmentally friendly your vessel is, the fewer places it might be welcome.
The freedom to explore exotic locations and exclusive destinations is one of the key attractions of yachting and retaining this freedom will be a high priority for owners and charterers.
Understanding the environmental impact of your superyacht
While improving sustainability and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is the ultimate goal, the first step to more sustainable yachting is truly understanding the environmental impact of your vessel.
At SEA Index, we make it easy for yacht owners to access independent and impartial emissions data. Our CO2 certification program enables yacht owners to access an objective, third-party-verified rating that reflects the design-based CO2 profile of their vessel.
Every certification comes with custom retrofit recommendations, so owners can determine how to enhance the sustainability of their superyacht and prepare for a low-emission future.
To learn more, take a look at our latest article, ‘The Hidden Costs of Unsustainable Superyachts’, or discover more about the SEA Index CO2 certification program at www.sea-index.com
