Blue Seas Go Green

Yacht owners are pushing for more eco-friendly features.

- Justin Harper

YACHT MAKERS ARE facing increasing pressure to become more sustainable when it comes to building boats. Much of this pressure comes from bodies like the International Maritime Organization (IMO), which has been calling for lower emissions. Yacht buyers are also demanding cleaner energy sources as they look to play their part in protecting our oceans.

“The world is re-orienting itself around environmental impact, and industries and governments are now taking great leaps in the right direction,” says Kiran Haslam, chief marketing officer at Princess Yachts (www. princessyachts.com), which plans to reduce its carbon emissions in manufacturing by over 20 per cent within the next two years.

But why are they doing this? “Owners want to do everything possible to preserve the environment they cherish,” says Patrick Coote, chief marketing officer at Northrop & Johnson (www.northropandjohnson.com). “The primary motivation for yacht ownership is a fundamental love for the ocean.”

What about yacht builders?

The yacht industry has been making steady progress over the last five years to become more eco-friendly. Stefano De Vivo, group chief commercial officer at Ferretti (www.ferrettiyachts.com), says the yacht maker is investing to position itself as the flagship carrier in this disruptive trend. “Innovation and technology investments have always been our priority and are leading us to be a pioneer on the sustainability front as well,” he says. Two of Ferretti’s shipyards in Italy have been internationally recognised for using clean energy to make yachts.