Six Superyachts That Put Sustainability at their Core

by Fraser Johnston December 10, 2019

Sustainability, if it wasn’t already a hot topic for the leisure marine industry, is certainly fast becoming one. Boats are increasingly looking for ways of lessening their impact on the environment and so they should, who wouldn’t want to protect the very oceans we love to sail and relax on. So we decided to look at Six superyachts that put sustainability at their core.

Some are looking at ways of reducing their impact on yachts they already own through using sustainable cleaning products like Ecoworks, installing solar panels or using less plastics on board. Increasingly though, Superyacht builders and the owners who commission the projects, are looking to design and build boats with sustainability in mind. There is a number of ways they are doing this, through sustainably sourced materials, more efficient or hybrid engines and charging on board batteries through regeneration under sail to name just a few.

We love these ideas and are always interested to read about the different ways boats and their designers are looking to become more sustainable. So, we decided to create our list of some of our favourite yachts putting sustainability at their core. Below is just six of our favourites, some of whom are already using Ecoworks as one easy way of being more sustainable.

S/Y Black Pearl

The Black Pearl is a 106.7m, three-masted sailing yacht. Built by Oceanco and delivered to her owner in 2018, she was designed by Ken Freivokh Design, Nuvolari Lenard and Villate De¬sign.

Being powered by sail is one obvious nod towards sustainability but the Black Pearl also has a hybrid propulsion system as well as other onboard systems such as waste heat recovery. The boat also has a power regeneration system, using its propellers at a tilted angle to run on board electrics.

S/Y Rainbow – J Class

Ecoworks was developed on a J Class so we have to admit to having a soft spot for the class of boat. Rainbow is 39.95 metre, built by Dutch yard Holland Jachtbouw in aluminium and delivered in 2012.

The boat is a replica based on the original 1930s design which won the America’s Cup in 1934, with a modern update from Dykstra Naval Architects.

Rainbow is the first J Class to use diesel-electric propulsion providing a complete hybrid propulsion and power system with up to 30% savings in fuel as well as reduced noise. It’s batteries can be charged while sailing using the propellor to generate energy and top the batteries up and she will cruise in battery-only mode for up to three hours.

SY Rainbow currently for sale which has provided this excellent video on SY Rainbow from the Yachts For Sale.

M/Y Savannah

This 83.5 metre Feadship has a multitude of sustainable features. Power wise the yacht uses a pioneering hybrid propulsion system with five different operation modes from diesel and diesel-electric combinations to fully electric. Even in diesel mode she uses 30 per cent less fuel than her contemporaries thanks to her dynamic hull shape and steep entrance angle.

The builder – Lürssen along with Feadship and Benetti have also pledged commitment to ocean conservation by supporting the Blue Marine Foundation (BLUE), a UK-based charity whose mission is to tackle over-fishing and promote marine biodiversity.

M/Y Rev

Rev is not technically active yet but is one of the most exciting projects around at the moment. The project is pushing sustainable efforts on yachts forwards in leaps.

Rev will be one of, if not the largest yacht ever built at 182.9 metres. The yacht is being built as a scientific vessel whose very purpose for existing is in part as a platform for studying the world’s oceans with around 40% of its space given over to scientific research facilities. These will include refrigerated, wet and dry laboratories for both teaching and environmental research as well as an auditorium for scientific lectures and education, capable of seating 40 people.

In terms of sustainable efforts in the build, the yacht has a trawler system that will pick up plastic waste floating on the surface of the ocean and feed it into a plastic incinerator that will produce thermal power to be used on board. Cleaning up the ocean and recycling waste into power at the same time is pretty impressive for a private superyacht.

M/Y Safira

Safira was built by Newcastle Marine and designed by Sparkman & Stephens with interior design by Christina Norris. Not only does every aspect of 39.3 metre MY Safira’s interior come from reclaimed, recycled or remnant materials but the yacht also runs on 15 per cent biodiesel. She also happens to be for sale if interested.

S/Y Ethereal

The 58 metre Ethereal is the world’s first hybrid superyacht with an electro-mechanical propulsion system that runs using rechargeable batteries. The yacht can run for extended periods of time on stored energy, helped in part by the energy efficient lighting and appliances.

It’s not just superyachts that are becoming more sustainable smaller sport boats and tenders are too. All electric boats are now very much a reality such as the UK-built Elektra from Patterson Boatworks with its classic stylish looks or the Hinckly Dasher day cruiser. For something bigger Silent Yachts are now creating fully solar powered yachts, which they tout has having unlimited range, as the sun is your fuel. This may be limited if your based in the UK like us though.

All this just shows that the boating sector is heading in the right direction in terms of sustainability. Superyachts are allowing new technologies to be experimented with and indeed some super yachts like Rev are becoming the research facilities themselves.

If you’re looking to become more sustainable in your boating, you don’t need to start from scratch with a new boat. There are a number of ways you can easily reduce your footprint including using Ecoworks and you can check out more ways at out article, ’10 Ways To Be More Eco-Friendly on Deck’.