The Yacht Club de Monaco hosted the 10th edition of its La Belle Classe Superyachts Environmental Symposium. The event was organized by the Prince Albert II Foundation and Monaco Government, in partnership with the Monaco Oceanographic Institute and Monaco Scientific Centre, the purpose of which was to progress thinking on how to protect the marine environment.
Many experts contributed to the event, including explorer Mike Horn and journalist and filmmaker Guillaume Pitron, as well as Pierre Casiraghi, founder of Team Malizia.
Hydrogen has been one of the main topics. Jérémie Lagarrigue, CEO of EODev (Energy Explorer Developments), stressed the importance of this carbon neutrality lever to accelerate the energy transition, avoiding the death of entire ecosystems by the next 40 years.
Industry professionals like Ciotat Refit Shipyards responded with facts, realizing a new 40,000m2 platform. It includes cranage equipment with a near 5,000-tonne capability, destined for superyacht refits, which meets environmental requirements. A call for projects was launched in December 2020, won by Hynova Yacht.
Many new projects benefiting from hydrogen were presented, including Mike Horn’s expedition sailing boat Pangaea (35m).
“Hydrogen, batteries, solar, wind, hydroelectricity, we are testing all these technologies in extreme conditions to be applied on a massive scale,” explains Victorien Erussard, President, Captain, and founder of Energy Explorer.
For his part, explorer Mike Horn developed an equipment project based on hydrogen technology for his expedition sailing boat Pangaea. Based on both his experience of the situation with the environment and power requirements for carbon-free mobility, he contributed to the development by CEA-Liten of a new generation of a minimum 300kW fuel cell to be fitted to his boat.
It was also announced that SEA Index certificates will be issued by Lloyd’s Register. Intended for yachts measuring over 40 meters, it will owners assess their yacht’s CO2 emissions and improve its environmental performance. “This is true recognition by a renowned international body,” commented Michel Buffat, Head of Aviation & Yacht Finance, Credit Suisse.
Measuring superyachts’ environmental impact is an ambition shared by Water Evolution which through its YETI Tool can measure a yacht’s life cycle. For Robert Van Tool, Executive Director of Water Evolution, it was “necessary to put in place a mechanism which recognizes and rewards environmentally friendlier choices”.
(Future of eco-friendly yachting: La Belle Classe Superyachts Environmental Symposium – barchemgazine.com – March 2021)
