Schifffahrt | Shipping
Schifffahrt | Shipping Superyacht industry: a déjà vu Current environmental discussions about plastics and power technologies have an impact on the yacht industry, too. However, HANSA’s annual superyacht report shows, the main trends remain as strong as before, yet to peak. By Nick Jeffery Environment-friendly is de rigueur for today’s new superyachts, even though it’s a bit of an Emperor’s New Clothes situation as superyachts are all really rather bad for the environment, both in energy used during construction and in operations. Everybody in the industry is encouraged to play along and commend owners on what great things they are doing for the oceans. Most turn a blind eye to the fact that the original wealth to purchase the yacht, in certain cases, might have been amassed while causing havoc extracting oil, gas or coal from planet Earth, some owners perhaps even guilty of supporting campaigns to relax anti-pollution regulations in their industry. The 106 m »Black Pearl«, with DynaRig, built by Oceanco, and 143 m Sailing Yacht »A«, by Nobiskrug (HANSA 09/2017), are fine examples of voluminous oligarch-owned award-winning superyachts with the potential to harness energy from the wind. Linked to the environment-friendly trend, explorer yachts, occasionally venturing to remote destinations to do good, are a breed that are coming of age, purposeful lines evoking a commercial workboat feel. It is a bit like driving a hybrid Land Rover Defender (launching 2020) in Monaco, suggesting that »we drive off-road in the countryside at weekends, sourcing organic-produced Prosecco from remote vineyards while testing the soil for signs of fertilizer pollution.« Niches in combination One opinion is that if people are going to commission a big superyacht anyway – and nobody is telling potential owners that not building is the best for the environment – then it is better the industry guides prospects towards a vessel with green credentials. A combination of wind-powered, hybrid, explorer-researcher – conceding they need helicopters and submarines to assist with research, operations and safety – is therefore one niche for the future, with efficient hull forms. The Cousteau Society was ahead of its time with the diesel-turbosail hybrid 31 m »Alcyone«, designed by André Mauric and launched in 1985 (with this author in the design team). 35 years after designing »Alcyone«, Mauric has just signed an exciting new contract for two 136 m wind-powered roro cargo transport vessels for »Neoline«, partnered with Renault. On the explorer superyacht front there are endless projects on the drawing board, from a 79 m SWATH to be built by Abeking & Rasmussen, chartered out for private expeditions (with garages for cars of guests who are accommodated in suites of 170-240 m2), to a 115-Oceanographic Research Vessel to be built at Lloyd Werft, both still semi-confidential. Residences are offered with a 10–12-year lease, in partnership with a Hamburg shipping company, with an option to purchase, based on the residual value afterwards. Environmental concerns Today’s younger generation of wealthy entrepreneurs is concerned about the environment and also often said to be more into destination experiences than out-and-out ownership so chartering of flexible specialist vessels might well work with the possibility to combine deep sea exploration with comfort. Ocean Talks, hosted by Boat International at the Royal Geographical Society, London, saw the likes of EYOS Expeditions explaining how they tailor expeditions and Alan Jamieson, Chief Scientist of Five Deeps Expedition, describing discovering new species in the ocean’s deepest points – the »Triton« submarine was classed to go to »unlimited depth« by DNV GL since it could easily manage 8,500 m in the Mariana Trench. Owners of superyachts were encouraged by Ocean Talks to offer off-peak time to dedicated marine scientists, whose requirements are quite modest (eg: »two berths/cabins for a week in the Western Mediterranean«). Bringing the family aboard for a holiday, enjoying the wa- 28 HANSA International Maritime Journal 09 | 2019 © Malcolm McKeon
Schifffahrt | Shipping 73 m »MM 725« by Malcolm McKeon © Vickers © Queda Interior picture of 36 m »Calypso« by Vickers / Claydon Reeves A view inside »Dream« (106 m) by Ciarmoli Queda HANSA International Maritime Journal 09 | 2019 29
