THE IMPORTANCE OF AUTHENTICITY IN SUSTAINABILITY CLAIMS

It is a norm today for any company to make sustainability claims for its products, services and operations. But how do you know those claims are valid and realistic? Particularly when considering something as complex as a superyacht?

THE IMPORTANCE OF AUTHENTICITY IN SUSTAINABILITY CLAIMS

It is a norm today for any company to make sustainability claims for its products, services and operations. But how do you know those claims are valid and realistic? Particularly when considering something as complex as a superyacht?

Feadship is one of the anchor partners and driving forces of a Netherlands-based public benefit organisation called the Water Revolution Foundation (WRF). It was founded six years ago to address a growing need for the global superyacht sector to work together to ensure it acts sustainably, with the goal of neutralising its footprint, preserving the world’s precious oceans and ensuring it has a sustainable business.

An early outcome from the WRF’s formation was the development of the Yacht Environmental Transparency Index, commonly known as YETI. This independent benchmarking system examines the environmental impact of a superyacht and compares it against the rest of the assessed fleet. The tool determines the emissions and efficiency of a yacht’s annual operation, expressing the outcome in EcoPoints, which are a quantity of emitted pollutant per kg of analysed fuel and corresponding exhaust gases.

As YETI progresses in coming years it will take in more parameters including build materials and methods. An ever-expanding pool of data is becoming invaluable in assessing current yachts in operation and informing the designers and builders of tomorrow’s launches.

YETI in action

Feadship’s recently launched 60m Project 713 was placed for YETI assessment. She is the first Feadship to be equipped with solar panels that have been optimised to deliver up to 24MWh annually. Propulsion is diesel-electric, with four HVO-fuelled generators and 400kWH battery capacity. The hull design is optimised by Azure Naval Architects for cruising speed rather than outright maximum pace. This is also the first Feadship to feature FSC-certified plantation teak for all the decking.

Project 713 scored very well on YETI, placing her among the best in fleet at 35 per cent below average impact. Her various efficiency enhancing features were analysed and found to more than compensate for the losses incurred by the mechanical and electrical conversions involved in hybrid propulsion.

Project 713’s owner is said to have been heavily involved in decisions aimed at reducing the yacht’s environmental impact. The YETI score not only provided assurance that these efforts made a difference and provided verified context of impact reduction. The results will no doubt also be informing the company’s technical resources as they work towards Feadship’s pledge to develop net zero yachts by 2030.

Read more about Project 713 here.

Discover life cycle assessed products at METSTRADE

You can also explore a parallel initiative to YETI in action at METSTRADE. Products that have been independently life cycle assessed under the WRF’s Hub of Verified Solutions can be discovered along the Superyacht Sustainability Route. The objective of this programme is to provide confidence in the environmental claims made by equipment manufacturers as well as assisting them in benchmarking their own sustainability

Feadship at the Young Professionals Club and Career Zone

Interested to learn more about Feadship? Representatives from the company are excited to be present within the Young Professionals Lounge and Career Zone at METSTRADE this year. As a leader in Dutch yacht building, Feadship is always seeking talented individuals who are passionate about innovation and craftsmanship. By meeting up in the Young Professionals Club Lounge you’ll be able to learn how every team member plays a vital role in crafting Feadship’s extraordinary vessels, such as Project 713 and discover what career pathways are available.

The Young Professionals Lounge and Career Zone, sponsored by Marine Resources, is available to all METSTRADE exhibitors and visitors under the age of 35. It offers unique opportunities to network and receive guidance on career development and anything else to do with the marine leisure industry. See here for further information –www.metstrade.com/theatres-and-specials/young-professionals-club

efforts. Read more about the development pathway for one of the earliest products to enter the Hub of Sustainable Solutions here.