Between superyacht owners, designers, naval architects and superyacht charter companies, a serious and practical approach is underway to continue making the marine industry Eco friendly.

Across the globe there has been increasing talk amongst the yachting industry regarding sustainability, the responsibility of owners to adopt green technologies and measures shipbuilders can take to help protect the environment.

Already many superyacht builders like Icon Yachts, Feadship and Lürssen have been engaging innovative Eco friendly technologies including the use of hybrid propulsion systems which engage multiple energy sources to lower carbon emissions and reduce noise pollution to the marine wildlife.

Superyachts like the award-winning Oceanco built Black Pearl which currently holds the record for the world’s largest sailing yacht at 360ft, uses a combination of “wind power” to fill her giant sails along with a hybrid propulsion system when required and is said to be able to cross the Atlantic without fuel.

Meanwhile, Turkish shipyard Bilgin has just completed their largest superyacht to date, the 262ft Tatiana, which complies with the International Maritime Organization’s IMO Tier III certification requirements and features a special exhaust system that produces 100% clean air emissions.

Up and coming yacht design students are also keen to imagine a greener yachting future with creative concepts like French designer Julien Cadro’s ‘Ecoo’ superyacht, featuring an Avatar styled hull made out of bamboo fiber instead of steel, designed as part of the recent Rossinavi Design Challenge.

Raphael Suleau, CEO of superyacht charter and brokerage Fraser Yachts, has also noticed an increase in owners wishing to adhere to “green yachting” standards and clients asking for Eco-conscious superyacht charter options, including charters that offset emissions by “multi-tasking” and carrying out marine research activities while engaged as a charter yacht.

One such superyacht in Fraser’s charter fleet is the 251ft Yersin, a multi-purpose trans-ocean explorer yacht with ZERO emissions that can explore the globe without a trace and gain access to some of the most remote parts of the world thanks to its minimal impact on the environment.

Created for an owner whose inspiration stemmed from adventurers like Tintin and Commander Cousteau, M/Y Yersin has a research laboratory and hospital onboard and can be used for the scientific study of the unique marine life it encounters. Along with educational initiatives, guests and crew are also required to use chemical-free products and all garbage and waste required to be sorted and recycled accordingly.

In 2019 Fraser also acquired the new 183ft yacht M/Y Baba’s into its charter fleet which was built using engines that are fully compliant with the new International Maritime Organization directives on “clean exhaust”. These measures will be in force from 2021 onwards, so Baba’s is the first Pleasure Craft to embrace this technology more than two years ahead of the upcoming global standards.

Guests onboard 109ft M/Y Robbie Bobby can take comfort that her owner see’s environmental issues as very important. He is trying to get rid of plastic water bottles, replace the water toys with electric ones in order to reduce consumption and pollution, and also change the tender and yacht’s engine to be more efficient.

Superyacht designers themselves are also actively looking to raise awareness in the industry, with superyacht designer Dan Lenard of renowned design house Nuvolari Lenard, embarking on a solo journey across the Atlantic Ocean in a 33ft sail boat made from abandoned performance yacht parts  in a bid to draw attention to the state of the oceans.

“While a public beach appears to be clean due to a meticulous daily cleaning of the appointed services, a yacht reaching for remote places is discovering easily the real sad state of beaches, coasts and also the water itself – plastic has now reached practically every part of the world’s seas”.

As a yacht designer for some of the most iconic superyacht builds to do date, Dan firmly believes it is the responsibility of each and every person to alter our actions and habits to ensure the preservation of our oceans.

As Dan Lenard says, “We can enjoy the sea or destroy the sea. It is a choice.”

Bilgin Yachts of Turkey announces the launch of the first of three 80-metre yachts, marking the largest yacht ever built by a Turkish shipyard so far.

The first of three 80m yachts from the Bilgin Yachts 263 series has just been launched at the West Istanbul Marina and named M/Y Tatiana. Bilgin Yachts have announced her to be the largest yacht ever built by a Turkish shipyard so far, however the record seems to be equal with another 80m yacht built by Turkish ship builders, Yachtley, in 2018 which was named M/Y Elements. Tatiana however, is built in compliance with IMO Tier III certification and is considered to be the most environmentally friendly yacht in her class featuring a special exhaust system that provides 100% clean air emissions. This leaves her uncontested with the crown for the largest eco-friendly yacht built in Turkey.

M/Y Tatiana will now be outfitted and ready for delivery around the middle of 2020

Toby Sturge, representing Tatiana’s interior design, said “As H2 Yacht Design team, we focused on the owner’s wishes and turned them into a comfortable, luxurious yet functional interior. Timeless understatement is indeed the recurrent theme on board.”

All three of the commenced Bilgin 263 series have a steel hull and aluminium superstructure. The second and third Bilgin Yachts in the 263 series will both be delivered in 2021 with the third being produced alongside Bilgin’s 85-meter superyacht. Being 5 foot longer, once delivery occurs in 2023 she will be taking the record held by M/Y Tatiana.

M/Y TATIANA Brief Technical Specifications

• Builder: Bilgin Yachts
• Naval Architect: Unique Yacht Design
• Exterior Design: Unique Yacht Design
• Interior Design: H2 Yacht Design
• Hull configuration: Displacement
• Hull material: Steel
• S/Structure material: Aluminium
• LOA: 80.00m
• LWL at full load: 71.01m
• B.max: 12.20m
• Draught at full load: 3.50m (approx)
• Displacement at full load: 1,450t (approx)
• Gross tonnage: 1,680gt
• Fuel capacity: 155,000lt
• Water capacity: 47,913lt
• Main engines:MTU 16V 4000M73
• Engines power: 2×2.560 kW @1,970 RPM
• Maximum speed: 19 knots
• Cruising speed: 15 knots
• Range at cruising speed at half load: 5,000+ miles

Launched earlier this week, the Amels Limited Edition 260 is the first launch of spring season for the Dutch shipyard.

Designed in collaboration with British designer Tim Heywood (exterior) and Italian designer Laura Sessa (interior), the 62.5 metre Amels 206 Limited Edition was launched at Amels shipyard in Vlissingen and is the first of three new Amels yacht builds to be delivered this spring.

Speaking on the launch, Build Captain Fraser Gow commented “It’s a wonderful build milestone to see her outside. Everyone’s done an exceptional job, particularly on the finish which you can really appreciate now she’s outside. We’re all very excited to commence sea trials and commissioning of all her systems ahead of delivery.”

The concept behind the Amels Limited Editions range is the ability to offer better value and minimise the build-time for new owners while still being able to provide as many customisation options as possible – essentially hitting the sweet spot between semi-custom and full custom builds.

The owner of this specific Amels 260 chose a light grey hull with a white superstructure highlight to complement the exterior lines, along with options like signature round windows in the Owners Suite and a Teppanyaki grill up on the 23 meter Sun Deck.

Built to accommodate 12 guests in six suites, other features of the superyacht include private folding balconies for the owner and a 35 square meter beach club with garage space for two tenders and three jetskis.

Now that she’s been launched, the Amels 206 will head out to sea for commissioning and sea trials before final delivery to her owner later this Spring.