a well-built Life Cycle Assessment model including both upstream (production) and downstream (use, combustion, shore power). It is a very comprehensive calculation model, which goes beyond the IMO ambitions, developed to estimate various emissions based on a detailed description of the systems on a yacht and a fixed operation profile.
Blue ESG is another initiative aiming to better the superyacht industry’s impact on the environment. LR supported Blue ESG in developing a Superyacht Carbon Intensity Indicator (SCII) for the assessment of operational emissions against the total annual usage for yachts over 400gt. The SCII provides a standardised metric for comparing the carbon intensity of different superyachts and assessing their operational environmental performance over time.
As part of LR’s Ship Performance Group, Santiago Suarez de la Fuente can offer a bird’s eye view of all the indices. “The SEA Index and YETI are currently focusing on the carbon intensity of yachts at a given and fixed operational profile, which is closer to the IMO’s EEXI,” he explains. “YETI is more complex and expansive in its scope, encompassing many different onboard elements, operating conditions, and requiring a lot more data. Blue ESG’s index, however, is covering the carbon intensity of the yacht for each year of operation, which is comparable to the IMO’s CII.”
LR has also been working with Azimut Benetti to develop a carbon emissions design index for yachts under 24m in length, with an approach consistent with the IMO’s EEDI. This index was launched at the Cannes Yacht Festival in 2023 where Azimut handed over the calculation method to SEA Index for their use, reaffirming their commitment towards a greener yachting industry.
THE NEXT STEPS
From the meetings between various other class societies and LR to discuss the development of YETI, there is agreement that the best way forward is to establish one index as an ISO or IMO standard for the measurement of the CO2 footprint. After such recommendations, a proposal was recently submitted by the Water Revolution Foundation to the ISO working group for environment and sustainability under ISO/TC 8/SC 12 Large Yachts, to set a clear operation profile which could form the basis of a future international index.
The chair of the ISO/TC 8/SC 1, Ben Geary, has expressed his support of the initiative: “I applaud the various efforts in the yacht industry to reduce the environmental footprint,” he comments. “It emphasises the need for a common standard against which we measure the energy and carbon footprint of yachts. Not dissimilar to what is happening on other ship types as directed through the IMO. I am looking forward to working with all parties for a rapid introduction of such a standard and helping the industry progress.”
Over the course of what is likely to be a multi-year process, the industry will be able to provide feedback on the development of an international standard and, if approved, will create a single and transparent way of understanding a yacht’s environmental credentials. This can then be used as a basis for class environmental notations. “Of course, there’s going to be disagreements and debates depending on what each party wants, but sitting everybody at the table is a good step forward towards having a standardised index,” says Suarez de la Fuente. “There will have
Santiago Suarez de la Fuente
to be compromises, but that’s the nature of creating a standard that covers the whole industry.”
The end goal would then be to have a standard submitted to the IMO as an example of how the yachting industry should address the issue of carbon intensity and energy indices. “If we don’t, the IMO will start imposing its own version on the industry itself, which could likely result in an unrealistic and inappropriate tool,” cautions de Boer. “It’s very positive to see the various initiatives developed in a relatively short amount of time, but there’s an urgent need for a consolidated effort by the industry.”
IN CONCLUSION
Talk of sustainability in the superyacht industry can often feel like ‘greenwashing’, and the same could be said for environmental indices. But Suarez de la Fuente is optimistic about the progress made so far. “Our clients are the first movers, taking advantage of the gap in the market and establishing a foothold in the industry’s transition towards decarbonisation.
As such, LR will continue to support all the indices while working towards a single standard that the whole industry can focus on. “They are all good initiatives that will succeed when working towards a single strategy for a cleaner ocean and better environmental footprint,” de Boer reiterates.
By building on the progress made so far, it is possible for the industry to establish a standardised index that will not only enable yacht owners to measure the environmental impact of their yacht but allow them to make informed choices over different sustainable technologies when building or refitting a project.
While there is work to be done to improve unity, this period presents an opportunity for the yachting industry to demonstrate its ability to take responsibility for reducing its own environmental footprint.
For more details visit
www.lr.org
ONBOARD | WINTER 2024 | 21
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