As the blue economy already accounts for $2.5 trillion annually and could exceed $3 trillion by 2030 (OECD), the Blue Economy and Finance Forum (BEFF) established itself this week in Monaco as a major platform for driving sustainable transformation of the maritime economy.
Organized under the High Patronage of HSH Prince Albert II and in partnership with the Principality, the BEFF is an official event of the United Nations Ocean Conference, bringing together public decision-makers, investors, scientists, and industry leaders to address the challenges of ocean-related financing and innovation.
During the session titled “Setting Sail to Blue Ports and Shipping” which focused on decarbonizing maritime transport and port infrastructure, the SEA Index® by Yacht Club de Monaco was presented as a key lever in the ecological transition of yachting.
The high-level international panel included Ms. Christine Cabau, EVP Assets and Operations at CMA CGM Group; Paul Taylor, Global Head of Maritime Industries at Société Générale and Vice Chair of the Poseidon Principles; Mr. Christophe Castaner, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Grand Port Maritime de Marseille; Stefano Sommadossi, President of NatPower; and was moderated by Nick Brown, Corporate Affairs Director at Bureau Veritas.
Rachel Ercole Ribes, Development Manager of SEA Index®, advocated a bold vision of the shipowners’ role in this transformation:
“Yacht owners are often also captains of industry. They possess both the means and the influence to unlock technological barriers. Decarbonization is not just a regulatory obligation, it is a shared responsibility. With the SEA Index®, we provide a reliable, transparent, and scalable tool and, above all, we assert pioneering leadership in the sector, to anticipate future regulations and foster innovation starting today.”
Developed since 2020 by the Yacht Club de Monaco, in partnership with Credit Suisse (a UBS Group company), the SEA Index® allows superyachts over 24 meters to measure and reduce their carbon footprint through an independent methodology certified by Lloyd’s Register and labeled by CAPENERGIES. It includes a lifecycle emissions calculator based on fuel choice and anticipates evolving environmental standards, including future integration of air and noise pollution, and technologies such as fuel cells.
Already seeing increasing adoption among Mediterranean yacht owners and infrastructure operators, including around twenty ports in the Southern Region of France, SEA Index® is also undergoing international deployment, particularly in the Seychelles, in collaboration with local authorities.
At the same time, the Yacht Club de Monaco continues its commitment to sustainable yachting through the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge (July 1–5, 2025), an open innovation platform bringing together engineering schools and industry players to test tomorrow’s energy technologies at sea.
