On 15th May 2025, the Cluster Yachting Monaco held its annual Spring Pop-Up at the Yacht Club de Monaco that gathered major players in the yachting industry around a central sustainable transition theme. In between visits to yachts moored in the YCM Marina, three themed roundtables put the spotlight on concrete solutions, experiences in the field and a shared desire to be proactive.
This year was attended by the Cluster’s new Vice-Presidents, Arthur Bohr, Monaco Site and Key Account Director at Monaco Marine, and Olivier Lavagna, Managing Director at SEPM (Société d’Exploitation des Ports de Monaco), embodying a ramped up momentum to work together.
Cette édition a également marquée par la présence des nouveaux vice-présidents du Cluster : Arthur Bohr, Directeur du site de Monaco et Key Account Director chez Monaco Marine, et Olivier Lavagna, Directeur Général de la SEPM (Société d’Exploitation des Ports de Monaco), incarnant une nouvelle impulsion collective.
Chaired by Vincent Huens de Brouwer, the first discussion explored innovative solutions developed in the cruise and shipping industries, the aim being to inspire yachting to look outside its box and build on already proven initiatives.
Vianney Vautier (Operations Director – Orient Express, Accor Group) presented the Orient Express Corinthian, the largest sailing yacht in the world (220m) for premium cruises. After recalling that “the best fuel is one that doesn’t combust”, he detailed all the features of this sailing vessel from the hull through to its energy management systems and use of rigid sails. Every detail has been optimised to minimise its impact on the environment: “The yacht is equipped with 6,000 sensors. Using a digital twin, we simulate each itinerary to identify gaps in consumption, then correct them”.
Victor Gibon (Project Manager – JIFMAR GROUP Canopée) discussed the Canopée cargo ship experience, the first hybrid industrial vessel powered by rigid sails, designed to transport components of the Ariane 6 rocket between Europe and French Guiana. “We have registered an average 20% reduction in fuel consumption on the Atlantic. In certain optimal conditions that figure can reach 50% and even 100% in sail-only mode”.
Finally Victor Collazos (V.ERDE – Decarbonisation Programme Manager) presented an overview of environmental regulations currently in force in maritime transport. “Yachting today accounts for 0.3% of global maritime emissions. This may seem low but regulations are inevitable. Europe now imposes an energy rating system (A to E) on ships”.
The second roundtable chaired by naval architect Espen Øino gave owners a voice. For Laurent Reiss, (M/Y Asteria), the family adventure aspect is at the heart of his project: “We wanted to explore the planet and show our children the world,” he said. Having spent years sailing in remote areas such as French Polynesia, he emphasised the importance of designing a boat adapted to those environments with a focus on autonomy, robustness and the onboard equipment.
On the other hand, Frank Binder (owner of M/Y XEIA) feels designs are too standardised: “We need living areas that are properly designed for the sea”. For his part, Heigo Paartalu (Managing Director and co-founder of YachtWay – M/Y Vanquish VQ55 & VQ58) believes modularity is key: “Every square metre needs to be multi-purpose, for example a sun-deck must be able to be transformed to incorporate an outdoor kitchen area for entertaining”. He also presented YachtWay, a platform simplifying the search, selection and purchase of yachts from 1,800 existing brands, via a search engine where each criterium can be personalised and 3D immersive tours are available.
All highlighted the issue of managing crew, in particular problems with high turnover, rotations and lack of loyalty as obstacles to smooth sailing. Examples shared by owners point to an imbalance: “The rotation system sounds like a good idea, but in practice it’s convenient for the crew member, not for the owner,” said Laurent Reiss.
The third roundtable chaired by David Seal tackled concrete actions that can be taken now to make the existing fleet more sustainable, without major changes or constraints putting off owners. Robin Savigny (Energy Efficiency Project Manager SMEG / SMART+) showed how a simple measure can generate electricity savings of 24% on a 60m yacht, adding up to €48,000 a year.
Arthur Bohr, Monaco Site Director at Monaco Marine pointed out that 70% of the global fleet is over ten years old and each yacht merits a bespoke transition plan. Replacing generators, integrating buffer batteries to absorb peak loads, and upgrading often energy-intensive air con systems are immediate levers to act on. “Just replacing 520 halogen bulbs with LEDs on a 50m yacht saves up to 57,000 litres of fuel a year,” he explained.
Natalie Quévert (General Secretary and SEA Index® Project Manager) reiterated the importance of having reliable data to initiate an effective transformation. Set up in 2020 by YCM in collaboration with Credit Suisse (a UBS group brand), the SEA Index® is a reference tool for assessing CO2 emissions of yachts over 24m. “Our CO2 certification means owners can place their yacht on an energy-intensity scale. It’s an essential starting point for prioritising actions to be taken”. She stressed that a yacht’s age is not necessarily a handicap: “Some older boats that are well-designed and well-balanced achieve very good scores. Conversely, recent or hybrid boats can sometimes surprise one by their impact”.
Panellists highlighted growing pressure of regulations and society’s expectations, particularly among the young. Arthur Boyr recalled an owner of a 70m yacht concerned by his grand-children’s refusal to go on board because of the yacht’s impact on the environment. Finally, speakers praised the contribution made by new technologies and artificial intelligence in fine-tuning energy diagnostics. Robin Savigny concluded: “You can’t improve on what you haven’t measured. The first step is to have a very clear idea about the vessel’s actual consumption”.
As well as discussions, 16 yachts ranging from 12 to 52m were available for viewing in the YCM Marina, presented by broker members in the Cluster such as Edmiston, Espen Øino, Ocean Independence, Sanlorenzo, Azimut Yachts and BehneMar. The boats represented an overview of what is currently on offer in a lively market combining design, performance and the beginnings of an ecological transition, although not all incorporate sustainable solutions yet.
With nearly 100 businesses across the supply chain as members, the Cluster Yachting Monaco is establishing itself as a strategic platform to support change in the sector by stimulating innovation, fostering synergies and anchoring yachting to more sustainable growth in the Principality. In 2022, the yachting industry generated €567 million, 3% of total revenue in the Principality, with 411 companies and 1,429 jobs ashore.
