Superyacht Eco Association (SEA) Index

It was during the Monaco Yacht Show and during the traditional gatherings of the  Yacht Club de Monaco, such as the Yacht Owner’s’ luncheon and the Captains’ Forum that the founders of the Superyacht Eco Association (SEA), M. Bernard d’Alessandri (General Secretary of the Yacht Club de Monaco) and M. Michel Buffat (Head of Aviation & Yacht Finance at Credit Suisse), announced the launch of phase II of the SEA Index in collaboration with Lloyd’s Register, represented by Engel de Boer, Yacht Segment & Sales Manager at  Lloyd’s Register.

The founders also announced ‘Friends of the SEA Index’ a new Superyacht Eco Association membership category, open to individuals and entities who do not own a SEA Index rated yacht, but who nevertheless adhere to the principles and values of the Superyacht Eco Association.

Launched a year ago at the Yacht Club de Monaco, the original SEA Index already assesses the carbon intensity (CO2 emissions per gross ton and passenger) of motor yachts over 40m – based on their design, using a formula derived from IMO’s (International Maritime Organisation) EEDI (Energy Efficiency Design Index), as applied in the shipping industry.
The pioneering first phase already allowed superyacht owners to get an instant snapshot of the energy efficiency of their vessel on the basis of a rating scale from 0 to 5 (5 being the less impactful on the environment).
Having set this benchmark, the first in the superyacht industry, the Superyacht Eco Association recognised the need to take the index a step further by including more parameters and extending the scope of the tool to more propulsion systems and alternative fuels.

Mr. Michel Buffat comments:

‘With growing awareness of the need to reduce fuel consumption, more and more owners are choosing yachts with hybrid propulsion and optimised auxiliary power systems. Supported by the engineers of Lloyd’s Register, we have further developed the SEA index so that it now also rates advanced yacht designs with great accuracy. We are very proud of the result and the progress the industry is making towards ever more sustainable yachting.’
The scope and accuracy of the original SEA Index is now considerably extended as it now considers the typical operating profile of a yacht (time cruising and time in berth or at anchor), the average speed and a possibility to rate hybrid and battery-based propulsion systems. Furthermore, innovative auxiliary power features can also be accounted for. Creating an internationally recognised emission rating system for superyachts is still at the forefront of the Superyacht Eco Association’s ambitions.

Mr. Bernard d’Alessandri:

‘The community of superyachts who belong to the Superyacht Eco Association  and have already undergone Phase I of the SEA Index, continues to grow. We have also recently witnessed clear indicators pointing towards more sustainable choices made by superyacht owners. Faced with the climate emergency and under the leadership of our President HSH Prince Albert II, it is important to act and reach out to the superyacht community at large. We trust that the launch of Phase II of the SEA Index and the launch of the ‘Friends of the SEA Index’ membership category, will really help drive sustainable thinking in the superyacht world.’

The Superyacht Eco Association is dedicated more than ever to supporting superyacht owners in their energy transition. Thanks to the help of the Principality of Monaco, the year round events held at the Yacht Club de Monaco, with the support of Credit Suisse, it will continue to be an aggregator of ideas and innovations for all actors in the superyacht industry.

For enquiries regarding the Superyacht Eco Association and the SEA Index tool, please contact : info@sea-index.com