MAIN MAG ON BOARD SPRING 21

MY OPINION
Raising awareness by
sharing data
We all yearn for cleaner oceans,
of course we do. But how do
we achieve the much-needed
improvements? Raising awareness of the
issues surrounding protection of the marine
environment is the crucial first step.
At the 10th edition of La Belle Classe
Superyachts Environmental Symposium in
Monaco on 25 March 2021, I am pleased to
say good progress was made in confronting
the challenges head on. No one was left in
any doubt about what we need to achieve
together.
Awareness in itself is but a first step and
I was heartened to hear so many practical
ways forward discussed at this important
conference. These ranged from alternative
power sources, such as hydrogen, battery
electric, solar and wind power, to the
environmental benchmarking of yachts
that we know is long overdue.
No one is exempt from their responsibility to
help clean up our oceans, however large and
fast their yacht, which is why a fact-based
and easy to understand environmental rating
system for superyachts is so important.
Indeed, the Yacht Club de Monaco, in
collaboration with Credit Suisse, felt this
was so important that in September 2020
we founded the Superyacht Eco Association
(SEA), with the backing of the Prince Albert
II de Monaco Foundation.
I am proud to serve as a Member of the
Board of SEA and represent the Yacht Club de
Monaco in its role as environmental beacon
and aggregator of initiatives such as the
pioneering SEA Index CO2 classification tool
for superyachts of 40 metres and above.
The symposium presented the first
opportunity to hear how the SEA Index
has fared since its inception just six months
ago. It has come a long way in just a short
time and is today very much live and well.
Bernard d’Alessandri,
Yacht Club de Monaco
General Secretary and
President of Cluster
Yachting Monaco
and Member of the
Board, Superyacht Eco
Association, talks about
the SEA Index and its
vision for the future
Importantly, the Index is not about one
yacht being better than another; rather,
it is about informing the debate, increasing
awareness and pushing the industry on.
Its success is living proof of the desire of
all of us to work together for a climatefriendlier
future.
Not only is this environmental benchmarking
initiative up and running, the SEA index is
also evolving to include other environmental
criteria, besides CO2. Furthermore, one of
the maritime world’s most respected names;
Lloyd’s Register will issue the certificates.
Data verification by an organisation of such
unprecedented experience and credibility will
ensure that the growing demand from yacht
owners to know their vessels’ environmental
impact will grow faster still.
President of the Yacht Club de Monaco, HSH
Prince Albert II, has already officially inducted
the owners of two superyachts – the 68
metre Ragnar and 88 metre Maltese Falcon
– into the SEA Index program.
These yachts are leading examples for the
superyacht industry as it transitions to
a climate-friendlier future. They provide a
timely ‘call to action’ for everyone from
across the industry, from shipyards to
superyacht owners, to stand up and be
counted.
We do not just yearn for cleaner oceans,
we come together in the true spirit of
Monaco to ensure we are on the correct
course to achieve cleaner oceans. As the
symposium showed, awareness of the
issues is now greater than ever and a
lot has already been achieved, but there
is a great deal still to do.
For more information on the Superyacht Eco
Association, the SEA Index tool and becoming
a member Tel: +377 93 10 63 04
or visit www.superyachtecoindex.com
ONBOARD | SPRING 2021 | 15