There’s something counterintuitive about seeing a superyacht moored in a luxury port under the Mediterranean sun, and thinking it’s doing nothing. Actually, yes it is doing it: is polluting…and a lot. Monaco has just taken a step towards making this have consequences, with a measure that is very reminiscent of something we already know in cities: low-emission zones, but adapted for yachts.
The Yacht Club of Monaco, through the Superyacht Eco Association (SEA Index), has announced the first air quality certification specific to superyachts. It is not exactly a Low Emissions Zone like the one restricts car access pollutants to the center of Madrid or Barcelona, but something more similar to an environmental label: the yachts that pollute the least get better conditions and benefits exclusive in the Monegasque marina. Those who pollute the most are left without them.
The invisible problem
For years, the debate about the environmental footprint of superyachts focused almost exclusively on the CO₂ these luxury vessels generate during the miles sailed. However, the biggest problem is not so much the pollution emitted when they are traveling on the high seas, but when they are moored in port.
A superyacht of more than 76 meters in length moored in port can consume up to 2,000 liters of diesel per day only to maintain air conditioning and the onboard systems while docked, with an electrical demand of 255 kW at anchor and 238 kW docked dedicated solely to auxiliary services: air conditioning, kitchens, spas, swimming pools, lighting or the boat’s stabilizers do not turn off when the boat stops moving. Furthermore, if they did not do so, the salt from the sea would quickly damage the noble woodsfabrics and skins that decorate its interior, causing an even bigger bill.
keep going the generators to keep all of this running while the yacht is in port is approximately equivalent to air conditioning consumption of more than 100 homes medium-sized operating at the same time, all to provide service to a single boat 24 hours.
An environmental label for yachts.
In the cities, the DGT label determine if your car can circulate through certain areas at certain times, during pollution episodes, or they allow you to park at a discount. In the ports attached to the SEA Index, the certification fulfills a similar function: yachts with three stars or more have access to exclusive benefits at the Yacht Club of Monaco and in the associated ports of the Mediterranean. The difference is that, in this case, the yacht is not prohibited from entering the marina, but rather those who pollute the least are rewarded with benefits.
As specified in the statement Upon presentation, the system scores each yacht from one to five stars by evaluating the nitrogen oxide and ultrafine suspended particles generated by each yacht, and then grouping them into a single final rating. Three stars represent the standard level of a medium modern yacht, while four or five stars are reserved for vessels with more advanced technologies and more sustainable engines.
Why are ports part of the problem?
The initiative makes a lot of sense if you look at what is happening in the ports of the Mediterranean. In Marseille, sea vessels became the main source of pollution of the city in 2020, representing 53% of the total, ahead of car traffic. According to a report of Transport & Environmentcruises in European ports increased their polluting emissions by 18% in 2022 compared to 2019, with Barcelona the most polluted port of the continent that year.
These gases and particles directly affect residents, port workers and anyone who lives near a marina. As pointed out Pierre-Charles Maria of AtmoSud: “Air quality is not just an environmental concern; it is a fundamental public health issue. It is not just about staying ahead of regulations, but about improving air quality in coastal areas for the benefit of residents, mariners and ecosystems.”
Image | Unsplash (Zoe Jackson)
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