The future of the Superyacht Industry

?????????????? ???? ???????????? ????????????, ?????????????? ??????????????

???????? ?????????? ???????????????????? ???????????? ?????? ????????????????

Many years have passed since shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis bought and refurbished in 1954 an anti-submarine frigate that had served in the D-Day landings, converting it into a dream superyacht that he named after his daughter: "Christina O". He invested almost 4 million dollars to provide the ship with an elegant infrastructure, including innovative elements such as a heliport and a marvellous pool deck decorated with mosaics that rose to become a dance floor at the touch of a button. The conversion of this frigate was a really important starting point in the superyacht industry. Or rather, one could say that, before the "Christina O", the #superyacht as we know it today did not exist.

Between this historic milestone and the current scenario, the evolution and innovation in the world of #superyachts has been considerable, but where are we heading in the near future?

We can look at this from different, but related, perspectives. Let's take a look at them below.?

SUSTAINABILITY

It is undeniable that the yachting industry (like any industry these days) needs to move towards an environmentally friendly environment. The International Maritime Organisation's 2020 announcement stated that the target for 2050 was to reduce shipping emissions by at least 50% from 2008 levels, and to aim to eliminate them completely thereafter. Finding an alternative to today's fuel is a goal in which #methanol and #LNG are being seriously considered as viable energy sources. Other options under consideration present problems, such as batteries: the space they would take up is very large, which is a major handicap when it comes to superyachts.

• LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) is basically natural gas that is cooled to a liquid state (-260° Fahrenheit), thereby reducing its volume considerably. Studies with LNG conclude that nitrogen oxide emissions are reduced by approximately 90%, while sulphur oxide and particulate emissions are negligible.
• On the other hand, methanol, compared to conventional fuels, reduces carbon dioxide emissions by up to 95%, nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 80% and completely eliminates sulphur oxide and particulate emissions.

In addition, it is necessary to take in to account the means used to produce these alternative energies and their environmental impact, the costs and of course the fundamental role played by engineering and technology, which are responsible for making engines work efficiently so that fuels perform at their best.

The shipping industry seems to be opting for methanol as an energy source to comply with the #imo2020 regulation, apart from the fact that the cost, infrastructure and supply are more viable compared to LNG.

DESIGN

It is an aspect clearly influenced by a commitment to the environment. We see design moving towards a symbiosis with nature, pushing the limits of imagination, seeking a balance between comfort, humanity and technology, and respecting the environment. The "Superyacht Design Festival" held recently in Cortina d'Ampezzo (Italy) is a good reference for what is to come in the superyacht industry. Among this year's conferences, Cynthia Halley (art director of Marvel) gave an interesting talk, arguing that "A yacht is a work of art that looks ahead to the future of design," but it's also an "oasis" on the water which allows "leisure, romance, adventure, the ability to share good times with friends".

Closer to home is "Project 406", which is being built?by the Dutch shipyard Royal Huisman and designed by Vripack. It is, as they say "The world's largest true sportfish yacht", an aluminium superyacht with an overall length of 52m. Its imposing profile spread over six decks, a long bow and high bulwarks that open up through a transparent sheer, culminating in a low, uncluttered aft cabin, make it an innovative, elegant and highly designed yacht.

A more futuristic version is seen in the design of the "Pegasus 88m" superyacht, conceived by Jozeph Forakis. Joseph brings us a very interesting proposal: a zero-emission superyacht that would really tune in with its surroundings, ultimately blending in to the environment.

Fitted with reflective "Solar Wings", this vessel would be powered by a complete system in which solar energy would be harnessed to convert seawater into hydrogen. On-board fuel cells would convert the hydrogen into electricity, which would be stored in lithium-ion batteries in the short term. The result would be a virtually self-sufficient machine capable of powering the entire ship. Its construction would also be a revolution compared to traditional systems, as it would use robotic 3D printing to create a mesh frame, integrating both the hull and superstructure. Jozeph's intention is to achieve an extraordinarily strong and lightweight structure that would require less energy, material, space and time to produce compared to conventional construction. The #naturefriendly design makes itself felt: on the outside with its mirrored glass "wings", arranged on several levels and reflecting the sky, clouds and the surrounding environment. And also on the inside thanks to its centrepiece: the "Tree of Life" hydroponic garden, "a living, breathing monument to mother nature". Made up of several sections, this garden would provide fresh food while purifying the air.?

If realised, the PEGASUS would be the world's first 3D-printed, zero-emission vessel, capable of sailing with almost infinite range.

Sounds interesting, doesn't it?

TECHNOLOGY

The accelerating evolution of artificial intelligence, coupled with 5G, is bringing us a landscape in which the "internet of things" is emerging with overwhelming force. The deployment of the fifth generation mobile network is changing the way we interact, multiplying data speeds and reducing latency, making it possible for us to communicate in near real-time. And not just with each other, but also when it comes to physical objects. While 5G is still in the midst of deployment, 6G is on its way. However, it probably won't be until 2030 that we will be able to start enjoying its impressive speed. However, imagine these technologies applied to navigation: maritime space connected globally, transmitting live information on the state of the sea, the weather, maritime traffic, ports, cities.... It would be virtually impossible to be surprised by an unexpected event or to miss something. And going further, the technology-intelligence-communication combination would provide a navigation experience that is comfortable, silent, user-friendly and above all adapted to the specific needs of each vessel. This deployment could even be used for environmental protection, with the exchange of data making it possible to alert, for example, to the presence of marine life, thus avoiding sailing in that area and instantly recalculating an alternative route. Not to mention the possibilities of controlling our superyacht via mobile phone or receiving complete, first-hand information on a vessel to be repaired, which would make it possible to have the facilities fully functional, ready before its arrival and with the right stock of materials, speeding up the process and reducing costs... Industry 4.0 will benefit from data feedback at 5G speed and even more with 6G, making possible a virtual reality in which shipowners' chief engineers can be assisted in real time and remotely by engineers to carry out repairs to machinery in the middle of the sea, or receive advice on technical issues and elements they are unfamiliar with, as and when they need.

The "YachtEye", developed by Oculus Technologies and acquired by SuperYacht Times in 2020, is an example of how technology is already helping today. Through an intuitive system that can be viewed on TV, touch screens and iPad, this app displays valuable information about the trip: the route, itinerary, weather conditions, positions of boats, etc.

Conclusions

It is easy to understand that these three aspects are interlinked: design, technology and sustainability are not feasible without each other when we talk about the near future. Adapting to what is to come in our sector implies a largely technological transition to become a "digital shipyard and marina", which will allow us to streamline, coordinate and optimise processes thanks to the use of real-time data and new technologies, also achieving a lower ecological impact.

I think the real conclusion can be summed up in the popular phrase "the future is already here...".

A very special thanks to YachtCharterFleet , Royal Huisman and Jozeph Forakis for granting permission to publish the images that appear in this article.