Superyacht owners are becoming more conscious about the environment and as an industry, we are seeing great strides in support for ocean conservation.
It’s an area that Y.CO is passionate about, actively supporting a number of ocean conservation organisations and activities through its CSR programme.
We asked some of the Y.CO team how they thought superyachts are helping with ocean conservation – and whilst it’s clear there’s still quite a way to go, they all agreed that this has improved dramatically over recent years.
“I feel that the superyacht community is becoming more and more active,” explained Chief Strategy Officer Holly Bottau. “They’re taking more of a centre-stage role in trying to address the crisis.”
“We’re also seeing a lot of events, such as many clean regattas and events like The Ocean Awards, that are bringing lots of attention to this matter,” she added.
This sentiment was shared by Charter Broker Eleanor Bloodworth, who outlined some of the ways superyacht owners are already making a difference, such as by avoiding plastic and making sure that all rubbish is disposed of correctly. “In the old days they’d literally just chuck stuff over the side – and that’s a complete no-no now,” she added.
Creative Director Callum Peden said the industry is waking up to their impact on the environment. “If we don’t start doing something now to help conserve it, then there won’t be an ocean for future generations to enjoy,” he warned.
The improved support of ocean conservation is underlined by the evolution of legislation. In his role as Senior Yacht Compliance, Russell Stockil has seen new legislation focussing on emission control and garbage management that have had significant impacts.
But it’s not just regulations that have made a difference. The trend of superyacht owners pursuing more adventurous destinations is taking these luxury yachts to unspoilt areas and this is making owners more aware of the importance of ocean conservation. “It seems to educate them, or encourage them, to want to understand more about how they can preserve those environments without having any negative effect whilst still being free to make the most of enjoying being there,” said Yacht Management Coordination expert Elaine Vickers.