The world's most eco-focused yachts

Heesen superyacht Home pairs a state-of-the-art hybrid propulsion system with a proven Fast Displacement Hull Form by Van Oossanen Naval Architects to reduce its environmental footprint and improve efficiency. Designed as a home on the water by Omega Architects and Cristiano Gatto, the 50 metre Home is 48% more efficient than other yachts of its size. The yacht can cruise in four different modes depending on the situation; an “eco mode,” a “quiet mode” using electric motors and reducing sound pollution and a "diesel model" for cruising quicker passages. The final feature is the special “boost mode,” which combines diesel and electric for added power on the water.

The 83.5m Feadship yacht Savannah uses the Dutch yard's pioneering Breathe propulsion system - which allows for five different operation modes from diesel and diesel-electric combinations to fully electric. Power comes from a 30-tonne lithium-ion battery bank capable of holding a million watts of electricity. But even in diesel mode, Savannah is highly efficient, with 30 per cent lower fuel consumption than her contemporaries thanks to her dynamic hull shape and steep entrance angle.

Sailing yachts are generally the more eco-friendly option for minimising your impact at sea, but the 40 metre Rainbow has gone one step further and adopted advanced technology to reduce impact even further. Rainbow was launched in 2012 by Holland Jachtbouw and designed by Dykstra Naval Architects as a replica of the original America’s Cup-winning 1930 Rainbow built for Harold Vanderbilt. The J-class superyacht has been constructed for optimal sailing performance and is powered by a hybrid propulsion system that improves fuel efficiency and reduces sound pollution while under motor.

The 90 metre Lürssen-built superyacht, Ice, originally known as Air when it was launched in 2005, made waves for being one of the first superyachts on the water outfitted with electrically-powered Azipod propellers within her propulsion system. The diesel-electric generators supply power to two azimuth thrusters, which have the added benefit of giving a comfortable, vibration-free ride as well as seriously reducing emissions while underway. Thanks to the advanced technology of her engines, the Tim Heywood-designed, black-hulled Ice can reach a top speed of 18.5 knots and offers an explorer-class cruising range of 5,000 nautical miles when sailing at a speed of 15 knots.

Not only can this 39.3 metre superyacht run on 15 per cent biodiesel, but every aspect of Safira's interior also comes from reclaimed, recycled or remnant materials – all without sacrificing luxury. The Newcastle-built explorer, designed by Sparkman & Stephens, has been largely constructed using an eco-friendly product made in The Netherlands known as Esthec. Used as a replacement for interior woodwork and teak decking, it also helps provide sound insulation to the five cabins in her lower decks. 

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