When investing in a superyacht, whether new, a refit, or you’re just equipping an existing superyacht with new lighting, a key consideration for many people now is sustainability.
Sustainability is by no means a recent trend for the industry; in fact, yachts and ships have been required to comply with environmental standards set out by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) for five decades now.
Specifically, the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), devised in 1973, is the main international convention for the prevention of marine pollution by ships.
MARPOL
MARPOL consists of 47 regulations that cover six key areas:
- Pollution prevention by oil
- Controlling pollution by Noxious Liquid Substance in bulk
- Preventing pollution by harmful substances carried at sea in packaged form
- Pollution prevention by sewage from ships
- Pollution prevention by Garbage from ships
- Prevention of air pollution from ships
Representing more than 99% of the world’s shipping tonnage, MARPOL has been at the centre of sustainability in yachting since the regulations came into force.
Other eco-friendly solutions for yachts
As well as adhering to these regulations, more and more captains, architects, engineers and shipbuilders are adopting new methods and approaches to make their vessels eco-friendlier:
1. Hybrid and electric propulsion systems
We are increasingly seeing superyachts that use hybrid and electric propulsion systems on the water. There are several benefits to this, including a reduction in fuel consumption, yearly CO2 emissions, and environmental exhaust and water pollution.
2. Wastewater treatment systems
Wastewater treatment systems can treat wastewater on board a yacht, helping to minimise water pollution in sensitive areas such as marinas and coastal zones. Some yachts are now also equipped with desalination and water purification systems to ensure a sustainable supply of potable water on board.
3. Sustainable materials
Sustainable materials are beginning to shake up the boatbuilding industry, with many designers and builders committed to using more locally sourced, recycled or rejected materials to create unique, luxury interiors. This includes cork, coconut wood, straw, rattan, non-toxic dyes, natural fibres, bio-resins and recycled stone.
Sustainable lighting
Updating your lighting is also a straightforward, simple step you can make to becoming more sustainable. At Savage Lighting, we almost always recommend using LED lighting where possible. LEDs consume around 75% less energy compared to traditional bulbs and also emit very little heat compared to incandescent or fluorescent lighting.
Savage Lighting uses the most recyclable materials in our lighting products. We will work closely with you on your lighting projects to reduce waste and reuse materials wherever possible.
In addition to providing expertly-engineered, off-the-shelf LED lighting products, our engineers can customise marine lighting to suit any finish or functionality. This means we can create bespoke, innovative, and most importantly, sustainable solutions that complement existing design features and materials aboard your yacht.
