The Sustainable Powered Yacht (SuP-Y) project by CRN has won in the “Supply Chain Collaboration – Superyachts” category at the prestigious 2023 BOAT BUILDER AWARDS. This success was the fruit of an excellent team effort between the Ferretti Group Superyachts Division, the Weichai Power Science & Technology Division and RINA Services SpA. The honour was presented on Thursday 16 November at a gala evening in the magnificent setting of the National Maritime Museum in Amsterdam at a gathering of the leading lights in the nautical world.

This accolade for CRN – a Ferretti Group brand specialising in the design, engineering and construction of superyachts of up to 90 metres – reaffirms its commitment to breaking new ground in the field of sustainable maritime applications, underlining the proactive approach to integrating sustainable energy sources into its vessels. The award also shows how CRN continues to operate at the cutting edge, leading the way in bringing sustainable technologies into the nautical world.

One aspect that particularly impressed the judges was the collaboration and the R&D coordinated effort of Ferretti Group Superyacht Division with Weichai Power Science & Technology Division and RINA Service SpA. The technical board, composed by the CRN Engineering team, the authoritative fuel cell experts at Weichai-Ballard and the quality-certification specialists at RINA Service SpA, led to the development of a certified sustainable energy architecture for future superyacht builds. The project comes at a time when the environmental credentials of the largeyachts sector have been called into question, so an approach that can quantifiably reduce overall emissions is an objective improvement in environmental standards.

In terms of the specifics, the sustainable architecture provides for the installation of an innovative fuel cell system, powered with “green methanol”, aboard CRN superyachts, meeting all efficiency and safety requirements. To that end, CRN developed two architectures for two dedicated naval platforms:
1. an 11.5-metre platform with hybrid propulsion for 60- to 70-metre yachts
2. a 14.2-metre platform with diesel/electric propulsion for 75- to 90-metre yachts.

Both architectures feature a PEM fuel cell system as an alternative energy source powered by hydrogen reformed from green methanol, optimised to predefined range and performance levels. This provides several days at “full-hotel” without firing up the diesel generators, offering zeroemissions cruising for several hours, with an autonomy depending on the speed set by the captain.

This approach significantly reduces overall emissions in line with the strictest eco standards. Organised by IBI, the reference magazine for the global leisure marine industry, and byMETSTRADE, the world’s largest trade exhibition ofmarine equipment, materials and systems, inpartnership with Raymarine, the Boat Builder Awards celebrate companies, teams and individuals working in the international pleasure boating and superyacht sector that excel in crucial areas from innovation and collaboration to sustainability, talent and marketing.

The new technology at the heart of SuP-Y is a major step forward towards the future of yachting, with an easy-to-use solution that meets all the regulatory requirements for safety at sea.