Yachting decarbonisation: regulation, efficiency and new energy pathways

The decarbonisation of yachting is no longer a distant prospect, but a trajectory already shaped by regulation, market pressure and geopolitical changes in energy. Until a few years ago, the sector could still be considered relatively marginal to the climate debate; today it stands at the centre of a regulatory convergence that combines international strategy and European initiatives, introducing new parameters for measurement, accountability and innovation.

In this context, yachting faces a particularly complex challenge: reconciling its highly customised and long-life nature with a regulatory framework originally designed for commercial shipping. The result is a scenario in which energy efficiency represents only the first step, while real change requires a deeper revision of industrial models, energy supply chains and design approaches.

This is not simply a technological transition, but a shift in paradigm: from the individual performance of a vessel to a systemic vision involving fuels, infrastructure, shared metrics and global governance.

We explored the topic with Eng. Lorenzo Pollicardo, Technical and Environmental Policy Director of SYBAss (Superyacht Builders Association).

PressMare – In recent years, the international regulatory framework appears to have accelerated significantly. What are the main elements of this transformation?

Lorenzo Pollicardo – In recent years, the maritime sector — and increasingly yachting as well — has entered a phase of regulatory transformation without precedent. The framework is multi-layered: on one side the IMO, on the other the European Union, which has significantly accelerated its actions.

The IMO 2023 Revised Strategy on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships has set a clear objective: reaching net zero “by or around 2050”. At the same time, Europe has introduced the Fit for 55 package, making a series of binding measures operational for the maritime sector.

Among these, the EU ETS Maritime, active since 2024, extends the emissions trading system to maritime transport, introducing a direct cost on CO₂. FuelEU Maritime, in force from 1 January 2025, imposes a progressive reduction of greenhouse gas intensity of fuels by up to 80% by 2050, adopting a well-to-wake approach that considers the entire fuel lifecycle. This is complemented by Onshore Power Supply, which will progressively require ships to use shore-side electricity in European ports by 2030.

This marks a fundamental shift: the focus is no longer limited to operational emissions, but extends to the entire energy system. In parallel, the IMO is working on the Net-Zero Framework, approved in 2025 and expected to be adopted by 2027, which will introduce for the first time a global system combining emission intensity limits and CO₂ pricing mechanisms. This strengthens the convergence between European and international regulation.

PM – What are the main effects of this scenario on yachting compared to other maritime segments?

LP – For yachting, these developments have specific and more complex implications than for the cargo segment. We are dealing with vessels with very long lifecycles, difficult to retrofit, and with still limited infrastructure for alternative fuels. In addition, in superyachts the energy demand related to “hotel load” is often more significant than propulsion.

In this context, energy efficiency represents the most immediate lever: optimisation of onboard systems, reduction of HVAC consumption, hull improvements and the use of more efficient materials. However, even the best efficiency strategies can deliver reductions in the order of 30%, which is significant but not sufficient to meet climate neutrality targets.

PM – What are the main development directions moving forward?

LP – For this reason, attention is progressively shifting towards medium-term measures, where alternative fuels such as advanced biofuels, methanol and hydrogen come into play, increasingly assessed through Life Cycle Assessment criteria.

The key point is that this is not only a technological challenge, but a systemic transformation. Fuel availability, port infrastructure, carbon pricing and geopolitical coherence become as decisive as the technology itself. Yachting is not an isolated system: its decarbonisation depends on the evolution of the entire global maritime industry.

At the same time, due to its capacity for innovation, yachting can play an active role and become an advanced laboratory for the entire sector.

PM – In this context, which tools and initiatives are helping to define common standards?

LP – A key reference is the Water Revolution Foundation. It is an international non-profit organisation that brings together the main stakeholders of the superyacht industry — shipyards, designers and suppliers — with the aim of driving sustainability through collaborative research and science-based tools.

The Foundation has developed the Roadmap 2050, a shared plan to achieve zero emissions by 2050, and has promoted YETI (Yacht Environmental Transparency Index), a tool that allows transparent measurement and comparison of the environmental impact of superyachts.

Thanks to this work and the contribution of the entire sector, there is now also a specific international technical standard, ISO/TS 23099, which enables harmonised assessment and comparison of the environmental performance of large yachts.

This framework opens two fundamental directions: on one side, the development of a unified scientific method to measure real environmental impact, focused on operational performance; on the other, strengthening the dialogue with the IMO, with the aim of achieving dedicated international regulations for yachting.

PM – Can we therefore speak of a new phase for the sector?

LP – Yes, the sector is indeed entering a new phase: from a relatively autonomous domain to an integral part of a regulated global system, where the challenge is not only to reduce emissions, but to do so in a coherent, measurable way aligned with global energy dynamics.

Filippo Ceragioli

©PressMare - All rights reserved