The Principality is once again leading the way in sustainable solutions, this time with the creation of a zero-emissions catamaran that will serve the Monaco Yacht Club and act as a blueprint for the entire yachting industry.
The Monaco Yacht Club announced the construction of a Zero Emission Committee Boat during this year’s Monaco Solar and Energy Boat Challenge, held from 2nd to 6th July. It will be used for all regattas organised by the club.
In the presence of club president HSH Prince Albert II, YCM General Secretary Bernard d’Alessandri revealed naval architect Espen Oeino has designed the hull and structure, while Dario Calzavara (Terra Modena) is responsible for the engineering on the 100% eco-friendly catamaran.
As it will be quiet with no carbon emissions, it has been designed with a second function in mind: whale watching excursions from the Principality.
“The Yacht Club de Monaco already has three electric tenders used by the sports section when supervising children for sailing lessons and organising our nautical events,” explained Bernard d’Alessandri. “But this Committee Boat is part of a much more ambitious holistic project by the Yacht Club de Monaco. It is a truly unique initiative to design a boat with a complex specification regarding stability, weight, safety, power and speed for a vessel with a length of 11m and beam of 6m. If we want to position ourselves as one of the world’s capitals of yachting, we must take the lead and propose concrete solutions.”
The aluminium construction will employ a combination of solutions for propulsion. Initially designed to operate on solar energy, it could also integrate a hydrogen system and vertical sails to increase its range, and any new propulsion solutions that arise to make it as quiet as possible.
Marine animals can experience noise at frequencies above 1kHz, and most small boats emit frequencies up to 40kHz.
The YCM is aiming to set an example with its new Committee Boat while the innovative engineers are also hoping that one day their initiatives will be taken on board by everyone in the boating sector.
Prince Albert took the opportunity to visit the paddocks and meet some of the students from the 22 engineering colleges in over 30 teams taking part in the competition. After encouraging the two Monegasque teams, SBM Offshore and Lanéva, he toured the exhibition area to meet exhibitors, including the companies FinX, Torqeedo, Energy Observer and Nautical High Tech, all offering innovative propulsion systems to propel yachting into a new cleaner greener era.