Owning a boat is a dream for many people. For some individuals, however, where money is no object that dream boat becomes the ultimate luxurious vessel: a superyacht.
The majority of superyachts run on marine diesel and consume huge amounts of fuel even when stationary, let alone when the superyacht is moving. There are however more eco-friendly designs that utilize the likes of biofuels and rechargeable batteries to run.
While there are no specific criteria that define a superyacht as a superyacht, for instance, no set length range or a certain price tag, it’s safe to say the world’s biggest, most luxurious, and most expensive yachts are superyachts. Most of these vessels use marine diesel engines, though the size and power of the engine will vary depending on how large the superyacht is.
Fuel consumption and operating costs
Superyachts are awe-inspiring in their floating grandeur but their luxuriousness isn’t the only thing likely to surprise people. The sheer amount of fuel required to operate superyachts can be hard to believe.
Consider a superyacht measuring around 70 meters in length with a diesel engine. Such a vessel can use around 500 liters of diesel per hour just to keep the engines running, without the superyacht actually being on the move.
This fuel consumption will increase when the vessel is moving, with higher speeds requiring more fuel consumption. However, fuel is also used to supply services on the superyacht such as electricity, so the number of guests onboard and what services are being used at any given time will also affect fuel consumption levels.
While huge amounts of fuel contribute to the operating costs of a superyacht, this is just one small piece of the picture. There are numerous other costs that are all part of owning and operating a superyacht.
These include berthing costs, maintenance costs, security costs, and salary costs for the captain and the crew both onboard the vessel as well as any crew based on the shore. Not to mention the cost of installing additional luxuries and toys on the superyacht, which can range from jet skis to helicopter landing pads, swimming pools, and more.
Potential purchasers of these luxurious vessels should expect to pay around 10% of the superyacht’s purchase cost in operating and maintenance expenses each year. With these superyachts costing millions of dollars (sometimes hundreds of millions) to purchase before any annual operating costs are considered, it’s not hard to see why these vessels are firmly restricted to the realms of the superrich.
Are there greener alternatives to marine diesel and diesel engines?
The industry is continually working on ways to make marine fuels and diesel engines more efficient and cleaner, thereby reducing emissions. As environmental regulations become increasingly tighter, superyacht owners may need to start considering greener fuel alternatives and ways to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
One solution could be Neste MY Renewable Diesel, a biofuel made from 100% renewable raw material and an option that could reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 90%. Additionally, the marine fuel Neste Marine 0.5 would allow vessels to comply with global sulfur caps, though the use of this fuel might be limited in superyachts.
These are not the only options, however. Alternative propulsion systems involving hybrid electric power, solar power, and wind power offer a more eco-conscious approach to building and operating superyachts. Eco-friendly design is the primary driving force behind some superyachts, such as the Black Pearl which can reportedly operate without using any fossil fuels.
Other eco-conscious superyachts feature the likes of a choice of operating modes that can range from fuel-efficient diesel mode to diesel-electric or fully electric modes.
Additionally, there are other ways to increase the fuel efficiency of superyachts such as adding a bulbous bow to reduce drag, a trim wedge that creates vertical lift or encouraging guests to consume less power on the superyacht (which burns less fuel). Even painting the hull color white can help, as this allows the vessel to reflect more sunlight, which will allow for lower air conditioning needs, thereby reducing fuel consumption.
Sailing into a more innovative, eco-conscious future
While the majority of superyachts continue to use marine diesel, there is no doubt that other alternatives will start to become more prevalent as environmental regulations tighten and eco-conscious yacht designers and owners look for greener ways to operate their vessels.