Fossil fuel yachts may be out of competition in tourism
Interest in sustainable technologies in yachts is increasing. Especially large yachts are turning more towards sustainable technologies due to high operating costs. Stating that the high initial cost of these technologies slows down the transformation, Begüm Doğulu, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Yacht Tourism Association, said that fossil fuel yachts may lose their competitiveness in the tourism market over time as customers turn to sustainable alternatives in the future.
Stating that new technologies increase comfort and efficiency while reducing environmental impacts in the maritime sector thanks to environmentally friendly materials, energy efficient engines and smart systems, Doğulu said, “However, these technologies have challenges such as initial costs, complexity of maintenance and repair processes, and the inability to use solar and wind energy effectively in every geography.”
Pointing out that hybrid and electric yachts have rapidly increased in popularity in recent years, Doğulu said, “Although fossil fuel engines are still predominant, the demand for hybrid and electric engines is increasing day by day. As in the automobile sector, this transformation is progressing slowly but steadily in the yacht sector.”
“Existing yachts may be out of service over time”
Stating that the transformation is mostly driven by incentives and voluntary practices, Doğulu said, “Existing yachts may become out of service over time due to reasons such as metal fatigue, and more sustainable designs may start to be preferred. Fossil fuel yachts may face higher fuel costs and maintenance costs in the future. Electric engines require less maintenance than fossil fuel engines. Access to some bays may be restricted due to environmental regulations and governments may increase taxes on such yachts to reduce air and noise pollution. In addition, these yachts may lose competitiveness in the tourism and charter market as customers turn to sustainable alternatives.”
Sustainable technologies will also preserve the natural beauty of yacht tourism destinations, making them more attractive, and provide a calmer environment for customers with low noise levels and emissions.
Stating that new infrastructure needs such as charging stations and battery storage systems may arise with new technologies, Doğulu added that new regulations may be required for fire safety and proper design of battery areas.
“Post-added panels are less efficient”
Doğulu said that solar panels can be retrofitted to existing yachts, but these additions are generally more costly and less efficient than new-build yachts designed with solar energy use in mind. “Physical constraints on the storage space for solar panels and batteries are also a common problem. However, new generation hybrid and alternative fuel systems are at the forefront of yacht designs, offering energy efficiency and environmentally friendly solutions.”