Global Standardization Takes Hold as Large-Yachts Inch Toward Sustainable Benchmarks

Emerging from a two-year international standardisation project and stimulated by the foundations set by the Yacht Environmental Transparency Index (YETI), opens a new era for sustainability in the large-yacht industry. This initiative led by the Water Revolution Foundation (WRF) has now received an official nod from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). The approval of ISO/TS 23099 validates a harmonised and science-based methodology to evaluate and match the environmental conduct of large yachts.

This fruition has drawn affirmation from National Standardisation Bodies within ISO, representing notable yacht-building territories such as Italy, The Netherlands, Germany, Turkey, Poland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. With this, the superyacht sector is now equipped with a globally-recognised reference and scientific procedure to gauge the environmental stance of their crafts, marking a substantial stride in sailing towards a greener horizon.

Yacht builders, naval architects, technical experts, and leading research institutes have consolidated their efforts over five years to realise the Technical Specification. The framework is designed to set down a sturdy and user-friendly approach to measure and equate the operational environmental performance of yachts exceeding 30 metres in length.

This method allows for performance benchmarking using a median value operational profile that is intrinsically different from commercial shipping. The resulting environmental score is then benchmarked against a reference line indicative of different gross tonnage categories.

This technique provides an objective basis to compare environmental performance, supporting informed decision-making for new-build projects, as well as refitting scenarios. It fosters a shared language for environmental performance and aids in avoiding fragmented or proprietary approaches.

The approval of ISO/TS 23099 serves as a critical juncture in the evolution of environmental standards for large yachts. This underscores the industry’s collective drive to transition from just having green aspirations to taking measurable and calculable sustainable actions.