If in the energy transition until now the word "sustainability" in transport was reserved mostly for cars, little by little it is also being extended to planes and large cruise ships. And soon it will be the turn of the recreational megayachts. A fleet, that of boats with lengths ranging from 30 to 100 meters (or even more), which totals more than 5,000 units floating around the world and that grows with 100 new boats a year.
The Barcelona shipyard MB92, which is a world leader in refit (remodeling and maintenance) of this type of yacht, will now offer the possibility of making them greener. This initiative, called "Refit for the future", will have its own financial resources and some incorporation of specialized professionals.
"The idea was born from social pressure to reduce the environmental impact of navigation, but also from the need to be prepared for future regulatory changes," explains Txema Rubio, the commercial director of the MB92 Group. For customers, there is the possibility not only of clearing their ecological conscience, but also of achieving savings in consumption and giving the devices (and batteries) a longer useful life.
The intervention focuses on several elements, ranging from low-consumption lights (LED), the installation of solar panels, the use of insulating materials on the roof to optimize the interior temperature, the installation of state-of-the-art air conditioning equipment, etc.
Regarding the engines, updating them is not a priority, because the boats spend a lot of time stopped (or moored in port). Still, battery-hybrid propulsion is gaining popularity and may come to fruition. As far as hydrogen technology is concerned, it is still in its infancy in the new fleet. But a remodeling in this sense in used boats is complicated, considering the large amount of space that this type of fuel occupies.
MB92 is confident that it will be able to take advantage of the pull of the Sailing America's Cup, the competition that will take place in the fall of 2024 in Barcelona, in which a strong influx of boats is expected, including from the southern hemisphere.
It must be taken into account that many of these boats are custom, that is, made to measure for the owner. Therefore, there is not always a standard solution that works for everyone. Without forgetting that these are jobs that take time: months or even more than a year, for amounts that can reach tens of millions of euros.
