DIVE IN WITH CAPTAIN SEAN

There is so much confusion when it comes to new technology, especially in the yachting and marine industry. Everyone is spouting buzzwords like sustainability, green-tech, hybrid, hydrogen, methane, solar, and so on. What does it all mean, and where do I see the industry headed?

sharks drawn on it. It was pretty unique, so I asked him if he was willing to trade his paddle for something. He explained that it wasn’t his but his friend’s and that he couldn’t. I said, “Wait here, I have something that your friend would like.” I walked into the beach club and came out with a featherweight, double-bladed, carbon fiber adjustable length Kayak paddle. The native was dubious until I put the paddle in his hand. Compared to his heavy wooded paddle, it weighed nothing. He put the blade in the water, then the other. He turned his head towards me as I pointed to his paddle and he yelled “keep it!!” For the rest of the day, we watched him speed past his fellow villagers who looked on with awe. I bet his friend never got his hands on that paddle.

My native friend was able to go faster and use less energy, and that’s what I want to talk about. When it comes to propulsion, if it isn’t faster and more efficient, it will never be adopted.

Yachts under 45’, center consoles, and outboards we will look at later. For now, let’s look at hybrid systems in yachts 50’ and up. Hybrid systems, I believe, are going to be the future until we develop better technologies. In the final installment of this series, I will take a deep dive into what those technologies are.

In this six-part series, we will look at technology and how it is applied in these areas:

Propulsion

Design

The Modern Bridge

Smart Interiors

The Tenders and Toys

The Future of Technology in

Propulsion

Vanuatu is a nation of islands in the South Pacific, about 500 miles west of Fiji and 1100 miles north of New Zealand. It’s still pretty primitive. The last reported incident of cannibalism was in 1994. “Reported” incident. You get the picture. At the top of the island chain is an island called Ureparapara. The island is actually a giant prehistoric volcano where the eastern slope of the volcano has collapsed. Always wanting to explore this island, I got my chance on Latitude, a 147’ Vripack designed motor yacht back in 2018. From the entrance of the caldera to the interior of the western side was just about 2 miles, which should give you the scale of this volcano.

As we approached the anchorage just off the tiny village, we were greeted by throngs of natives in dugout canoes. They cautiously approached us, and we offered to supply them with water, which is pretty standard in the more remote parts of the world. To them, we looked like a spaceship with its inhabitants just as alien.

As one of the natives was filling his jerry can, I noticed his hand-carved paddle had

Ok, what’s a hybrid system? A hybrid system for a ship combines two or more power sources to optimize performance and reduce fuel consumption and emissions. The hybrid system typically consists of a conventional power source, such as diesel engines, and one or more green power sources, such as batteries, fuel cells, or renewable energy sources like solar or wind.

The conventional power source provides the main power for the ship, while the green power source is used to supplement the power is also centered around sustainability and green initiatives. Insurance companies are starting to offer premium discounts for vessels that incorporate sustainable features and technologies. These changes in financing and insurance policies are likely to push yacht builders and owners towards more sustainable options in the coming years.

In conclusion, the marine industry is moving towards more sustainable and efficient technologies, with hybrid systems being a promising option for larger yachts. As the infrastructure for renewable energy sources like hydrogen continues to develop, we may see even more advanced technologies emerge in the future. It will be interesting to see how these changes in technology and industry policies will shape the future of yachting and marine travel.

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