INDUSTRY LEADERS UNITE TO FOSTER A REGENERATIVE APPROACH FOR YACHTING

Distinguished yachting industry leaders convened last week for the second edition of the Business Leadership event, organised by Water Revolution Foundation and hosted by Feadship. With a focus on establishing a Regenerative Approach for Yachting, the event featured insightful discussions and exchanges among the scientific community and industry pioneers, culminating in the beginning of a collective journey to develop a roadmap for the yachting sector to become regenerative by 2050.

From Ocean Strategy to Regenerative Approach
Expanding upon the achievements of May 2023’s inaugural industry leader event hosted by Lürssen in Hamburg, which educated attendees about ocean status and impactful conservation initiatives by leading ocean scientists, Water Revolution Foundation’s mission continues with renewed vigour. This year’s focus on regeneration is a direct reflection of the insights gained during the previous event, emphasising the importance of proactive conservation efforts for positive impact investment alongside mitigation strategies to reduce negative impacts – ultimately embracing a new regenerative business model.

“It is fundamental to set one common industry goal and have a widely adopted strategy on how to get there, together. With these targeted events, we challenge and equip company owners and CEOs of dominant players in the yachting market to become change agents, not only leading their companies towards the future, but the entire sector. We are very pleased to provide such a powerful group with a cross-industry strategic platform,” shared Water Revolution’s Executive Director, Robert van Tol.

Setting the Stage from the Perspective of Space
A celebrated figure in the realm of space exploration and scientific research, Dutch astronaut Andre Kuipers set a powerful tone for the day by sharing his unique perspective of our blue planet from the vantage point of space. With striking imagery highlighting the devastation of ecosystems over time, he called upon the audience to reduce pressure on nature and give it time to recover, emphasising that this can only be achieved through collaboration and setting ambitious goals.

Guided by Science
Water Revolution’s vice-chair and initiator, Dr. Vienna Eleuteri, alongside Professor Adriana del Borghi from the University of Genoa and Blue Economy Specialist Jorge Barbosa, unveiled a regenerative strategy for the yachting industry to address the triple planetary crisis of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss. Calling for a shift from mere impact reduction to regeneration, they proposed a climate neutrality plan based on the 3R-model: Reduce, Remove, and Repair. These principles advocate for minimising negative impacts, adopting cleaner alternatives, and actively restoring ecosystems to neutralise any remaining effects and ultimately become net-positive.

“By embracing this structured approach, we can lead the way in demonstrating how luxury and sustainability can coexist. The adoption of these principles will enable our sector to meet regulatory demands, gain consumer and public opinion trust, and ensure long-term viability in an increasingly eco-conscious market,” shared Eleuteri.

Establishing an Industry Roadmap
With the scientific insights as a foundation, attendees were divided into breakout rooms to gather ideas for an ambitious roadmap implementing the 3-R model across all stages of a yacht’s lifecycle. This collaborative effort resulted in the formation of concrete actions for the coming years, demonstrating strong alignment among stakeholders on the necessary steps to achieve regeneration.

To conclude the day, Feadship CEO Jan-Bart Verkuyl called on attendees to mark their commitment to the regenerative approach and participation in this monumental event.

Industry Innovations
Inspiring presentations also came from within the industry, including valuable insights on Foundation Zero, an open-source platform aimed at fostering a mentality of shared innovation and collective R&D to accelerate progress, and Feadship’s environmental initiatives concerning both product and process innovation.

The Path Ahead
The discussions initiated during this event signify the beginning of a transformative journey towards a regenerative future for yachting. Moving forward, Water Revolution Foundation will collaborate with attendees to refine the generated ideas and incorporate input into an industry roadmap taking concrete actions aligned with the principles of Reduce, Remove, and Repair. As stated by Feadship CEO & Chairman of Water Revolution Foundation, Henk de Vries: “This is not just about furthering our business – it’s about making sure we have a business for the future.”

Participating Companies
This event owes its success to the pioneering organisations whose representatives were integral participants: Abeking & Rasmussen, AkzoNobel, Azimut|Benetti, Bluewater Yachting, BNP Paribas, Burgess Yachts, Clyde & Co, Döhle Yachts, Dykstra Naval Architects, Espen Oeino International, Feadship, Ferretti Group, F/LIST, Fraser Yachts, Heesen Yachts, Luise Group, Lürssen Yachts, MB92 Group, Oceanco, RWD, Sanlorenzo, Safe Harbor Marinas, Safe Harbor Rybovich, Seable&Co, Sinot Yacht Architecture & Design, SYBAss, Tankoa, The Superyacht Group, VBH, Vripack, Winch Design, and Wright Maritime Group.