SUPERYACHT FUEL EFFICIENCY

There are various steps that can be implemented before the shipbuilding process and after the shipbuilding process, to increase a superyacht's fuel efficiency. Fuel efficiency measures are practices that can effectively reduce the amount of fuel consumed by a vessel and help to reduce the costs associated with bunkering. Reducing weight, correctly planning navigation routes, and reducing drag on a vessel significantly reduce fuel consumption and increase fuel efficiency. It is the combination of fuel efficiency practices that create a "snowball effect" resulting in significant fuel cost savings over the lifetime of a vessel. Fuel efficiency measures are not one practice but rather a combination of practices that result in effective fuel cost reduction, fuel waste reduction, and excessive fuel consumption. Every superyacht provides opportunities for fuel reduction and it is important to identify the areas that can be improved on. Superyachts owners can take effective steps to reduce their carbon footprint as well as reduce fuel waste through fuel efficiency measures. A superyacht has a high burn rate, using large amounts of fuel daily to power its electrical and mechanical systems. A superyacht can feature one or more diesel generators, burning large amounts of fuel on powering electrical systems. A superyacht can also feature multiple high horsepower engines that burn marine diesel or other type of bunker fuel. Rising fuel costs gradually increase the costs associated with propulsion and therefore it is important to implement these cost saving measures to increase fuel efficiency before the shipbuilding process. Steps such as the installation of hybrid electric-fuel motors or one hundred percent electric propulsion are key measures that can be introduced during the design phase and implemented during the shipbuilding process. For vessels that have already been built, the most effective step that they can take to increase fuel efficiency is to reduce their speed to below 10 Knots (KTS). Travelling faster than 10 KTS increases the amount of fuel use and reduces efficiency. The greater the speed the vessel attempts to travel, the lower the fuel efficiency. Using effective fuel efficiency measures after shipbuilding, such as speed reduction will greatly increase the fuel efficiency of a superyacht. Every superyacht, based on their capabilities, should be able to make a trans-oceanic voyage of at least 4000 nautical miles at 14 Knots (KTS) without having to bunker (re-fuel). By using effective fuel consumption reduction methods and fuel efficiency measures, a superyacht owner will realize huge savings while reducing their carbon footprint.