A new protocol aims to provide yacht designers with standardised sustainability principles.
The collaborative effort, initiated by Dickie Bannenberg of Bannenberg & Rowell Design and co-created with Water Revolution Foundation’s Sustainable Yacht Design Taskforce, aims to inspire the broader yachting community and set out issues when planning a new build.
The Designers’ Protocol has received the support by a panel of industry experts which also included representatives from Vitruvius Yachts, Espen Oeino International.
It is based on the acronym ‘INFLUENCES,’ with each letter outlining different opportunities and aspects of various sustainable design principles.
Primary areas
There are ten primary areas, including operational profile, hotel load and decking solutions.
“Yacht-designers and naval architects are, in many cases, the initial point of contact with clients wishing to build or refit a yacht, said Dickie. “As such, they have considerable influence on steering their clients towards responsible decisions. The INFLUENCES protocol sets this section of our industry on a clearer path to informing and guiding.”
Environmental impact
The panel believes it is becoming increasingly crucial to reduce yachting’s environmental impact with this initiative taking a further step towards sustainable practices.
And the organisation says collaboration is key in order to take coordinated, constructive, and significant steps forward.
“With a subject as broad – and often ambiguous – as sustainability, collaboration can be a powerful tool,” added Dickie. “There are several valuable and important initiatives within the yachting industry concerning the health of the oceans, from pathways to alternative fuels, but the Designers’ Protocol is, I believe, the first to connect designers and naval architects behind a united message.”
