The Superyacht Eco Association (SEA Index) has launched its new Air Quality Certification, an expansion of its environmental assessment framework for superyachts.
The certification evaluates vessels based on their emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and fine particulate matter (PM₂.₅), providing the yachting sector with a benchmark for local air‑quality impact.
It has been developed in collaboration with AtmoSud, the air‑quality observatory for Provence–Alpes–Côte d’Azur and complements the flagship SEA Index CO₂ Rating, which provides climate‑impact evaluation including hybrid propulsion, battery‑supported systems and alternative‑fuel technologies.
Air quality is not just an environmental concern; it is a prominent public health concern.
Pierre Charles Maria
SEA Index points out that while CO₂ is a globally recognised climate priority, pollutants such as NOx and PM₂.₅ have direct, localised impacts on human health and coastal air quality.
“With the launch of the Air Quality Certification, the SEA Index offers industry stakeholders a reliable, transparent, and internationally aligned environmental indicator,” explained Bernard d’Alessandri, SEA Index Superyacht Eco Association president and general secretary Yacht Club de Monaco.
“It is another step toward a future where exceptional yachting experiences coexist with environmental responsibility.”
With superyachts spending much of their operational time at anchor or at berth, often in proximity to marinas, ports, and populated shorelines, making air‑quality performance an increasingly important consideration.
Working towards solutions
“Air quality is not just an environmental concern; it is a prominent public health concern,” explained Prof. Pierre Charles Maria, president of AtmoSud.
“Providing transparent, scientifically credible indicators helps both regulators and industry stakeholders better understand local emissions and work collectively toward solutions.”
The SEA Index Air Quality Certification has been developed using AIS data from 2,000 yachts over 24 metres, with AtmoSud validating typical vessel behaviour throughout the Mediterranean, ensuring the rating aligns with real‑world operations.
In addition, fuel‑consumption modelling aligned with international maritime standards has been incorporated.
Environmental assessment systems
The SEA Index now combines climate impact and air quality evaluations, making it one of the most thorough voluntary environmental assessment systems for superyachts worldwide and the only system based on globally recognised maritime methodologies and verified by independent third parties.
Future developments may expand the methodology to include ultrafine particles, emerging clean‑fuel pathways, next‑generation propulsion systems and additional pollutant categories as maritime science evolves.
The SEA Index was founded in 2020 by Yacht Club de Monaco and Credit Suisse (UBS Group), and provides independent environmental certification for superyachts to help reduce their environmental impact.
