Yacht Show debate: cleaner yachting is about mindset, not cost
By Zak Jackson, MonacoViews Editorial
Exhibitors at the Monaco Yacht Show argue that cutting the superyacht industry's pollution depends on awareness rather than budget.
At Port Hercule this week, the Monaco Yacht Show has become the stage for a debate that goes beyond hull design and cabin space: how to make the superyacht industry less polluting. Exhibitors and engineers walking the pontoons argue that the barrier to greener navigation isn't cost, but a lack of awareness among owners and captains who continue to prioritise performance over environmental impact.
Swiss firm Hug Engineering is among those presenting solutions on the show floor, offering retrofit systems designed to cut particulate and nitrogen oxide emissions from yacht engines without requiring owners to replace entire propulsion systems. Their presence reflects a broader shift within the sector, as manufacturers face growing pressure to prove that luxury and environmental responsibility can coexist, particularly as Monaco positions itself as a testing ground for greener maritime technology.
For those living around the harbour, the conversation carries weight beyond the exhibition halls. Port Hercule sits at the centre of the principality, and the emissions choices made by yacht owners docked there have a direct bearing on air quality and noise levels felt daily in Monaco-Ville and La Condamine.