{"id":703,"date":"2026-04-07T14:43:42","date_gmt":"2026-04-07T14:43:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/yachtersworld.com\/?p=703"},"modified":"2026-04-07T14:43:42","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T14:43:42","slug":"science-under-sail-how-project-zero-is-helping-build-the-future-of-emission-free-yachting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yachtersworld.com\/?p=703","title":{"rendered":"Science under sail: How Project Zero is helping build the future of emission-free yachting"},"content":{"rendered":"

Is a 70m yacht with zero emissions even possible? Sam Fortescue visits Vitters shipyard on the eve of the launch of this truly groundbreaking yacht, built to propel the industry into a greener future<\/strong><\/p>\n

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When the idea of a big sailing yacht with no combustion on board was pitched to designer Marnix Hoekstra at Vripack, he was instantly enthusiastic. A mould-breaking electric boat of 69m was just the sort of challenge he relished. It was the summer of 2019, and experienced clients had put their faith in yacht management company Fraser to recruit the right build team for a luxurious superyacht with zero emissions.<\/p>\n

\u201cEverybody else was like, \u2018yeah, no \u2013 that\u2019s not going to happen\u2019,\u201d remembers Hoekstra with some glee. \u201cSo, I brought my smartest guys, and we got into those \u2018how might we?\u2019-type questions.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoekstra agreed to take the commission on two conditions: \u201cFirst, I would only participate if there was no fossil fuel on board. If we had a range extender or generator as back-up mode, we\u2019d quickly fall into the trap of using it.\u201d Then there could be no compromise on good looks. \u201cNowhere in the project could the technology we innovate reduce the aesthetic beauty of the boat itself.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dykstra Naval Architects was the next to embrace the project, followed by Vitters Shipyard, completing a Dutch trifecta. And though we don\u2019t know the identity of the clients, progress on the yacht has been more than public. Working closely with the owners\u2019 non-profit, a renewable energy accelerator called Foundation Zero, every piece of research and every technical solution has been published under an open-source agreement aimed at driving change across the marine industry. Now, after more than six years of work, project 3094, aka Zero, is finally nearing launch.<\/p>\n

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Regenerative power: custom sheet winches and captive winches generate electricity in rewind mode or as they pay out<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Leap of faith<\/h2>\n

\u201cThere were just so many unknowns when we quoted for the project \u2013 more than the items we knew!\u201d exclaims sales and marketing manager Bas Peute at Vitters. \u201cWe knew it had to operate with zero emissions. We also had the notion of the outside shell, that it should be a superyacht with a high level of comfort and detail. But at that time, we still had no idea how we could get a zero-emission yacht up and running!\u201d<\/p>\n

That outside shell bears all the hallmarks of modern classic Dutch design, with sweeping flush decks, low-slung twin deckhouses and lavish overhangs. But with energy use forming the core of the project, it was below the waterline that the first big decisions had to be made. And that\u2019s where Dykstra brought to bear its vast experience, which spans yachts as different as Maltese Falcon<\/a> and the J-Class.<\/a><\/p>\n

Article continues below\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n

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6 boundary-pushing and innovative superyachts revealed in 2025<\/a><\/h2>\n<\/header>\n
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The world of superyachts is continually pushing boundaries, blending unparalleled luxury with cutting-edge design and impressive performance. As we look\u2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n