It is no secret that Oceanco is currently experiencing the most exciting build cycle in the entire superyacht industry. If delivering the largest superyacht ever built in The Netherlands isn’t already enough, they are also in the process of building what will eventually become the longest sailing yacht ever built in The Netherlands. In the short space of half a year, Oceanco has proved that its reputation is resilient, its approach to risk-taking is unmatched, and it is at the very forefront of innovation in the industry. So you can’t help but wonder, what’s next for the shipyard, and where do they go from here?

The Dutch shipyard has already identified two ways that they want to lead positive change in the industry, and they both involve sustainability. The first initiative is to focus on the transition of energy sources, eliminating the reliance on fossil fuels by exploring alternative fuel sources, advanced battery systems and fuel cells. The second is to promote the circular economy, through the selection or creation of new materials to be used on board, and aiming for zero waste production during the build process.

Oceanco has pledged to at least halve its impact on the environment compared to the benchmark by 2030, aiming for 100% of their electricity usage to be supplied by renewable energy sources. Oceanco has stated that these ambitions are already on track to being realized. The recent major investment in their Alblasserdam premises focused on installing renewable energy systems to reduce power dependence on fossil fuels. The shipyard has a new ground source heat pump system – which reaches 200m below the surface – and cuts gas consumption in half. The shipyard also features rooftop solar panels that generate 200,000kWh per year.

When designing and building a superyacht in today’s age, it is imperative that the full life cycle is considered. A yacht today will have different needs and requirements than it will in five, 10 or even 20 years into the future. This means designing with refit specifically in mind. The shipyard states that they create technical spaces that can be retrofitted with technologies and systems in the future that are more sustainable and efficient. There is also a consideration for the recycling and reuse of materials that will be removed from the yacht for…