OnBoard Magazine - Issue XII - 2020 Season

ENGINE MANUFACTURERS TOIL TO REACH EMISSIONS COMPLIANCE, LEAVING YACHT BUILDERS IN THE WIND “This is the greatest threat to the marine industry since the luxury tax of 1990,” said Viking Yachts President and CEO Patrick Healey, during a press conference on opening day of the 2019 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. Healey was addressing the enforcement of International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulations that will require compliance with their Tier III emission standards for all diesel yachts with a waterline over 24 meters (roughly 90 feet of overall length). GRASPING AT AIR by Magnus Thiersmann T he intent of the IMO's Tier III regulations is to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions (NOx) by approximately 70 percent compared with the current Tier II standards. Currently, this drastic reduction goal can only be attained through specialized exhaust treatment systems that add a great deal of bulk and weight to a yacht’s engine room. The new Tier III regulations apply to any vessels that moor or may pass through North America, the US Caribbean, the Baltic Sea, the North Sea, and all future NOx Emission Control Areas. Yachts constructed prior to 2021 will be granted exceptions, grandfathering them in from this new rule. Healey maintains that if his efforts to enact an extension or amendment to the January 2021 deadline fails, Viking will cease production of the 92 Convertible and 93 Motoryacht, forcing the layoff of an estimated 300 employees at their New Gretna, New Jersey plant. This is just one example from the many yacht builders that will be affected globally in the 90 to 150-foot segment. “We’ve spent a combined $18 million in R&D on those two yachts [92C and 93MY],” says Healey, via Viking's statements widely circulated to the press. “Viking will not compromise the engineering integrity of our yachts with a technology that would have so many negative effects. We would not be building a better boat by using this technology in its current state.” Viking is not the only yacht builder rallying efforts for an extension of the Tier III emissions regulations for smaller yachts. Another of Bluewater’s brand partners, Princess Yachts in Plymouth, England is also working to maintain viability of their larger yachts including the 'M' and all-new 'X' series. Several more European superyacht builders are also standing alongside Princess and Viking in this effort including Ferretti Group, Overmarine, Monte Carlo Yachts, Sanlorenzo Yachts and Sunseeker. IMO Tier III standards have already been in force for over four years on larger superyachts and commercial vessels that exceed 500 gross tons. The smaller yacht segment of 90-150' was initially spared from the regulations and given a 5-year window to work on compliance measures. In 2016, it was believed that exhaust treatment systems would become more advanced, even to the point of being integrated into the engines. However, the technology is not there yet and simply won't be ready by the January 2021 deadline. 36 BLUEWATER