This study aims to provide a proof of concept of a plug-in hybrid electric superyacht. In this way, the yachting industry can help reduce carbon emissions worldwide and potentially increase comfort levels. The concept takes advantage of the typical operating profile of a yacht. A statistical analysis is performed to discretise this and obtain parameters for the all-electric design range at design speed. The available shore power is examined by means of a questionnaire. Three options to compensate the battery weight are presented to minimise impact on design. The resulting concept versions are checked for their potential impacts on four aspects: Design, Sustainability, Comfort and Operation. This includes a life-cycle assessment that results in serious impacts on sustainability at an all-electric range of 2% to 3% of the full range capability. Finally, the concept is tested by means of a test cruise.

This research has been performed with the goal to set up a model for the comparison of the environmental impact caused by the production of yachts. This model is created in such a way that it can be implemented in the YETI, Yacht Environmental Transparency Index, which is currently under development. The model that is created is based on a Life Cycle Assessment methodology named Fast Track LCA. This methodology consists of five steps which are further standardized to meet the requirements of the YETI. Choices are made for the functional unit, system boundaries, the quantification of materials, the assessment method, environmental database and LCA software. With a case study, the created model is validated as the results have realistic values. Some other design choices are applied on the case study to check the sensitivity of the model. The sensitivity was enough to show the effect of a different hull material and the use of batteries for the hotel load and peak shaving. It is concluded that the model can be used for the comparison of the environmental impact from production of different yachts. However, it should be noted that due to design choices for the model based on the requirement for comparison, the outcome itself is an underestimation of the environmental impact from yacht production.