It’s in every owner’s and crewmember’s best interest to protect the waters upon which they cruise. A number of yachting industry companies share this view, too. Y.CO is among them, and it’s doing more than donating money. It’s created Clearwater, which will teach owners, crew, and even charter guests how to reduce the environmental impact of onboard operations.
Y.CO has launched environmental initiatives previously. For example, last year it created Yacht.Club, a charity-membership club whose proceeds benefit Blue Marine Foundation. That non-profit organization is striving to get 10 percent of the world’s oceans under active protection by 2020. (Currently, less than three percent is protected.)
With Clearwater, the first goal is to reduce single-use plastic. Specifically, reusable bottles are replacing plastic bottles aboard megayachts under Y.CO’s management and in its charter fleet. More than 100 megayachts fall under these categories. The same is true in Y.CO offices worldwide. To do so, the company teamed up with S’well, a U.S.-based manufacturer of colorful, stainless steel bottles. They’re reportedly capable of keeping drinks cold for a full day and hot for 12 hours. S’well’s founding principle is to reduce plastic bottles dumped in landfills and in the oceans, a total reportedly in the hundreds of billions globally.
Furthermore, through Clearwater, Y.CO plans to screen the documentary A Plastic Ocean aboard megayachts under its management. Released last year, the film reveals the effect that plastic has on marine ecosystems and, in turn, our health as humans. With the screening, Clearwater will help educate captains and crew about why it’s important to reduce plastic usage.
Furthermore, Y.CO is inviting captains to nominate crew who truly embrace making onboard operations less impactful on the environment. Y.CO calls these crew “plastic heroes,” soliciting nominations monthly. The crew and yachts they work aboard will receive formal recognition.
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