Italians win green yacht of the year

Italian shipbuilder Perini Navi, best known for its very large crusing sailing yachts, has taken out the Green Yacht of the Year award with a super luxury motor yacht from its Picchiotti yard.

The 160ft Exuma has been awarded the Green Plus Platinum certificate from the Rina classification society as well as picking up the Green award. The Rina certificate is based on an environmental performance index which covers all aspects of the vessel's impact on the environment, including but not limited to carbon emissions.

To gain the Rima award vessels must make a significant investment in design solutions, onboard equipment, and operational proceedures that contribute to an improvement in environmental performance beyond the minimum levels required by international regulations on environmental protection.

From the outset, Exuma's designer Philippe Briand and the Picchiotti yard were determined to create and build the ultimate environmentally-friendly explorer yacht, with a primary focus on reducing CO2.

The 50m, aluminum-hulled motor yacht is powered by twin 1300hp Cats and has a cruising speed of 12kts. At that speed, the engines are running at only 1400rpm and using just 9.8 litres of fuel per nautical mile.

With accommodations for 10 passengers and seven crew, Exuma is designed for world exploration and has a draft on only 2.4m to allow her entry to anchorages too shallow for most yachts of her size.

Her 75,000 litre fuel load will allow a crusing range of more than 7500 nautical miles.

Briand's hull design, with reduced transom immersion and a plumb bow, is designed to significantly reduce drag. The yacht also has a lower centre of gravity than most private vessels of her size to reduce pitching and rolling.

Exuma was handed over to her new owner by Perini Navi in July this year.