For nearly two years, Robert Brewin collected data from the bow of a superyacht as it sailed through crystal-clear waters from the Caribbean Sea to the Antarctic Ocean.
THE Archimedesa 68-meter (222-foot) “adventure” yacht, then owned by the late hedge fund James Simons, features a gym, jacuzzi and elevator. But between 2018 and 2020, Brewin was only interested in the Sea-Bird Scientific solar sighting system, installed to measure light reflected from water. A lecturer at the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom, Brewin and his colleagues analyzed microplankton – microscopic organisms at the base of the marine food chain – by studying the color of the ocean. The Sea-Bird’s readings helped them verify satellite images.
Brewin’s itinerary wasn’t that of a typical superyacht, but he is one of hundreds of scientists to have used an adventure yacht – also known as an expedition yacht or explorer – to conduct ocean research. paper Published in January, Brewin and his co-authors touted the potential of “superyacht exploitation” for science, concluding that “reaching out to wealthy citizen scientists could help fill the gaps (in research capabilities) “.
It’s a view shared – and championed – by the Yacht Club de Monaco and the Explorers Club, a New York-based organization focused on exploration and science (of which, in fairness, I am a member). In March, the groups co-hosted an environmental symposium that included a AWARDS CEREMONY for yacht owners who “distinguish themselves by their commitment to the protection of the marine environment”. Archimedes won a “Science & Discovery” prize.
“If a yacht is running 365 days a year, rather than sitting idle, it would be much better if it was contributing a positive return through science and conservation,” says Rob McCallum, a member of the Explorers Club and founder of US-based EYOS Expeditions, which runs adventure yacht trips.
EYOS charters yachts from private owners for its excursions and is a founding member of Yachts for Science, a four-year-old organization that connects private yachts with scientists who need time at sea. (Other members include yacht builder Arksen, media company BOAT International, and nonprofits Nekton Foundation and Ocean Family Foundation.) Yachts for Science will donate about $1 million in sailing time this year, McCallum says, a figure that is expected to grow to $15 million by 2029.
“We get a personal satisfaction from contributing to something bigger than ourselves,” says Tom Peterson, co-owner of an insurance underwriting company in California and owner of what he jokingly calls a “mini superyacht.” Each year for the past decade, Peterson has dedicated about 15 to 20 days of time and fuel to the 80-foot project. Valkyrie to scientists, whom he recruits himself as a licensed captain and former scuba diving operator. It often works with the Shark Lab at California State University, Long Beach and allows researchers to stay on board for several days at a time instead of having to constantly make the 1.5 hour drive to and from from the shore.
To connect with scientists, Peterson works with the International SeaKeepers Society, a Florida-based nonprofit that mobilizes the boating community to support ocean conservation and research. “The more we understand about the ocean in general, the better off we’re all going to be in the long run,” he says.
When “superyacht” and “environment” appear in the same sentence, it is usually in a different context. In 2019, one study estimated that a single 71 meter superyacht has the same annual carbon footprint as around 200 cars. In 2021, another paper found that superyachts were the biggest contributor to the carbon footprint of 20 of the world’s most prominent billionaires, accounting for 64% of their combined emissions.
“If you really want to respect the environment, you can just go surfing,” says Grégory Salle, senior researcher at the National Center for Scientific Research and author of the book Superyachts: luxury, tranquility and ecocideSalle is open to the idea that superyachts could be used to advance scientific research, but says it is contradictory for anyone to buy a superyacht and claim to be genuinely concerned about the environment.
McCallum says adventure yacht owners tend to be younger than the standard superyacht owner and have a particular interest in remote, unspoilt locations. “They’re not the kind of people who just hang out in the Mediterranean or the Caribbean,” he says. “Antarctica, the Arctic, the remote Indian Ocean, the remote Pacific Ocean, the sub-Antarctic islands… that’s where you’ll find us providing our services.”
Exploration yachts are not the only means by which scientists can reach these destinations, but the demand for dedicated research vessels exceeds the available supply. The United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), arguably the largest collector of oceanographic data in the world, has a fleet of 15 research and study vessels NOAA also has a fleet of ships for its scientists. University researchers can also apply to use the fleet, often at a subsidized rate. But scientists request about 15,000 to 20,000 days of sailing time each year. In 2019, NOAA was able to fill only 2,300 of those, according to an internal study.
This gap is particularly problematic as the planet warms. The oceans provide services that scientists call “existentially important“producing more than half the oxygen we breathe and serving as the largest carbon sinkThey also absorb 30% of our carbon emissions And 90% of the excess heat they generate.
G. Mark Miller, a retired NOAA Corps officer who was in charge of several of the agency’s research vessels, has a different solution in mind when it comes to boosting ocean research: smaller boats , adapted to their use. Superyachts can cost more than $500 million, he says; “Why don’t we build a hundred $5 million ships and flood the ocean science community? »
After leaving NOAA, Miller launched Virginia-based Greenwater Marine Sciences Offshore in 2021 with a vision of building a global fleet of research vessels and offering their use at affordable prices. He says it can cost scientists anywhere from $20,000 to $100,000 per day to rent a NOAA vessel. GMSO plans to charge less than $10,000 per day for most missions. The company says it is close to acquiring its first three vessels.
Miller hopes his business model will help scientists conduct the work they need – especially in underserved regions like the Asia-Pacific – without worrying about seeing a luxury yacht covered in “muddy worms, mud plankton, dead fish (and) whale snot.” .” He describes yacht owners donating boat time to scientists as “better than nothing” and says it can help ordinary people become interested in science and exploration.
Christopher Walsh, captain of the Archimedessays he and his team enjoy participating in scientific initiatives, especially when they include an educational component. “I’m really excited when we can bring programs into classrooms. You can’t imagine the enthusiasm the kids have,” says Walsh. “It gives me a lot of hope for the future. »
