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FAQs

Everything you need to know about reducing your carbon footprint

So far as we are aware, No. Carbon Offsetting is a purely voluntary action, through which the yachting community can demonstrate leadership on a matter of significant current attention.

No, we are inviting you to balance the impact of the fuel that you do use. Operating a yacht efficiently and taking measures to lower fuel consumption can serve to reduce your GHG emissions at source but, ultimately, experiencing the full benefits of a yachts range and performance will involve a corresponding quantity of fuel. The yachting experience is founded upon luxury, and freedom to enjoy the most beautiful and exclusive places in the world. Our mission is to enhance this experience, not to constrain it.

Satisfaction in taking pragmatic and effective action to balance their carbon footprint is a very real benefit to many of our clients, whose passion for yachting is matched by awareness of environmental priorities.

Enhancement of brand and reputation are powerful motivators for our clients, which often have a prominent public profile (e.g. film/music stars, politicians, celebrities…) or for those running / owning businesses with a strong environmental policy or public image (e.g. consumer goods, luxury goods, fashion…).

Commercially, carbon offsetting is a positive differentiator for yachts marketed for charter. Commentary that the vessel is operated to best environmental practice may be noted in the promotional materials.

Carbon Offsetting can only help to improve relations with ports and local authorities. In due course, Carbon Offsetting may be reflected directly through affinity programmes, discounts, or priority schemes.

Unfortunately we cannot comment on possible tax treatments of the cost of carbon offsetting since this may vary widely. There is no direct financial return from the projects themselves, since the offset provides a subsidy to the project, not an ownership interest in it. There may be secondary financial benefits over time, since it is expected that partners across the yacht support services industry will offer incentives to yachts that can demonstrate a policy of carbon offsetting.

It provides a financial subsidy for carbon-saving projects that otherwise would not be viable. The money therefore makes a direct and measurable contribution to the reduction in atmospheric greenhouse gases.

Typically we use renewable energy, energy efficiency, or fugitive emissions (e.g. methane capture from landfill) projects. Our carefully selected projects meet the highest validation standards (such as Gold Standard and Verified Carbon Standard). Examples of projects from our portfolio, together with our selection criteria, are on the website.

The independent verification of the projects (by organisations such as TÜV, RINA, Earthood Services…) ensures that carbon savings are properly quantified and monitored, and that approved projects could not have taken place without the financial support these credits provide.

Forestry schemes are not currently favoured for a number of reasons, including difficulty of quantification and the mis-match between the time taken by trees to absorb atmospheric CO2 and that taken by the yacht to emit greenhouse gases. In some cases there may be concerns over ensuring that forests are established in perpetuity, or risks of double-counting of carbon savings through national greenhouse-gas inventories which would negate the offsetting action.

None. Our service is delivered online, so we just need an email address for your certificate. Since our service starts from a calculation based on the quantity and type of GHG emission sources, there is no measurement on the vessel itself.

Absolutely not. A yacht’s itinerary or passage plan will reflect the destination choices of the yacht owner/ charter clients (“Principals”l, and may be limited by practical considerations or the overall cost. A professional Captain will operate the vessel in a fuel-efficient manner, not least for economic reasons. These two factors will determine the consumption of fuel and hence emissions quantity.

The incremental cost of carbon offsetting, if anything strengthens this economic incentive to save fuel. Moreover, participation in carbon offsetting may increase awareness of the greenhouse-gas impact in the Principal’s mind and this may influence their choices about their itinerary if this impact can be reduced without compromising their enjoyment.

Not necessarily. Each Yacht Carbon Offset Certificate is arranged for a defined type and quantity of emission sources, but this is unlikely to cover everything. For example, a Captain may decide to offset the fuel used for a particular charter or passage. There may be other significant greenhouse gas emissions attributable to the yacht, such as shore power or crew flights that would also need to be addressed before a claim of ‘Carbon Neutrality’ would be appropriate. Yacht Carbon Offset can help with this too, if required.

Basing the carbon offset on fuel quantities enables offset history to easily be reconciled with on-board fuel records, and for a clear, auditable statement to be made about precisely what has been balanced.

No. Whilst there is no obligation, best environmental practice would suggest a policy of carbon offsetting an activity on a continued and regular basis.  The Yacht Carbon Offset solution is completely flexible – it can balance a historical or future activity

The Yacht Carbon Offset certificate provides evidence of which emissions have been balanced, so we include the identity details of the client, for example the yacht name, IMO number and the quantities and types of fuel that have been balanced.

You are free to personalise the “client name” on the certificate, for example the name of the yacht, the yachting activity,  the company, etc.  You can also include a short descriptive sentence to place the action in context – it’s up to you.

The certificate carries a unique reference number that enables details to be confirmed or audited upon request. For example, a yacht manager or charter agent may wish to confirm validity of an offset purchased for the yacht by a third party.

Our price to arrange and certify a Yacht Carbon Offset depends on movements in the international carbon trading markets, and varies slightly with the quantity of fuel that you choose to Offset. Indicative prices are shown on the Process & Pricing page of our website. For an exact price, simply click “Offset Now”, enter your details and we will be in touch with a quotation.

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