Upcycling yachts: Expedition Zero launches at boot Düsseldorf

Launched to tackle the environmental impact of commercial adventure sailing and aiming to reduce carbon emissions by 90 per cent (compared to existing adventure sailing yachts), Expedition Zero has launched at boot.

Aiming to ‘redefine the sailing industry by developing and leasing commercial adventure yachts with the lowest environmental impact’, Expedition Zero is pioneering change by upcycling abandoned yachts and creating a new class of expedition vessels using innovative, low-impact, fully recyclable materials for hulls and interiors, replacing synthetic fibres like fibreglass.

The yachts will feature the latest technology in electric propulsion and be powered entirely by the sun, sea and wind. Zero fossil fuel use will give unlimited range coupled with minimal environmental footprint.

Despite its sustainable image, commercial sailing faces significant environmental challenges. A ten-day sailing adventure can consume up to 200 litres of diesel and produce more than one ton of carbon emissions – the equivalent of a small car’s footprint for a year. The industry also has limited end-of-life solutions for yachts, with an estimated 24,000 abandoned yachts in Europe alone. Thus, Expedition Zero is seeking to change commercial adventure sailing.

The startup is spearheaded by former Unilever global board member Andrew Cowen and professional sailor Jim Dobie. It has been developed in partnership with Innovation Yachts, a leader in environmental yacht design and construction and the winner of the prestigious ‘Ocean Tribute’ award at Boot Düsseldorf in 2023.

Expedition Zero CEO Andrew Cowen says: “More and more people want to explore and experience the open ocean, which is leading to an exciting growth in adventure tourism. However, as an industry we have a profound duty to preserve this fragile wilderness. Our ambition at Expedition Zero is to create and lease the world’s most sustainable expedition yachts, leaving as small an impact as possible as they traverse pristine parts of the world.

“By leasing these state-of-the-art yachts on flexible terms, we reduce the costs and burden of yacht ownership and maintenance – allowing commercial operators to focus on what they do best, which is taking increasingly environmentally conscious clients on adventures using modern yachts that are purposefully designed for expedition sailing.”

The first in this innovative fleet, a 72-foot expedition yacht, is scheduled to be commissioned later this year, marking the beginning of Expedition Zero’s ambitious plans to build an entire fleet of vessels over the coming five years.