Yachts

Ensuring comfort, safety and sustainability

Yacht owners, charterers and passengers increasingly expect both top-notch comfort and green credentials from their yacht or from the commercial vessel they charter. While luxury remains at the core of the yacht business, ship owners, operators and charterers must meet port requirements and national regulations for limited emissions. 

Bureau Veritas offers key technical, regulatory and environmental expertise to enable yachts to continue sailing in protected areas while maintaining high levels of luxury and comfort. Our notations, digital tools, global network, and expertise with super and mega yachts provide a safe and eco-friendly onboard experience.

Enabling regulatory compliance

ENABLING REGULATORY COMPLIANCE for yachts

It is crucial for yachts to comply with safety and technical regulations for ship design, structure and maintenance. Bureau Veritas’ NR 500 Rules for the classification and certification of yachts under 100 meters[1] outline detailed requirements for building materials, hull structure, machinery, automation and more.


Find out more about our Rules & Notations for Yachts

[1] Larger yachts must follow class rules for sea-going vessels, and according to the chosen Flag specific yacht codes, for example the Red Ensign Yacht Code.

Improving ship sustainability

IMPROVING SHIP SUSTAINABILITY for Yachts

To meet changing social and regulatory expectations, yacht owners are increasingly exploring greener shipbuilding and operating practices.

Bureau Veritas’ Green notation verifies that yachts have been optimized for energy efficiency, assessing fuel consumption, ship super structure and hull design.

Yachts that currently limit their emissions by using hybrid electric power can also earn a Hybrid notation. Those designed to someday use hybrid electric power can earn a Hybrid-Prepared notation

Energy storage systems (ESS) are also an option for yacht owners to reduce emissions while in port and when operating in sensible eco-areas. Those systems also help reduce fuel consumption. Our rules, notations and technical expertise ensure for safe and efficient ESS design and installation. Although our current fuel cell guidelines apply to commercial shipping, Bureau Veritas’ experience in this technology may be of use to owners and yards exploring greener means of energy production and propulsion.

Increasing onboard comfort and wellbeing

INCREASING ONBOARD COMFORT AND WELLBEING for yachts

Comfort is a non-negotiable element for yacht owners and passengers, and this means ensuring limited onboard noise and vibrations. Yachts can earn Bureau Veritas’ Comfort notation by undergoing an assessment of sources of noise and vibration, such as engines and propellers. Owners and yards can then take measures to improve ship structure and design, reducing noise and increasing comfort. 
Bureau Veritas has also partnered with owners and operators to establish better bio-risk management. This includes outbreak management plans, embarkation and debarkation plans, protective measures and other health best practices to safeguard the wellbeing of all passengers and crew.

Digital tools for yachts

Bv surveyor looking at a BV Application on Mobile

Digitalization is changing how ship owners expect their vessels to be designed, built, assessed and classed. Bureau Veritas offers a range of digital tools to help yacht owners quickly and accurately conduct classification, assess safety and manage their fleets. These include Veristar Project Management, Digital Classification and remote surveys, and our ComposeIT and StarBoat structural assessment tools.

Increased digitalization naturally increases cyber security concerns. Bureau Veritas’ CYBER SECURE notation helps owners comply with IMO legislation (Resolution MSC.428 (98)).

A global network of experts

Bureau Veritas M&O


The yacht market is global, with specialist shipyards scattered around the world.

Bureau Veritas’ extensive network of experts is available worldwide to provide classification, surveys and support for yachts.

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