SEA Index® Teams Up with Bureau Veritas to Tackle Underwater Noise Pollution in Superyachts

The SEA Index®, a key player in carbon certification for superyachts, has joined forces with Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore (BV) to enhance sustainability efforts by addressing underwater radiated noise (URN) in the luxury yacht sector.

Underwater noise, caused by vessel engines and propellers, is known to disrupt marine life by interfering with communication, navigation, and feeding patterns. Although new rules and guidelines are being developed to manage URN, they mostly focus on commercial shipping. This partnership aims to bring the issue to the forefront for the superyacht community.

Through this collaboration, SEA Index—an initiative of the Yacht Club de Monaco—will work with BV to adapt proven noise reduction methods specifically for superyachts. By aligning these techniques with actual superyacht operations and using established standards for measuring and minimizing noise, the partnership will offer owners reliable tools and data to help reduce the impact their vessels have on marine ecosystems.

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Natalie Quevert, General Secretary of SEA Index, commented on the initiative, saying, “This new area of work is particularly meaningful. Our discussions with BV, which began over a year ago, quickly aligned around the goal of protecting marine biodiversity by reducing underwater noise from superyachts. By offering verified criteria and raising awareness, we aim to help yacht owners and builders play a greater role in ocean conservation.”

This expanded focus strengthens SEA Index’s sustainability certification program and reflects a growing industry interest in reducing environmental footprints beyond carbon emissions.