India is emerging as a key partner in Monaco's push for sustainable yachting and marine innovation, according to Bernard d'Alessandri, General Secretary of the Yacht Club de Monaco. Speaking on the sidelines of the 13th Monaco Energy Boat Challenge, d'Alessandri highlighted India's growing role, particularly the performance of the Indian team Sea Sakthi, as a significant marker of the country's potential in the yachting sector.
India's Advantage in Building Green Marinas
D'Alessandri noted that India, being a large and young country in the yachting development phase, has a unique opportunity. 'You can start with a white page, and it's much easier to start in a good way,' he said. Unlike Monaco, which must retrofit its existing marina infrastructure for sustainability, India can build 'a new generation of marina' and adopt 'a new generation of boat' from the ground up, without legacy constraints.
Longstanding Engagement with Sustainable Boating
D'Alessandri pointed out that India's engagement with sustainable boating is not new. 'India was one of the first countries to come to the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge,' he said, describing the partnership as important given the ecological sensitivity of Monaco's waters. He compared the Mediterranean coastline to 'a small lake,' where large vessels can cause outsized environmental damage, making sustainable technology partnerships with India especially valuable.
The Monaco Energy Boat Challenge
The 13th Monaco Energy Boat Challenge brought together 54 teams from around the world this season. D'Alessandri described the event as a proving ground for the maritime industry's sustainability ambitions, built around young engineers and student teams. 'This big meeting is unique in the world, to have so many engineers working in the same sense to do something and change this industry,' he said, adding that yachting is 'a wonderful industry' that carries a responsibility to protect ocean ecosystems and seabeds.
Ecosystem Approach to Sustainability
He framed the competition as part of a wider ecosystem approach involving shipyards, marina maintenance, and boat-building—all moving toward sustainability together. 'We are in a mini smart city for the future,' he said, referring to the collaborative environment that includes students, startups, and established marine industry players.
Diverse Clean Technologies for Marine Sector
On clean technology choices—hydrogen, electric propulsion, or alternative fuels—d'Alessandri drew a parallel with the automobile industry's transition. Just as cars range from electric city vehicles to long-range formats, the marine sector will likely need a mix of energy solutions suited to different functions rather than a single dominant technology. 'You have to find good energy, and you have to think in the right way to not do more damage,' he said.
India's Position in Global Marine Sustainability
For India, which is simultaneously scaling up its clean mobility and green energy ambitions on land, d'Alessandri's comments suggest that early involvement in events like the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge and the performance of teams like Sea Sakthi could position the country as a meaningful player in the next phase of global marine sustainability efforts.
