YETI revolution

YETI Lite, a free and open-source tool, is designed for non-technical users to estimate a yacht’s environmental footprint with up to 90 percent accuracy. Using parameters such as Gross Tonnage and Load Waterline Length (LWL), it delivers approximate performance scores intended to raise awareness but is not suitable for official claims.

YETI Pro, the advanced version, offers a detailed analysis tailored for technical professionals. It incorporates well-to-wake energy carrier impacts and reference lines to benchmark yacht performance. The Pro version features an extensive dashboard that allows users to assess results, test potential environmental solutions, and includes third-party verification for official certification.

“Transparency is the cornerstone of meaningful change,” says Dąbrowska. By delivering clear, honest measurements and actionable insights, YETI empowers the yachting industry to move beyond compliance, take responsibility, and make informed decisions that drive real environmental progress.”

The YETI project is the result of significant input from various stakeholders, including shipyards, designers, engineers, captains, marinas, financiers and brokers. This collaboration ensured the tool’s accessibility to a wide range of users, supporting both new builds and operational upgrades for existing yachts, whether powered by engines or sails.

Designed with a user-friendly interface, the tool enables users to input data, understand their yacht’s ecological impact, and explore solutions to reduce emissions and other environmental effects. Unlike traditional narratives that rely on blame, YETI focuses on proactive education and measurable impact.

One of YETI’s key features is its scoring system, EcoPoints, which summarises 18 different impact categories into a single, comparable figure. These categories include emissions such as CO2, HC, NOx and particulate matter (PM2.5). In addition to the overall score, specific impacts are also reported separately, providing transparency and the ability to focus on individual parameters such as CO2 equivalents.

YETI adopts a holistic Life Cycle Approach to yacht performance, extending beyond regulatory frameworks such as EEDI, EEXI, and CII. By integrating environmental considerations throughout a yacht’s operational life, the tool supports the industry’s sustainability goals and offers a robust decision-making resource for owners and designers alike.

The YETI methodology is currently being proposed as an ISO standard (TS23099), aiming to establish a global benchmark for environmental assessment in yachting. The foundation’s goal is for all yachts worldwide to be evaluated using YETI Pro, with scores verified by third-party certification to ensure consistency and transparency.

“The launch of YETI software marks the dawn of a new era for yachting — one where actionable insights drive progress,” says Vienna Eleuteri, vice-chair and initiator of the foundation. “By providing a clear, reliable framework for assessing and improving environmental performance, YETI offers a clear, data-driven pathway to achieve measurable change. Together, we can create a yachting industry that thrives while safeguarding the ocean we rely on for generations to come.”

yachtfootprint.com