Monaco Yacht Show 2024 Review

By Rebecca Whitlocke

Monaco Yacht Show, affectionately known as MYS, took place from September 25 to 28 at Port Hercule.  An annual highlight for the superyacht industry, organised under the High Patronage of HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, this prestigious event showcases the latest and greatest products and services in the yachting sector.

Since 2010, the Monaco Yacht Show has been a dedicated partner of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, actively supporting its international environmental efforts. During the official visit of HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco to the show, the Monaco Yacht Show proudly donated €53,000 to the Foundation.

Rebecca Whitlocke represented Luxury News Online, reporting on the evolving ecosystem of luxury yachting at the event.

Inside Monaco Yacht Show 2024

Maintaining its reputation as an intersection of affluent buyers and luxury goods, the Monaco Yacht Show features two distinct exhibition areas: afloat and on the quayside. This year, almost 120 superyachts and 50 luxury tenders were showcased, including around 80 world premieres. Five hundred and sixty companies were there, representing various sectors such as corporate aviation, crew services, yacht brokerage, design, equipment supply, financial services, naval architecture, marina operations, media, tech, tourism providers, and tender manufacturers.

Standout superyachts at this year’s show included the Lürssen-built 122-meter KISMET with exterior design by Nuvolari Lenard and interiors by Reymond Langton Design, and Rossinavi’s SEAWOLF X, a 42.8-meter hybrid-electric catamaran. Damen Yachting’s Xplorer 58 PINK SHADOW also drew attention with its eccentric bridge design influenced by the owner’s favourite film, Fitzcarraldo, an adventure-drama that sees the main character attempt to build an opera house in the middle of a jungle. The unexpected results: A superyacht helm decorated with palm-tree wallpaper, blue velvet ceiling and brass railings.

Ocean Independence, a prominent brokerage at the show, featured the 50-metre ETERNAL SPARK, delivered by Bilgin Yachts this year. The yacht offers six cabins, a bar and sky lounge, a beach club with a full-height sauna, a sundeck with bar and glass-bottom jacuzzi, and a fun selection of water toys.

Sustainable Solutions

The emphasis on sustainability in yacht building and operational processes is hard not to miss. When you step onboard any superyacht, you’ll increasingly see hybrid power systems, smart temperature controls, streamlined hull designs for improved fuel efficiency, and eco-conscious materials in their interiors.

SuperYacht Times presented a series of seminars at the MYS Conference Hall, exploring industry-relevant topics, including three panels dedicated to sustainability. One key discussion, moderated by Emma Dailey, explored how the selection and use of materials on board can significantly reduce a yacht’s carbon footprint. Industry leaders Guido De Cesare of Marine Leather, Mark Boddington of Silverlining Furniture, and Romain Sauvage of Gordon & Gaia provided valuable perspectives during this discussion.

Compliance with Class and Flag safety regulations remains a challenge within the superyacht industry. A panel on Friday afternoon addressed an important talking point – the sustainability of the composite lifecycle in yacht construction and maintenance. This session included valuable contributions from Kit Rogers of Atlas Carbon Products, Kenneth Nyfelt, Sales Director at Baltic Yachts, and Artur Poloczanski, PR Director at Sunreef Yachts. Their expertise underscored the industry’s evolving approach to environmental stewardship.

Meanwhile, in the Yacht Design & Innovation Hub, Swiss-based Kurt Merki Jr was attracting plenty of attention with his 86.5-metre superyacht concept ZEITGEIST.  The yacht’s futuristic-looking design, showcased via an interactive touch screen animation and in the Immersive Experience by Van Berge Henegouwen (VBH), highlighted multiple distinctive features such as a landing pad for e-VTOL (electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing) crafts, solar roofing and wind turbines focused on reducing a superyacht’s energy needs.

Complementing the ZEITGEIST design project were partners and consultants including Esthec, GREENBOATS, Dade Design, Desserto, IceWind, Hypetex, Shadowcat/Robert Smith, SiO2 and Michael Köhler, whose innovative materials featured onboard such as bio-based decking and cactus leather.

Buy-in from stakeholders and supply chains is crucial.  Therefore, the Sustainability Hub with the support of the Water Revolution Foundation was a key zone to meet exhibitors highlighting their active role in promoting sustainable solutions including Ampros, Daedalus Yachts, Naturesafe Marine, Propulsion House and Wet Environmental Ltd.

A Global Stage for Brand Announcements

The 2024 edition of the show featured exciting news and announcements, enabling visitors to explore the latest developments, partnerships and trends.

Following a press event, a group of global classification societies – ABS, Bureau Veritas (BV), DNV, Lloyd’s Register (LR), and RINA – announced the formation of the Yacht Safety and Environmental Consortium (YSEC). This consortium focuses on yachts over 24 metres in length and aims to improve safety and environmental standards within the industry. More news about this initiative will be shared in the future.

In the ACREW Lounge at La Rascasse, I spoke to Matthew Zimmerman, CEO and Co-Founder at FarSounder. He and his team developed 3D forward-looking sonar technology that provides real-time mapping for superyachts, and commercial and research survey vessels. The map that is built lives on board the vessel, however yachts can opt-in to share data anonymously with the rest of the FarSounder fleet and initiatives like the global Seabed 2030 program.  Headquartered in Rhode Island in the US, Zimmerman’s enthusiasm for both ocean conservation and data analysis is evident.   FarSounder’s patented range of Argos 3D sonars can see ahead and beneath a vessel in real-time — a useful navigational aid and something that helps boats avoid collisions with in-water obstacles, sea life or the seabed.  Growing up in New England, Zimmerman has a particular affinity to help North Atlantic right whales where the main cause of death is ship strikes.  Data sharing is crucial, and a future enhancement includes the addition of a feature to detect whales and floating trash. Driven by a safety-focused approach to protecting marine mammals, vessels, and crew, FarSounder’s work has expanded through collaborations with influential organisations such as The International Seakeepers Society.

Many businesses unveiled products or services targeting crew members at sea, including English Osteopath, who were promoting their on-demand online therapy at MYS. The therapy is designed to provide mental health support for crew members who may be feeling lonely, bullied, or anxious, as well as physical therapy support for conditions such as guest injuries, migraines, or sciatica. Rachael Dickens, the Founder of English Osteopath, who is frequently called upon for yacht visits, mentioned, “We will give 20 yachts Preferred Status so they can access a therapist online on the same day. If they purchase 10 sessions in advance, they can use them whenever needed.”

On Quai Antoine 1er, Onshore Cellars, located at the Superyachts.com hub, launched premium coffee subscriptions for the yachting community under their sister brand, Onshore Roasters. Additionally, Superyacht Australia announced a reciprocal associate membership with British Superyacht and the US Superyacht Association following meetings between their respective CEOs, David Good, Richard Selby, and Kitty McGowan.

Further along the quay, Falcon Tenders unveiled a new concept in SOLAS Tender design — a 6.6m Self Righting SOLAS tender called the Falcon SOLAS 660. All ears were tuned into another exciting announcement from Falcon Tenders: the Falcon Shuttle in collaboration with American startup company GreenJoy Studio. “I am excited by the unusual nature of the Falcon Shuttle concept,” says Mark Pascoe, Founder of Falcon Tenders. “GreenJoy Studio is an innovative start-up bringing fresh ideas and new thinking to the superyacht industry. This concept reinforces the Falcon Tenders’ brand ethos of creating individual special tenders for discerning clients.”

Seminars, Forums and Networking Opportunities

In addition to its boat tours and invite-only cocktail evenings, the Monaco Yacht Show is a hub for an extensive lineup of seminars, conferences, and networking receptions. These events provide valuable opportunities for industry professionals to engage in industry-relevant discussions and build meaningful connections.

On September 25, the IYBA Superyacht Law Summit was hosted at the Yacht Club de Monaco with one session, “Mediterranean Charter Compliance,” addressing flag compliance challenges for yachts operating in the Mediterranean. The panel featured Jo Assael from IRI/Marshall Islands Registry, Anthony Galea of AG Advisory, and Nick Gelevert Lengers of Boatsters Black, moderated by Umberto Bonavita from Robert Allen Law.

The Yachting Pages terrace at Le Botticelli was a popular gathering spot for daily apéritif hours, where I enjoyed enlightening discussions such as key factors impacting refit facilities and connectivity for business jets. Notable conversations included insights from Thomas Wissman, Founder of YachtsUnlimited™. “To repurpose an existing ship to receive a second life as an explorer yacht makes a lot of sense. It saves resources, money and time. But only when the ‘base for business’ is selected wisely. There are a few parameters to consider such as overall condition, hull design and machinery design and quality. We work with very creative yacht designers who like the challenge to re-create an existing design into something iconic.”

There was plenty of chat about ‘green’ superyachts and the role of the maritime supply chain too.  “There are many products already available that can be installed on existing or new yachts that would make a huge difference in their footprint, including appliances that reduce emissions and consumption, filters that eliminate the need for oil changes throughout the engine life, non-toxic antifouling that lasts for 20 years (or more) in one application, etc,” said Thomas. “However, these products are not welcome by many industry stakeholders because they will disrupt the service industry. Imagine a reduction in engine maintenance cost of 80 to 90%…good for the planet and the end-customer but devastating for the engine workshops.”

The hardworking crew weren’t forgotten for social occasions. The good vibes were present for the Antigua & Barbuda rum party, while Wilsonhalligan Recruitment and John Percival Marine Associates/Hoylake Sailing School cohosted a “Beers for Engineers Party” with sponsors Pendennis Shipyard and Superyacht Rubbish.

On September 26, ICON Yachts, led by Micca Ferrero, organised a panel at the Hotel de Paris featuring Fabien Cousteau, Founder of the Ocean Learning Center and Proteus and oceanographic explorer; Nick Davies, Managing Director of Cookson Adventures; and Jay Wade, President of The International Seakeepers Society. This ICONversation explored various topics related to the future of marine exploration and innovation.

As always, it was wonderful to see so many events fostering networking between female professionals and change-makers in the industry. These events included the Damen Yachting breakfast, the inaugural YachtDame MYS Networking Breakfast meet-up at the Fairmont Monte Carlo, and the Association of Women in Yachting’s “Women in Technology & Sustainability in Yachting” event, which featured a seminar followed by networking at the International Hydrographic Organization headquarters, overlooking the port.

While I couldn’t attend every press meeting, seminar, or party, MYS remains a place to discover untold stories through face-to-face connections, innovation, eco-conscious solutions, and technical advancement. It blends the best of yachting and luxury lifestyle. I’m already looking forward to the 2025 edition, which will set the standard for what’s next in the superyacht sector.

Monaco Yacht Show 2025 will take place September 24-27, 2025.

Credits: Eternal Spark yacht / Zeitgeist renders, Studio MJK / Falcon Tenders / coquine! [design] / Antibes Yachting