“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
― Margaret Mead
Ocean Alliance is in the business of devising and delivering the best experiences in a marine environment whilst on board exceptional yachts. Our promise to create unforgettable moments relies on a healthy ocean, anywhere in the world.
Our team is motivated by a love of the sea resulting in a desire to ensure its continued health so that we may allow a broader audience to experience, and fall in love with this incredible element.
We believe we have a role as global citizens to contribute to a sustainable future and cannot, in good conscience, promote yachting without protecting the asset at the core of this lifestyle. Discover below some of the empowering initiatives that support our beliefs. Alliance creates strength, and by partnering with trustworthy organisations we endorse the research and impactful work of scientists, whilst educating our team and spreading important messages of conservation to our rich network.
SEA-THROUGH PROJECT
In partnership and with the support of Take3 (see details on this organisation below), Ocean Alliance created the concept of Sea-Through in July 2017. Specifically directed towards the yachting industry, this initiative aims to create an immediate impact by encouraging superyacht crew, suppliers, industry actors, yacht managers, and all the way to the Owners and Charterers, to collect plastic debris from the beaches and marine environment that the yachts visit. The project has a long-term ripple effect to change the perception and patterns of superyacht crew and yacht operations by highlighting the scale of the plastic ocean epidemic.
Our first event was hosted in July 2017 in Sydney, Australia: over 35 crew and industry professionals, lent a fleet of yacht tenders and visited 3 popular harbour beaches collecting over 20,000 pieces of plastic and 200 recyclable bottles and cans.
We have since seen superyacht crew report beach clean-ups in Northern Queensland, and all the way in the South Pacific Islands such as Fiji where charter guests recorded their findings.
“It is fundamentally important to the Ocean Alliance team, as well as the crew of the yachts we represent, we make personal endeavours to tackle the ocean’s plastic epidemic. As humans, the ocean gives us so much and we have a duty of care to the Earth and each other. Furthermore, it [2017] is the international year of Sustainable Tourism so we cannot, in good conscience, operate a company and yachts which promote marine tourism and not ensure this resource is cared for. The superyachts we manage have the ability to conduct ocean research thanks to their ambitious itineraries through the year.” explained Managing Director of Ocean Alliance, Mr Joachim Howard.
“Throughout Ocean Alliance’s travels to local and international Yacht Shows, we observed the proactivity of the superyacht industry worldwide through some fantastic initiatives, such as beach cleanings, conferences and communication to encourage the reduction of plastic use on board superyachts. Our passion allows us to hear, listen to and support crew on superyachts to undertake initiatives on board.” continues our Charter Fleet Manager, Laurie Foulon.
Read more: https://www.oceanalliance.com/ocean-alliance-teams-up-with-take3/
CITIZENS OF THE GREAT BARRIER REEF
Exploration is in the DNA of a luxury superyacht charter, though very rarely is there an opportunity to discover areas where little is already known. The Great Barrier Reef, encompassing 3,000 individual reefs that stretch for 2,300km along the sun-drenched Queensland coastline, is a unique yachting experience. Due to its sheer size measuring the overall state of the Reef is difficult, up to 40% of the Great Barrier Reef has never been surveyed before.
Launched in October 2020 by Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef, the Great Reef Census is a world-first citizen science project to capture reconnaissance data from across the Reef over 11 weeks. Following a successful pilot program in 2019, 2020 saw a major scale-up to 100 priority reefs with the support of Superyachts and other vessels, with the current intention to build on these learnings and launch an even bigger Census in 2021. Ocean Alliance firmed up a collaboration with Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef to involve superyachts in this pioneering initiative for ocean conservation.
“The Great Reef Census is a world-first for superyacht Owners and Charterers to participate in conservation efforts on the Reef. It is an opportunity to encourage a culture of “yachting for purpose” and offer Charterers the ability to incorporate a meaningful contribution to the ecosystem in which they are experiencing.” reveals Joachim Howard.
In November 2020, Ocean Alliance together with the Owners offered the 35m BELUGA, built by Moonen with explorer capacities, as the first superyacht to participate in the Great Reef Census. Rather than return empty to her Port Douglas base from a charter that had ended in Lizard Island in the reef’s north, her cabins were made available to marine scientists, a photographer, and an engineer from Dell Technologies, which is working with the project to enable real-time data to be collected. It was the first time equipment had been applied in the real world.
BELUGA went on to collect the inaugural Yacht of the Year title at the 2021 Ocean Awards, hosted by BOAT International and sponsored by Arksen.
Read more: https://www.oceanalliance.com/beluga-boatinternational/
Exploration is in the DNA of a luxury superyacht charter, though very rarely is there an opportunity to discover areas where little is already known. The Great Barrier Reef, encompassing 3,000 individual reefs that stretch for 2,300km along the sun-drenched Queensland coastline, is a unique yachting experience. Due to its sheer size measuring the overall state of the Reef is difficult, up to 40% of the Great Barrier Reef has never been surveyed before.
Launched in October 2020 by Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef, the Great Reef Census is a world-first citizen science project to capture reconnaissance data from across the Reef over 11 weeks. Following a successful pilot program in 2019, 2020 saw a major scale-up to 100 priority reefs with the support of Superyachts and other vessels, with the current intention to build on these learnings and launch an even bigger Census in 2021. Ocean Alliance firmed up a collaboration with Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef to involve superyachts in this pioneering initiative for ocean conservation.
“The Great Reef Census is a world-first for superyacht Owners and Charterers to participate in conservation efforts on the Reef. It is an opportunity to encourage a culture of “yachting for purpose” and offer Charterers the ability to incorporate a meaningful contribution to the ecosystem in which they are experiencing.” reveals Joachim Howard.
In November 2020, Ocean Alliance together with the Owners offered the 35m BELUGA, built by Moonen with explorer capacities, as the first superyacht to participate in the Great Reef Census. Rather than return empty to her Port Douglas base from a charter that had ended in Lizard Island in the reef’s north, her cabins were made available to marine scientists, a photographer, and an engineer from Dell Technologies, which is working with the project to enable real-time data to be collected. It was the first time equipment had been applied in the real world.
BELUGA went on to collect the inaugural Yacht of the Year title at the 2021 Ocean Awards, hosted by BOAT International and sponsored by Arksen.
Read more: https://www.oceanalliance.com/beluga-boatinternational/
TAKE 3 FOR THE SEA
“Take 3 pieces of rubbish with you when you leave the beach, waterway or…anywhere, and you have made a difference.”
Scientists estimate that 8 million tonnes of plastic end up in the world’s oceans each year and research suggests 80% comes from land-based sources, with the remaining 20% from sea-based activities.
How can we stop plastic pollution from killing wildlife and suffocating our planet? In 2009, two friends set about answering this question. Marine ecologist, Roberta Dixon-Valk and youth educator, Amanda Marechal developed Take 3 – an idea where a simple action could produce profound consequences. Joining forces with environmentalist, Tim Silverwood, the trio publicly launched Take 3 as an organisation in 2010.
So far, the organisation has recorded 10 million pieces of rubbish removed annually, with participation in 129 countries and more than 500,000 people educated.
Ocean Alliance first approached Take3 in 2016, building a relationship that resulted in the Sea-Through project launched in July 2017.
“It’s about education and awareness; there’s information out there for the boating industry. They can make a difference by considering their reliance on single-use plastic products, their sourcing of seafood, and integrating sustainability into their business models. The industry needs to consider its legacy; and give back to the environment that it so heavily relies on.” stated Tim Silverwood.
Over the years, our team has participated in multiple events alongside the Sydney-based organisation, spreading the word in the industry and supporting the movement. We empower our team to open conversations and enact change on board or through our clients.
In the event space, caterers and suppliers to the yachts under a central agency with Ocean Alliance are encouraged not to bring disposable plastic products while working onboard.
Our MD, Jo Howard joined the inaugural Take3 CEO Cleanup in June 2021, where more than 50 Sydney CEOs and business leaders came together at Cove Beach in Manly. The event was designed to show leadership on sustainability and raise awareness of the plastic problem. In just 60 minutes, 55 CEOs removed 87 kilograms & 27,603 pieces of rubbish.
Read more: https://www.oceanalliance.com/ceo-clean-up/
THE SEAKEEPERS SOCIETY
Microplastics. Present in all our oceans, and proven to have made their way all the way to the food chain, these tiny pieces of broken-down plastics are often invisible to the naked eye.
Yachts and Superyachts undertake ocean passages to relocate between charter seasons, or simply during charter or owners use, what best platform could marine science research ask for to sample the ocean?
Identifying the International Seakeepers Society as their next partner, and right in line with the start of the United Nations Ocean Decade (2021-2030), Ocean Alliance was delighted to equip the first commercial superyacht in Australia with a Sampling Net to collect microplastics in the ocean as part of their S.A.R.A.H Initiative.
Abbreviated for Sample – Aggregate – Return – Analyse – Help, the S.A.R.A.H Initiative is designed to be a citizen science program that enables vessels to assist in the collection of plastic samples. The International SeaKeepers Society partnered with Florida International University for the analysis and report of samples.
When the S.A.R.A.H. lab receives the samples, they weigh each plastic fragment individually and then analyse the plastic pieces using infrared spectroscopy to determine their composition. Knowledge of the density and composition of plastics is valuable, specifically to understanding what types of plastics are present in the water column, and because each plastic type has its own individual chemical properties. Each variety of plastic absorbs different types of chemicals, and they have varying degradation rates in the marine environment. Uncovering the prevalence and location of distinctive plastic types can help us pinpoint the major sources of ocean plastics, in order to legislate for decreases in production and ultimately diminish their use in everyday life. Plastics ending up in the water column are also being ingested by marine life, so the information from this study would be of interest to policy makers interested in cutting down on the most prevalent types of pollution that are ending up in the saltwater fish that we eat.
We look forward to sharing the results of these findings. Follow us on social media for updates.
Microplastics. Present in all our oceans, and proven to have made their way all the way to the food chain, these tiny pieces of broken-down plastics are often invisible to the naked eye.
Yachts and Superyachts undertake ocean passages to relocate between charter seasons, or simply during charter or owners use, what best platform could marine science research ask for to sample the ocean?
Identifying the International Seakeepers Society as their next partner, and right in line with the start of the United Nations Ocean Decade (2021-2030), Ocean Alliance was delighted to equip the first commercial superyacht in Australia with a Sampling Net to collect microplastics in the ocean as part of their S.A.R.A.H Initiative.
Abbreviated for Sample – Aggregate – Return – Analyse – Help, the S.A.R.A.H Initiative is designed to be a citizen science program that enables vessels to assist in the collection of plastic samples. The International SeaKeepers Society partnered with Florida International University for the analysis and report of samples.
When the S.A.R.A.H. lab receives the samples, they weigh each plastic fragment individually and then analyse the plastic pieces using infrared spectroscopy to determine their composition. Knowledge of the density and composition of plastics is valuable, specifically to understanding what types of plastics are present in the water column, and because each plastic type has its own individual chemical properties. Each variety of plastic absorbs different types of chemicals, and they have varying degradation rates in the marine environment. Uncovering the prevalence and location of distinctive plastic types can help us pinpoint the major sources of ocean plastics, in order to legislate for decreases in production and ultimately diminish their use in everyday life. Plastics ending up in the water column are also being ingested by marine life, so the information from this study would be of interest to policy makers interested in cutting down on the most prevalent types of pollution that are ending up in the saltwater fish that we eat.
We look forward to sharing the results of these findings. Follow us on social media for updates.