The World’s Largest Sportfishing Yacht is Fueled by Vegetable Oil

The world’s largest sportfishing yacht, S/Y Special One, announced that it runs on a hydrotreated vegetable oil.

Sportfishing yacht Special One, a 52-meter vessel built by Royal Huisman, is the world’s largest sportfishing yacht and has now announced that it runs HVO100 — a hydrotreated vegetable oil. The vegetable oil is produced from food industry waste, is 100% renewable and traceable, and reduces harmful CO2 emissions by more than 90%.

Special One’s owners worked in collaboration with Vripack from the vessel’s initial design concept, working with engine manufacturers to create a sportfishing yacht that can run on the vegetable oil instead of a fossil fuel. Vripack is a yacht design studio based in Sneek, Netherlands. Vripack designed the vessel’s naval architecture, exterior, and interior.

“We applied our most radical naval architecture to date on this hull, resulting in dramatic lower resistance and, consequently, reduced fuel consumption,” said Bart Bouwhuis, Vripack’s co-creative director. “However, we were also acutely aware that the twin V20 MAN 4500kW drive train that propels this yacht to over 32 knots, and her twin Zenoro 180 kW generators will always burn a substantial amount of fuel. We knew of this fossil-free fuel as a highly welcome alternative.”

Special One is an Alustar aluminum sportfishing yacht that has six decks on board. The vessel’s performance level allows it to reach more than 30 knots, all while being fueled by the hydrotreated vegetable oil. Special One will be on display at the Monaco Yacht Show from Sept. 25-28.

“With such a significant reduction in harmful emissions, it also means that engine components, such as filters and injectors, stay cleaner and require less maintenance,” Bouwhuis said. “As a team, we wanted to go beyond scratching the surface. Collaboration, dialogue, and most importantly, action is what is required today. That’s our goal with this innovation for Special One.”