Gunter Pauli at the Superyacht Forum: Porrima from Vision to Sustainable Fleet

From the stage of the Superyacht Forum, after outlining the philosophy of the Blue Economy, Gunter Pauli shifted the focus to what can truly revolutionise the superyacht sector: the combination of technology, design, and social impact.

"Oceans cover 71% of the Earth’s surface, host 91% of life on the planet, and remain a mystery to explore," Pauli said. "This is where the greatest potential for innovation and growth lies." With numbers and vision, he reminded the audience that only 1 out of 100 people who can afford a superyacht actually owns one, highlighting a vast market still to be developed — economically and in terms of services.

Pauli presented Porrima, his 32-metre floating laboratory powered by hydrogen, solar energy and a traction kite, inspired by the PlanetSolar expedition that circumnavigated the globe solely on solar power in 2012. But the project goes further: the goal is to create a fleet of 100 similar vessels, with the first 10–12 designed to operate as floating hospitals for the most remote island communities.

"Sustainable propulsion is already a reality," he emphasised. "The real challenge today is communication and independence from commercial satellites."

Superyachts as Global Communication Hubs

To address this limitation, the Porrima team has adapted AM radio technology to send text messages up to 500 km and richer media over shorter distances. They are also developing underwater communication systems based on light at wavelengths invisible to marine life, intended strictly for civilian use. These systems rely on swarm technologies that create a collaborative network between stations, enabling secure long-distance data transmission.

"Imagine 500 vessels in the Pacific using a shared AM relay system: you could cover entire oceans without satellites. Superyachts can become global communication operators — but only if they collaborate," Pauli stated.

Sustainable Business and Social Impact

Pauli’s message goes beyond technology: it is about transforming yachting into an economic opportunity with positive impact. Yachts producing clean energy, floating medical platforms, innovative and accessible communication tools — all of this creates new markets and new business models.

"We don’t need education; we need inspiration," the businessman concluded. "Only then can the superyacht sector evolve into an ecosystem that generates real, sustainable impact and become a global example."

With this vision, Pauli does more than propose ideas: he outlines a genuine entrepreneurial model for luxury yachting, where sustainability, technological innovation, and social responsibility become competitive advantages. The Blue Economy meets the superyacht business: luxury becomes a driver of progress, transforming the pleasure of navigation into a concrete opportunity for the planet and for ocean communities.

Filippo Ceragioli

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