Recycled aluminium yacht ready to set sail

Boat producer iYacht has created a luxury solar-powered catamaran made of over 90% recycled aluminium for film producer Daniel Roesner.

The eco-friendly vessel was designed by the German firm and built in partnership with aluminium producer Speira. It is 17 metres long and features 92% general scrap, 5% production scrap, and 3% alloy metals.

Eco-friendly scrap

Thanks to the high scrap content, the yacht’s CO₂ footprint was reduced to less than 2 kg CO₂/kg of aluminium sheet. This is just one-eighth of the market average.

According to iYacht, aluminium used in the catamaran, named Hu’chu 55, comes from:

• licence plates
• road signs
• cosmetic cans
• automotive scrap
• construction scrap
• shredded aluminium

The boat also incorporates recycled cork, salvaged wood and natural fabrics.

Redefining the limits

Speira provided a 5083 aluminium alloy for the catamaran. This alloy is known for its excellent corrosion resistance, weldability, and a high strength already proved in shipbuilding.

‘Our mission is to constantly redefine the limits of aluminium, especially in terms of sustainability,’ says Reinhard Pritzlaff, technical advisor at Speira. He sees the Hu’chu 55 as ‘perfect proof’ of the company’s commitment.

‘We know the maritime requirements for our material. At the same time, we have succeeded in not using a single kilogram of primary metal in the melt for this aluminium.’

Roesner says he would like to scale up production in the near future.