{"id":242222,"date":"2025-11-03T23:18:11","date_gmt":"2025-11-03T23:18:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/242222\/"},"modified":"2025-11-03T23:18:11","modified_gmt":"2025-11-03T23:18:11","slug":"omaya-yachts-on-why-honest-sustainability-is-the-only-way-forward","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/242222\/","title":{"rendered":"Omaya Yachts on why honest sustainability is the only way forward"},"content":{"rendered":"

A few days before Omaya Yachts had its first outing at Cannes Yachting Festival, Kaloyan Radulov, CEO and co-founder of Omaya Yachts (pictured above), told MIN that \u201cmarketing often runs faster than technology.<\/a>\u201d Radulov was expressing his dismay at greenwashing in boating and how it is pervading all industries. <\/p>\n

Here Radulov sits down with MIN to elaborate on his statement, explore his company\u2019s ethos, and call out marketeers who value style over substance.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy point isn\u2019t to dismiss progress,\u201d Radulov states. \u201cI fully support the industry\u2019s move toward sustainability, but I also believe we should broaden what that means. There are so many areas in yacht design and manufacturing where meaningful progress can happen today.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat you read on a brochure \u2013 \u2018zero-emission\u2019, \u2018green\u2019, \u2018silent cruising\u2019\u2013 often describes a use moment, not the whole system. Boats are shown gliding quietly, but the batteries were charged from a fossil-heavy grid; the composite structure isn\u2019t circular; the supply chain is energy-intensive; end-of-life is unclear.<\/p>\n

\u201cEven the technologies that enable these \u2018green\u2019 images \u2013 batteries and solar panels \u2013 are themselves far from circular, both in sourcing and recycling, and remain a relatively inefficient way to propel a multi-ton vessel over distance.\u201d<\/p>\n

For Radulov, sustainability is found first in the efficiency of the boat and then in the durability, serviceability and refit-ability. \u201cThese are the foundations that make a boat truly efficient, regardless of its propulsion type,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf we focus our resources and innovation there first, electrification will follow naturally and functionally \u2013 when it can genuinely deliver a better, more sustainable experience, not just a greener headline.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Omaya<\/p>\n

Three steps to zero-emission transparency in yacht building<\/p>\n

Radulov, who is also the general manager of the family-owned Elica Group (which launched the Omaya Yachts brand), has a three-step process for companies to be honest and transparent about what they\u2019re aiming for, and what they\u2019re producing. Firstly, boatbuilders need to be clear about scope.<\/p>\n

\u201cSay what you actually mean when you talk about emissions. Are you measuring \u2018tank-to-wake\u2019 \u2013 just what happens on the water. Or \u2018well-to-wake\u2019, which includes the full energy chain behind it?\u201d he asks.<\/p>\n

The second step is being realistic about performance.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf we publish range and efficiency figures, let\u2019s also show the context \u2013 speed, payload, sea state, hotel loads, recharge times. Otherwise, it\u2019s like quoting a car\u2019s mileage downhill with the wind behind it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Talking about materials and lifecycle is the third step which he advocates.<\/p>\n

He says boatbuilders should be telling people about what resins, fibres, and cores they\u2019re using, including how much is recycled or recyclable and how the boat can be repaired or dismantled. He wants to see that as factual details, not marketing speak and greenwashing in boating. <\/p>\n

\u201cTruth matters because boats don\u2019t live in press releases \u2013 they live in the real world, with waves, fuel docks, and families on board. When what you promise matches what the customer experiences, that\u2019s when a brand truly grows.<\/p>\n

\u201cTrust is the most sustainable currency in this business.\u201d<\/p>\n

With all that said, he notes that leaders \u2013 big and small \u2013 are quietly doing what he details as unglamorous work like resin transitions, weight audits, energy-management systems, and supplier upskilling to continue forward momentum. \u201cProgress is cumulative, not viral,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

\u201cUltimately, we just need to be honest about where our brands put their focus \u2013 and equally honest about why we aren\u2019t there yet. There is no such thing as a fully zero-emission boat today. I\u2019m glad to see the EU moving toward the Green Claims Act, which will help address greenwashing and make sustainability communication more accountable \u2013 both to consumers and to the environment.\u201d<\/p>\n

The EU Green Claims Directive (information from the European Commission is available online<\/a>) is a proposed regulation to combat greenwashing by ensuring that all environmental claims made by businesses are scientifically substantiated, verifiable, and clearly communicated. It would require companies to get their claims independently verified before they are published, and consider a product\u2019s entire lifecycle. Although a proposal was adopted by the European Commission in March 2023, the legislative process has been on hold since June 2025, and its future is uncertain.<\/p>\n

\"Helm<\/p>\n

Beyond the brochure: how to understand a boat\u2019s efficiencies<\/p>\n

As for consumers? They need to ask for numbers, not adjectives. \u201ckWh capacity, usable depth-of-discharge, recharge time at realistic shore power, continuous kW at cruise, range at named speeds or sea states, battery cycle life, and a full lifecycle assessment.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe same principle applies to materials and processes \u2013 ask how much recycled content is actually used, how waste is managed, and what percentage of components are repairable rather than replaceable.\u201d<\/p>\n

With that noted, he says that most clients still prioritise experience first: space, comfort, reliability, cost of ownership. Sustainability is a strong secondary factor that becomes decisive when it improves that experience \u2013 lower noise, less smell, fewer maintenance surprises.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf we show that efficiency = comfort + range + resale value, sustainability becomes a rational upgrade, not a moral surcharge.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat said, I recently met a guy who had just bought an eco-catamaran, despite being warned multiple times that the technology wasn\u2019t yet proven and that the dealer had never sold or serviced one before. His response was simple: \u2018I want to be part of that transition. My contribution is to support a company that\u2019s looking in that direction\u2019. He was 35, modern, open-minded and he knew exactly what he was doing.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo yes, there\u2019s a new generation of clients emerging who are genuinely motivated by sustainability. They see it not as a checkbox, but as a statement of intent and participation in the future of boating.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"relaxation<\/p>\n

Young companies don\u2019t need to reconcile old brochure copy<\/p>\n

According to Radulov, being a young company forces focus and allows for agile design. \u201cWe don\u2019t have legacy product lines to defend or a decade of brochures to reconcile. We can say: comfort and efficiency now; electrification where the user case works; step-by-step on circularity. That pragmatism resonates with clients who want truth over trend.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re careful not to promise miracles. We design for efficiency first \u2013 hull form, weight discipline, and modern infusion processes. We\u2019ve seen competitors get ahead of themselves with range and recharge claims that are true only in very narrow conditions. The short-term \u2018hype dividend\u2019 exists, but in the long run, trust compounds faster.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur flagship model \u2013 the 50-footer \u2013 sits right in between the \u2018smaller\u2019 and \u2018larger\u2019 yacht segments, which makes it a challenging space for sustainability.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s only so much you can invest, or that clients are realistically willing to pay, before the value equation breaks.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe truth is, \u2018sustainability\u2019 still comes with a premium.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s why our philosophy is sourced from design \u2013 efficiency, durability and serviceability. Every day, quite literally, we look for ways to optimise our footprint: through smarter material choices, lighter structures, improved access to critical places in the boat, refined processes, and designs that deliver more with less.\u201d<\/p>\n

The rise of Bulgaria\u2019s boatbuilding scene<\/p>\n

Omaya Yachts exhibited at CYF for the fisrt time in 2025. It took its Omaya 50<\/a>. <\/p>\n

For Radulov, it was \u2018a milestone\u2019. \u201cWe met a full spectrum of charter operators, private buyers, and suppliers \u2013 who validated our focus on liveability and efficiency. We left with solid leads, a longer partner list, and a sharper to-do list. Exactly what you want from a first Cannes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"interior<\/p>\n

Omaya\u2019s part of the small but quickly evolving Bulgarian marine industry.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are only a few players seriously investing in innovation \u2013 ourselves with Omaya, where efficiency comes naturally through our optimised hull design and the inherent advantages of a catamaran platform; another brand developing a nine metre dayboat that\u2019s perfectly suited for electrification; and a third that\u2019s building its own in-house systems for energy generation, storage, and management.<\/p>\n

\u201cTogether, these examples show that progress is already happening here, driven not by scale, but by smart engineering.\u201d<\/p>\n

In order to support these developments, Omaya\u2019s one of the founding companies in a newly established Bulgarian Boating Industry Association, which has \u2013 as part of it\u2019s remit \u2013 ensuring that the country\u2019s development in the marine sector follows a responsible and sustainable course.<\/p>\n

Part of that is \u201clooking beyond the first delivery, thinking from day one about how each boat will be repaired, refitted, and eventually recycled. These are not glamorous changes, and most probably won\u2019t take you to the cover of a boating magazine, but they make a real difference over time.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor serial producers, embracing a sustainable future starts with building smarter, not just greener. That means designing for weight and serviceability, investing in efficient hulls and infusion processes, and creating systems that are modular and easy to maintain.\u201d<\/p>\n

Timescale for zero emission boats<\/p>\n

Prior to Cannes, Radulov told MIN that \u201cwhen you look beyond the headlines \u2013 into the systems, materials, and processes behind these boats \u2013 you realise we\u2019re still far from true zero-emission yachting.\u201d<\/p>\n

He approximates that small dayboats\/coastal cats will (assuming they continue to improve) probably achieve zero emissions in the next five to ten years.<\/p>\n

He puts cruising luxury cats (multi-day, mixed speeds) true zero-emission well-to-wake at 15\u201325 years away as the sector needs green fuels or next-gen batteries \u2026 and a lot is tied to infrastructure more than hulls. However, he\u2019s looking at credible low-carbon pathways (hybrid + renewable shore power + solar) over the next ten to 15 years.<\/p>\n

Then there\u2019s materials circularity. \u201cFull closed-loop composites is a long game,\u201d he says, but there will be \u201cmeaningful progress this decade.\u201d<\/p>\n

Radulov says Omaya\u2019s promise is simple. It\u2019s all about comfort owners can live with, efficiency they can measure, and sustainability that earns its keep. \u201cWe\u2019re here for the long game-and we\u2019re happy to publish the numbers,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe coming years will reveal much more. We have numerous ideas waiting to be implemented, each driven by a desire to help reshape the yachting sector in a conscious, contemporary, and beautifully human direction.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Kaloyan<\/p>\n


\n \"Omaya <\/a><\/p>\n

Omaya Yachts expands into the Netherlands<\/a><\/p>\n

Bulgarian catamaran manufacturer Omaya Yachts has established a partnership with Natural Yachts, appointing it as the exclusive dealer for the\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A few days before Omaya Yachts had its first outing at Cannes Yachting Festival, Kaloyan Radulov, CEO and…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":242223,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[101857,101856,1397,101855,90,56,54,55],"class_list":["post-242222","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-environment","tag-boatbuilding-and-boatbuilders","tag-electric-boats-propulsion","tag-environment","tag-marine-environment","tag-science","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/242222","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=242222"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/242222\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/242223"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=242222"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=242222"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=242222"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}