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Month: September 2019

Fautrier takes new position with Prince’s government

by: Cassandra Tanti
23/09/2019

Prince Albert has appointed Bernard Fautrier as Special Adviser on Environmental Issues. The placement means he will stepdown from his position as Vice-President and CEO of the Prince’s foundation, and hand over the reins to Olivier Wenden.

In environmental terms, it is an important week in the Principality. On Wednesday 25th, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) will unveil its special reporton the ocean and the cryosphere. The following day, the Monte Carlo Gala for the Global Oceanwill take place, with Nicole Kidman as emcee, alongside Robert Redford, Uma Thurman and Andy Garcia as headline celebrities supporting the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation.

In this setting, it was announced on Monday that the foundation will have a change of direction. According to a statement, the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, which has fought tirelessly for the protection of the planet and Oceans since 2006, indicates that, by Sovereign Ordinance 7673 dated 9th September, the Prince has appointed Bernard Fautrier as special advisor on environmental issues, effective from 1st October.

So, after being at the helm of the Prince’s foundation since 2006, Bernard Fautrier will next week begin a new mission for the Prince’s government, albeit in the same environmental context as the work he has conducted so far.

Continuity is therefore the key word for this shift, as Olivier Wenden has been the Executive Director of the Foundation since 2014, a position that allowed him, among other things, to contribute to the development of philanthropy and institutional partnerships with Bernard Fautrier.

 

 

Marine mission launched by Prince Albert II Foundation

by: Cassandra Tanti
23/09/2019

A new drone-supported sea mission has been launched by the Prince Albert II Foundation and the Monaco Exploration Society to study marine mammals and environmental impacts.

The three month long study, which will focus on cetaceans such as Sperm whales, Risso dolphins, and Cuvier whales, will be supported by two 20 metre surface drones that will track the movements of marine animals over a 2,200 kilometre stretch of sea, running along the Ligurian current which spans from Toulon to Genoa via Corsica and the Balearic Islands.

These species, who have the capability to travel to extreme deep water locations, are of great interest as they have sophisticated communication systems, making tracking and recording of their actions possible.

The state-of-the-art drones are fitted with special high-tech microphones called hydrophones for use underwater, and they allow 3D tracking of the cetaceans over a six kilometre radius going as deep as 2,000 metres. They are completely self-sufficient and “clean”.

Bertrand de Lesquen, director of Marine & Oceans Magazine, is coordinating the mission along with operational director and designer of the Sphyrna drones Fabien de Varenne. Professor Hervé Glotin from the University of Toulon will serve as scientific director.

In total, a dozen scientists will join the mission to ensure proper collection and analysation of the data collected along the way.

The mission commenced in Monaco on 20th September and will end its journey by the middle of December, when it will return to the Principality.

It is the first time that a broad moving study of this kind has ever been attempted over such a large swath of sea.

 

 

Prince Albert II joins World CleanUp Day efforts

by: Cassandra Tanti
23/09/2019

Monaco’s first World CleanUp Day was a great success, with 150 people taking part, including HSH Prince Albert II, in five targeted clean-up areas throughout the Principality.

Those who turned out for the 8am start were given the choice of taking on one of five organised events, choosing land or sea-based options. There was something for all, including a hike from the Tête de Chien and a 7km walk/run along Plage Mala from Decathlon. 

Due to a heavy swell, the Stand Up Paddle CleanUp and Suncy CleanUp activities were canceled but were replaced by a Beach Cleanup on the Larvotto beach which gathered about fifteen participants.

Prince Albert II joined in for the Stars ‘N’ Bars-organised walk, where he contributed by picking up waste found along the route to Larvotto, which marked the end of the course.

Photo: Mairie de Monaco

The goal of the event was, of course, to collect as much rubbish as possible whilst enjoying a morning in the great outdoors. In total, nearly a tonne of waste was collected in the Principality including countless cigarette butts, a large quantity of plastic and glass bottles, cardboard packaging, wire mesh and even wooden pallets and chairs.

© Direction de la Communication / Manuel Vitali

At 11:45am, all the participants gathered on the beach to weigh what had been collected, then celebrated by having a group aperitif offered by the Mairie.

The Monaco event mirrored action that was taking place across the globe simultaneously on Saturday. World Clean-up Day was created a decade ago as a social-action programme in the battle against litter. It is now celebrated in 158 countries on the third Saturday of September and has 18 million people partaking. France boasts 200,000 active participants.

Monaco’s contribution, in its first ever attempt, saw a fantastic turnout and a solid base to build on for next year’s event.

 

SBM to expand gaming at Monte Carlo Casino

by: Cassandra Tanti
23/09/2019

The Société des Bains de Mer (SBM) will redevelop its historic Monte Carlo Casino in 2020 in an effort to boost its appeal to a wider audience. The announcement was made at the Ordinary General Meeting last week, against a backdrop of further financial improvements for Monaco’s largest employer.

Monte Carlo Casino

“This is a redeployment of games across the rooms,” said Pascal Camia, SBM’s Director of Gaming, at the end of the shareholders’ meeting held on Friday 20th September in the Conference Centre of One Monte Carlo.

In late 2016, the SBM entrusted Mr Camia with the high-end repositioning of this historic sector, which accounts for 41% of the group’s turnover.

“We will create a terrace for fun players and make (the machines) more accessible,” he said, referring to customers who are not common players and are perhaps deterred by the 19th century decor of the imposing Europe hall, with its elaborate woodwork and gilding.

The gaming room inside the Monte Carlo Casino

These works, preceded by a complete refurbishment of the lighting, will go hand in hand with the planned closure of one of the Principality’s three casinos, the Sun in the Fairmont hotel, in 2022.

Investing in more targeted slot machines and the continuation of specialist dinners and events at the Casino are also planned.

During the financial year 2018/2019, the SBM achieved a turnover of €526.5 million euros against €474.6 million euros in 2017/2018, an improvement of 11%. The €51.9 million increase over the year was the result of increased revenues in all business segments.

Since 1st July 2019, growth in the hotel and rental activities has continued, with the complete reopening of the Hôtel de Paris and an increase in rental income from the new One Monte-Carlo real estate complex.

 

 

MYC series: ‘Here comes the sun’ by Fraser

by: Cassandra Tanti
22/09/2019

One of the top 10 largest superyachts for sale at this year’s Monaco Yacht Show is the 83 metre ‘Here comes the sun’, an exceptional vessel put forward by Fraser with an asking price of €155 million.

So, what does a superyacht with this kind of price tag look like? Well, it needs an internal elevator to service its six expansive decks, an infinity pool for those days that the sea just won’t cut it, a state-of-the-art cinema and, of course, a sauna.

The stunning exterior design with its distinctive paint scheme is by Tim Heywood, while the calming bespoke interior was created by Winch Design.

At 83 metres in length, it is the largest AMELS yacht built to date and boasts over 1,000 square metres of floor space.

‘Here comes the sun’ is capable of global cruising, so on long journeys guests can amuse themselves with one of the many amenities on board, like the 10-person cinema, the grand piano in the main salon, or the wellness and fitness area with steam room, sauna and massage room. Meanwhile, the ‘Beach Club’ features a large infinity pool, wet bar and hot tub.

Around 25 crew are needed to keep this baby running smoothly, while Zero Speed stabilisers make for an incredibly comfortable cruise. Fraser will be showing ‘Here comes the sun’ at the Monaco Yacht Show.

 

 

Monaco welcomes world’s first electric powerboat superchargers

by: Cassandra Tanti
22/09/2019

The world’s first network of electric powerboat superchargers has been launched at the Yacht Club of Monaco. Vita superPower has been designed specifically to support the use of high-performance electric boats, revolutionising the electric boating industry.

Photo: Yacht Club of Monaco

Monaco marks the first stage in a roll out that will spread across the French Riviera and eventually the world. Each station at the yacht club supports AC and DC charging.

With a maximum power output of 150 kWh, they allow DC compatible powerboats to half recharge in under an hour, significantly extending their autonomy and enabling some of the world’s most beautiful coastlines to establish a lasting tradition of emissions-free boating.

The YCM has its own fleet of electric boats which are used throughout the year by its sports section and for YCM regattas.

Photo: Yacht Club of Monaco

Vita Yachts was established in 2017, with the aim of bringing the latest in automotive technology and engineering to the marine world. Its team draws together specialists in F1 engineering, the superyacht industry, the finance industry, the luxury automotive sector and high-end product design.

“This is an important milestone for those of us who believe in a sustainable approach to luxury boat design,” said Stewart Wilkinson, Founder and Chairman of Vita Yachts, during the launch in May. “Concerns over autonomy are always the greatest obstacle to the widespread adoption of electric mobility. Vita superPower not only eliminates those concerns but does so at a lower cost than traditional refuelling. As more and more boats incorporate DC technology, the argument for electric boating will become much harder to dismiss.”

The project adheres to the sustainability policy of the Yacht Club of Monaco, which is presided by environmentalist Prince Albert II. It is also in line with the Monaco Solar and Energy Boat Challenge event on 2nd to 6th July, promoting clean energy propulsion systems to meet the environmental imperatives of marine-based industries.

For the sixth edition of the Monaco Solar and Energy Boat Challenge, the YCM and its partners have thrown down the gauntlet to competitors and the Monegasque community to produce as near to zero emissions as possible throughout the week, by banning all fossil fuels. Ashore and at sea, there will be initiatives to reduce the event’s impact.

“As concerns mount for the future of our planet, we think it’s essential the yachting sector embrace clean energy sources to cut greenhouse gas emissions, in line with commitments undertaken by States during the Paris Agreement,” says YCM General Secretary Bernard d’Alessandri. “Convinced that one must lead by example, and as an integral part of our ‘Monaco: Capital of Yachting’ project, we want to prick people’s consciences and support this kind of project to contribute to the environmental issue.”