M/Y Infinity Nine, the 35-metre superyacht owned by basketball icon Tony Parker, has been awarded the prestigious Sea Index three-star certification, with Prince Albert II of Monaco personally bestowing the honour on the former NBA champion at a ceremony hosted by the Yacht Club de Monaco earlier this month.
Tony Parker, the former professional French-American basketball player and current majority owner of LDLC ASVEL, knew from the beginning of his M/Y Infinity Nine project — a compact explorer with remarkable transoceanic capabilities, boasting a range of over 6,500 nautical miles — that he wanted the vessel to balance performance with environmental responsibility.
Speaking about the development of the 35-metre yacht, which was delivered by AvA Yachts in 2022, Parker explained, “From its conception, we had a clear and determined desire to build M/Y Infinity Nine, a yacht that can combine innovation, performance, with an environmental approach. This project demonstrates that excellence is not limited to pure performance, but also encompasses responsibility to our planet. It is this sustainable vision from the start that makes all the difference.”
Now, his efforts and those of the shipbuilder have been rewarded. On 20th March, at a ceremony hosted at the Yacht Club de Monaco, M/Y Infinity Nine officially joined a growing list of environmentally conscious superyachts that have been awarded the prestigious Sea Index certification, with Prince Albert II of Monaco personally handing Parker the accolade.
See more: How the YCM’s SEA Index is setting the gold standard for sustainability assessment in yachting
The Sea Index began in 2020 as a collaborative project backed by the Yacht Club de Monaco and Credit Suisse. Its goal is to increase awareness of yachts’ carbon emissions among owners of vessels over 24 metres. Those that embrace environmentally friendly technologies and innovations within the yachting industry stand to gain certification ranging from one to five stars, depending on the vessel’s environmental footprint.
Parker’s M/Y Infinity Nine has achieved a three-star rating, a status that offers yacht owners a golden ticket to exclusive advantages that extend beyond environmental recognition, from discounted anchorage fees in Monaco’s ports to priority access to 15 partner ports between Menton and Saint-Tropez, and additional financial incentives such as a 10% insurance discount with Jutheau Husson. As an added benefit, yacht crews working aboard three-star vessels also receive special discounts on sustainability training at the Yacht Club de Monaco’s La Belle Classe Academy.
“With the SEA Index® certification, we support shipowners in their energy transition, offering them a clear vision and a strategic advantage,” noted Bernard d’Alessandri, General Secretary of the Yacht Club de Monaco. “Its deployment beyond Monaco brings together a yachting community committed to preserving the ocean.”
As the yachting industry continues to navigate towards a more sustainable future, initiatives like the Sea Index prove that luxury and environmental consciousness can indeed sail side by side. For more information on the scheme, click here.
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Photo source: Yacht Club de Monaco