Sailing smarter: how we’re cutting emissions

What happens when a ship’s captain can see, in real time, how much fuel they’re using? When captains on our pilot vessels began seeing live updates of their energy use right from the wheelhouse, something remarkable happened: they started sailing differently. Not because they were told to, but because the information was there, visible in real time. The result? Up to 10% less fuel use, a more efficient onboard culture, and a promising new step toward Boat Bike Tours’ net-zero future.

A new era of awareness on the water

With support from the European Union’s Cross-Re-Tour program, Boat Bike Tours has launched an ambitious new phase in its sustainability journey: the Energy Monitoring Project. The concept is simple but powerful: ships are equipped with smart meters to track fuel and electricity use, and make that data visible in real time.

The first two ships in the pilot, De Holland and Flora, have already shown how a small piece of technology can spark meaningful change.

Onboard innovation: giving captains a live energy window

Smart meters were installed on both vessels, offering precise readouts of fuel and electricity usage. Captains can now see in real time how their speed, route, and onboard systems affect energy use.
The impact? Immediate. Not in massive overhauls, but in subtle, consistent choices. A slight drop in speed here, more efficient docking there, and suddenly, the savings start to add up.

Changing course: early results speak volumes

• Flora is already using nearly 10% less fuel, simply because captains can monitor the impact of their speed choices.
• On De Holland, captains report smoother, calmer sailing and more awareness of how their navigation affects the environment.
• Sustainability has become a natural part of the daily conversation among crew members, as they see that smart sailing leads to both fuel savings and lower emissions.

This isn’t about rules. It’s about awareness. And that’s what makes the change sustainable.

Scaling up: toward a smarter, cleaner fleet

Following the early success, Boat Bike Tours is expanding the project rapidly:

• In 2025, over 12 additional vessels were equipped with smart meters.
• All remaining ships in the Dutch fleet will follow.
• All data now feeds into our Net Zero Cloud, a unified digital platform tracking emissions per ship, per trip, and even per passenger.

With this system in place, we’re setting the stage for long-term impact.

Visibility turns into action and action into impact

Net Zero Cloud does more than collect data. It reveals patterns. It shows where emissions are coming from and where reductions are most effective. It even allows us to track changes across the entire fleet.

By the end of the next full season, we’ll use this data to set concrete fleet-wide targets, aiming for 10–15% fuel savings as a first milestone. Because when you can see the impact of your choices, making better ones becomes second nature.

Join us on the journey to net zero

At Boat Bike Tours, we believe sustainable travel isn’t just about technology It’s about people. It’s about our captains making informed choices, our crews supporting smarter habits, and our guests sailing with purpose. As we continue to grow greener, we invite you to be part of the change. Learn more about our sustainability initiatives, or explore tours aboard our most energy-efficient ships. Together, every small shift makes a difference.

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