May/June 2010 - Yacht Essentials

Spotlight: Shipyards Gear Up For Growth
MB’92 YARD COULD DOUBLE IN SIZE
In Spain, Marina Barcelona 92 has big plans, though company officials said they are “not totally ready” to talk about
it. For refit, repair, and maintenance of superyachts, this place is already one of the largest shipyards in the Mediterranean.
MB’92 CEO Pepe García Aubert invited a group of captains to a January brainstorming session at a ski resort
in Andorra, to solicit their feedback on future services needed and present a 50 million Euro expansion plan.
The anticipated project, which would double the current shipyard capacity, is scheduled to start by this summer and
finish within five years. New facilities will have a repair basin with the capacity for yachts up to 200 meters long, a new
4,000-ton Syncrolift for yachts up to 110 meters and a new 220-meter covered dry dock area. Stay tuned for details.
www.mb92.com
MELITA MARINE GROUP OPENS ANTIBES OFFICE
With multiple locations in the Mediterranean’s major yachting
zones, Melita Marine Services now has opened an office
in the south of France to coordinate mobile chandlery
and provisions services for the region. Established in 1993,
this group of 17 subsidiary companies, with head offices in
Malta, offers everything from paint supplies to yacht refits.
The company operates Malta’s Manoel Island Marina and
distributes luxury yachts like Ferretti and Sessa.
In 2008, the company reorganized operations to prepare
for long-term growth in the yachting industry. “Over
the past 10 years, superyachts increased by 80 percent
worldwide,” said Chairman Pierre Balzan, who believes
ongoing training will be needed to keep abreast of continuous
technology developments in the industry. “This
will require capital injection of hundreds of thousands
of Euros and possibly millions over a number of years.”
www.melitamarinegroup.net
20 YACHT ESSENTIALS
MB’92 in Barcelona plans to double
capacity in the next five years.
Melita Marine
Group, based
in Malta, has
17 subsidiaries
under
one banner.