2024 March/April Marina World

SUPERYACHT FACILITIES
and, in particular, asset management.
However, I have also worked in the
small cruise ship sector, which has
a similar dynamic to the megayacht
market. Both, perhaps more so the
latter, inspire both asset management
and the 360° assistance concept.
Q: Is the growth in newbuild or repair
and refit for large yachts the prevailing
reason for Lusben’s development?
A: In the near future we expect a
significant increase in refit work as in
the recent past, due to the pandemic,
important developments have taken
place with regard to new products. We
expect some stability now so that the
refit area can be further expanded.
Our strategy is synergistic with regard
to continuing to be a leader for both
newbuild and refit.
Q: In a post-pandemic climate that is
rife with political instability and warfare,
what is the large yacht market asking
for in terms of refit, and what are the
main issues?
A: At the moment, the market is asking
the refit world to accommodate vessels
to the schedules and volumes required.
This is not trivial as it depends on
infrastructure; there aren’t that many
shipyards. The first requirement,
therefore, is to have adequate
infrastructure, and the second, efficient
performance. This needs to take
into account the lengthening of the
seasons, the demand to have yachts
available, and the lengthening of their
time of use. Yacht owners require even
complex work to be completed in a
shorter time and the dynamics become
more complicated when the vessels
spend longer at sea. This means
that it’s becoming important to have
widespread presence so that yacht
owners can be supported in multiple
places.
Q: Do Livorno, Viareggio and Varazze
have different shipbuilding structures
and company dynamics or are they
pieces of a single company strategy?
A: They are different structures that partly
follow a group strategy. The approach to
the customer is identical and there are
no differences in terms of workmanship
or in the methods of managing the
yacht. The change in structure, however,
gives us diversification. For Varazze,
the strategy is to refit vessels up to a
maximum length of 48m (157ft) and to
focus on those with heritage value so as
to best use the shipwrights skilled with
wood that were employed back when it
was a Baglietto shipyard. For Viareggio,
the centre of gravity is yachts of 35 to
52m (115 to 171ft), and in Livorno it’s
limitless dimensions to cover the very
largest yachts.
The famous 88m (289ft) three-masted
Maltese Falcon has recently
been refitted at Lusben Livorno.
Q: Can you give some examples of
new equipment, especially advanced
technology, that is being installed in the
yards?
A: In Livorno, for example, the ship
lift has more advanced technology
than the travel lift and the painting
booth is operated in a controlled
environment. We use 3D technology
to provide drawings, calculate internal
volumes etc., for yachts so that we
can deliver an interior design proposal.
At the moment, we don’t have an AI
application for the shipyard although
I would see this linked to onboard
systems.
Q: What investments are your
priorities?
A: Modernisation of the entire site,
including the squares, existing
buildings, storage areas and crew
lounge. The main infrastructure
The focus at Lusben Viareggio is work on
yachts of 35 to 52m (115 to 171ft).
www.marinaworld.com – March/April 2024
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