|Objects| Admiral 72 by
|Objects| Admiral 72 by Giorgio Armani, a collaboration between the designer and TISG PHOTO 46 CENTURION-MAGAZINE.COM
Full Speed Ahead The Italian Sea Group may be a relatively young company, but its suite of standout brands – and impressive roster of superb designers and shipbuilders – make for some of the yachting world’s most exciting new launches. By Cornelia Marioglou PHOTOS FROM LEFT: © E ntering the headquarters of The Italian Sea Group (TISG) is more like entering a gallery than a shipyard. Contemporary art lines the foyer, where stylish sofas allow visitors to wait in comfort and the receptionists might well have second jobs as runway models. In exquisitely appointed offices and showrooms, 1,700 staff members go about their tasks surrounded by miniature ship models – and even more art. It’s no wonder their yachts are so beautiful. It is from these facilities in Marina di Carrara, a seaside destination nestled between the Apuan Alps and the Tyrrhenian Sea in Tuscany, that TISG has become one of the big players in yachting (it also has further facilities in La Spezia and Viareggio). It is a welcoming place for owners, captains, project managers and crew to gather, with a gym, spa, finedining restaurant, bar and private club on site. Beyond the HQ, the production site is equally impressive, boasting 100,000 square metres dedicated to building some of the finest yachts in the world. Featuring the latest technology, the 11 production areas have 1,000 tonnes of lifting power to turn and move around the hulls and vessels, a 200m dry dock, a 1,500m berth and a 2.2t floating barge for yachts up to 150 metres. The story of TISG began in the 1950s, with the wooden boats of Arcobaleno Super, a firm which soon became President and eventually Admiral. The 1970s brought a greater demand for larger builds, and by 1982, Admiral delivered its first high-performance light alloy yacht with an overall length of 23.5 metres – in an era when the average yacht length was still 18 metres. These sleek and fast steel and aluminium superyachts with bespoke interiors were the things to have at the time. With this heritage of avant-garde thinking and tastemaking design, it is clear why, decades on, in November 2011, Giovanni Costantino decided to add Admiral to his burgeoning yachting portfolio. He had owned Tecnomar, a sporty and powerful day-cruiser brand based in Viareggio since 2009, and in 2012, he added the Nuovi Cantieri Apuania of Marina di Carrara. Setting up headquarters in Marina di Carrara, Costantino officially established TISG in 2020, adding Perini Navi and Picchiotti – respectively the leading producers of large push-button sailing yachts and outstanding explorer yachts – to the group in 2021. These joined earlier acquisition NCA Refit and 2023 addition CELI (a master cabinetmaker in Italy) as TISG’s brands. And the great yachts keep coming. At last year’s Monaco Yacht Show, Centurion was among the privileged few to go onboard the bold 75.2m Admiral Kensho, which stood out with her green hull from her anchor outside Port Hercules. The inside/outside layout, the unconventional asymmetry and the unexpected spaces all caught the eye. The detailing was remarkable. The carpet was the softest, and the paintings on board, along with the ceiling height and the flood of light, were an exceptionally well-orchestrated composition. Kensho is Italian yacht building at its best, capturing the at-sea lifestyle that her owner had requested in his brief. The award-winning Kensho was also part of the TISG presence during this year’s Monaco Yacht Show, alongside three world premieres: the Perini Navi Art Explorer, Tecnomar’s This Is It, and Armani’s Admiral Silver Star, all complemented by the gentleman’s tender, designed by Italian designer Luca Dina, which shuttled clients to and from Quai Rainier 1er. There, TISG created its own “terminal” to welcome guests. Centurion boarded them all, beginning with Art Explorer, a sustainable sailing catamaran with a green-class notation. With an overall length of 47 metres and a beam CENTURION-MAGAZINE.COM 47
