Vasco De Cet: "Here's what marinas need to do to attract superyachts."

In this interview, Captain Vasco De Cet, a consultant for Assomarinas, support manager at Marinedi, and former manager of Marina di Portisco, as well as a leading expert in marina management, offers SUPER YACHT 24 readers an overview of how marinas and the services they offer are changing, with particular attention to the needs of the superyacht sector.

His analysis explains how the prospects for recreational boating, despite actual growth in revenue, do not necessarily benefit the profitability of marinas themselves. The implications, in fact, should be seen in the collateral opportunities offered by an anomalous global economic trend, impacted by social repercussions, likely to favor the consolidation of the luxury segment at the expense of medium-sized and popular yachting, thus offering evident stability in the superyacht segment.

Marinas must be able to cope with this by offering, among other things, more services, arming themselves with competitiveness and attractive qualities for foreign customers, without neglecting important measures to supply water and electricity at competitive costs, which favour a pricing of the appropriate and attractive mooring.

How will the size of the recreational and naval nautical fleet change in the long term?

"In 2015, we predicted a decline in the global recreational boating fleet. Between 2015 and 2025, we expected a decline of approximately 10 vessels in Italy. This phenomenon is widespread in Europe and North America and is due to macroeconomic factors that have nothing to do with the health of recreational boating."

Purchasing power is changing, so will there be fewer boats in marinas?

"The recreational boating industry is suffering from the widening income gap between the middle and lower middle classes. Incomes have fallen and are no longer making owning a boat as sustainable as they once were. Our forecast estimated a loss of 10 units over a decade, but in reality, this loss has already materialized in 2021. This is a significant finding that prompts a shift in perspective."

Is the superyacht sector growing alongside this?

“There is an increase in both the boat sector with 7, 9, or 10-meter RIBs and obviously the fleet of approximately 5.500 superyachts around the world is consolidating, where there is a turnover of returns to the shipyard and new boats. Around 40% of the superyachts orbit the Mediterranean.”

How are marinas reacting to the decline in pleasure craft?

“The decline is encouraging Northern European, North American and now also Italian ports with a long nautical tradition to begin compensating for the drop in demand through house boat which are rented almost like holiday homes. A phenomenon we already have in place in many of our marinas. The Sardinia region has already passed a law on widespread nautical hotels.”

What happens at the same time?

“In place of the middle class who can no longer afford a boat, we are witnessing a development of bareboat rentals and charters.”

How do you think navies should be structured to deal with contingencies?

“They should be structured to accommodate the growing component bareboat and charter, which represents a significant future for the market in a specific segment (10-18 meters LOA), while acknowledging that it is an operationally complex option, as this type of use of pleasure craft generally makes it difficult for marinas to use berths for contracts lasting more than five days. Annual, winter, seasonal, or any other contracts lasting longer than a week are key to balancing the budget for many marinas.

How can this critical issue be resolved?

“The dry mooring system should be developed (dry stack storage), widely used in Northern Europe. With this system, the customer whose boat is dry-moored notifies the marina in advance, and shortly before their arrival, the marina uses a forklift to lift the boat, docks it in a calming basin, and then brings it alongside a courtesy dock, where the customer finds it ready. Upon their return, the marina uses the forklift to lift the boat and place it back on its dry berth. This frees up mooring space for bareboats, charter boats, vessels too large to be dry-moored, and pleasure boats (over 24 meters).

Is this how you make room for superyachts then?

"Yes, also, consequently. We need to utilize existing spaces. The decline in pleasure craft in Italy leads us to conclude that starting construction on new tourist ports is financially suicidal, both for those who will manage them and for those already in the market. This is with the exception of situations where significant ports exist entirely along long stretches of coastline."

How is the superyacht market doing?

“It's a market that's holding up, the number of units is more or less stable. It's also a market that shows specific needs related to a luxury rate very high in that segment. This luxury rate for a marina, among other things, translates into the ability to supply electricity based on growing demand. Today, a 40-meter boat may require 250 amps compared to 125 amps ten years ago. The marina should equip itself to supply a large amount of electricity, considering the high prices today. This is a problem that can be solved by lowering the cost of energy for the port through agreements with energy suppliers requiring them to supply electricity from renewable sources, which, as is well known, have a significantly lower production cost than traditional sources. This will allow it to compete at an internationally competitive price.

Is this why superyachts and yachts remain at anchor with the generator running?

"Here's the problem: a 50-meter boat is a luxury hotel and has no problem staying at anchor. To bring it into port and generate revenue, the 'electricity supply' factor is crucial. The port must be able to offer a daily package that includes electricity."

And what about the fresh water supply?

“We need marine desalination plants. This would reduce the cost of water supply, making us competitive with, for example, Spain, which already produces a huge amount with desalination plants.”

What else do marinas need to do to become attractive to superyachts?

"There's a need to develop services for yachts over 18/20 meters. During the low season, we need to be able to offer crews the right connections. We also need a pleasant waterfront, a welcoming lounge, and dedicated services, especially during the high season."

 Have you had experience with superyachts subject to international sanctions or have you had to “manage” any seizures?

The problem with these boats is the costs. Sanctions cost those who created them. The problem lies with the Russian government, not with Russians in general. In particular, the seizure of a superyacht has significant costs that fall on the state. Until May of this year, when I was still at Marina di Portisco, I had no direct involvement in this case. But, I repeat, colleagues who have experienced it report that the real problem lies with those who pay for the superyacht's mooring, fuel, and maintenance costs. They are, in effect, vessels and cannot be abandoned to their own devices, especially since, if they were to be returned to their owner, they would have to be returned in the same condition in which they were seized.

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