Riccardo Benetti: "Introducing Logica Yachts and the new Logica 59."

Viareggio – Riccardo Benetti, a professional with extensive experience in the pleasure boat construction sector as a descendant of the Benetti family who founded the shipyard that is a symbol of the nautical industry, is now the brand's Operations Director. Logica Yachts.

In this exclusive interview with SUPER YACHT 24, he discusses the future of pleasure boat building from his perspective and reveals the first superyacht (Logica 59) from Logica Yachts, due for delivery this year.

How did you come to manage Logica Yachts?

I was a partner and director of the Benetti Sail Division shipyard—formed from the split in the early 80s from the family shipyard, which was sold to Azimut in 87—which I left after having the brand purchased by a Chinese company, though I remained with the company as a consultant. During this phase, a client, who had launched the Logica brand in 2013, asked me to manage it. And so it was: since 2016, I have been managing Logica: a shipyard that stands out for its owner's desire to have a limited but meticulously crafted production, a true custom for the client.

How are you structured to best respond to customer requests?

"We chose to work with contractors and have a streamlined management structure of about ten people. This allows us to better manage one boat at a time. Our boats, already significant in size, are completely customized, requiring us to closely monitor the project down to the smallest detail. A larger, more structured shipyard would have a harder time managing variances; if they were to grant variations during construction to different boats under construction, the entire production cycle would be disrupted."

The Logica 59, currently under construction, is your third superyacht, following a 45-meter and a 31-meter. What innovations does it feature?

The 59-meter has three engines: this is already atypical, as boats of this type normally have twin engines. The central engine, which is the most efficient, consumes 90 liters, for example, when sailing at night at 10 knots, the minimum possible—essentially 12 euros per nautical mile. Considering that the engine displaces 780 tons of boat, we're close to the consumption of a gozzo.

In addition to reduced consumption, is there also a focus on sustainability?

"For the first time, the manufacturer has installed four catalytic converters (SCR) on each of the MAN engines, testing this innovative solution with us on the Logica 59. When we conduct the sea trial, we will have all their workers on board. With four catalytic converters, it is believed we can achieve a significant reduction in particulate matter and therefore marine pollution from exhaust emissions. With four catalytic converters per engine, the waste in the sea is almost eliminated.

Instead, we chose electric both for the tender – a Candela over seven and a half meters long with Electric Hydrofoiling technology, therefore similar to a hydrofoil and truly interesting both in terms of sustainability and economy due to its 35 knots and 55 miles of range, but also for comfort thanks to a skid correction system that prevents pitching in waves up to 70 cm – and for the jet skis, which are the first two delivered in Italy by Taiga Motors.”

Did the insertion of the three engines create any difficulties in fitting the transverse propeller?

We replaced the transverse stern thruster with a system used on merchant vessels: essentially a jet capable of rotating 360°. In addition to assisting with maneuvers, it can also push the vessel to 5 knots in the event of a total failure of all three engines. With this system, which also produces very little noise, we can also leave a port without disturbing our neighbors during the night or early morning.

The jet, operated by Kongsberg, combined with dynamic positioning, allows you to stop in a precise spot with a maximum oscillation of half a meter by entering the coordinates via GPS, without dropping anchor, and is useful when the water is too deep or when the wind causes the boat to rotate. Positioning is usually achieved by working on the shotter and bow thruster, but if the wind is too strong, the system also activates one of the balancing motors. The system is also ideal for those who love to stay at anchor, like our client: normally, finding the right place to stop requires dropping and removing the anchor several times, whereas with this device, you drop it only when you are sure the spot is perfect.

Research and innovation are a key focus of your team's efforts in terms of safety, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness. How does this translate into the yacht's interiors and overall liveability?

Research is ongoing, and many innovative solutions are emerging. One example is that engine exhaust pipes are normally supported by brackets on the engine room ceiling, which often corresponds to the main salon floor. To prevent the transmission of noise and vibration, we started from the bottom of the ship to support the exhaust pipes, and from there we built a system of pipes—insulated with elastic supports—that essentially support the entire system without affecting the ceiling/floor. We have Tecnav to thank for this advanced technological solution.

We're close to handing over the ship to the owner: what were the biggest problems you encountered along the way?

"The boat took a long time to design precisely because of all its innovative features, such as the catalytic converters, which required a testing phase, and also due to Covid, which struck while we were building the hull and fitting out. This past year, delays in the delivery of materials have put us in extremely difficult situations. It should also be considered that in the La Spezia-Livorno area, there's a lot of work for large vessels, while the number of subcontractors has remained the same."

So, is the choice to subcontract all operations positive or negative?

I come from the family shipyard, which we later sold to Azimut in the 80s. At the time, we managed the entire construction phase: this was one of the two reasons that led the shipyard to file for bankruptcy and then to be acquired by Azimut. The first was the huge loss incurred on the construction of the mega yacht Nabila (for Adnan Khashoggi) in 80-81, which, combined with inflation and double-digit bank interest rates, led to our sale. I'd say that shipyard model didn't work, so much so that other shipyards like Picchiotti and Baglietto, also large and with an 'almost everything in-house' model, also ran into problems. Today, with 45 years of experience in this business and understanding the dynamics of the industry, I believe that working with external companies allows for manageable costs in critical moments.

In a busy time like this, is there a risk of being sidelined by contractors and therefore experiencing delays?

I believe it's important to build loyalty among contractors so we can have real insight into their capabilities. The risk you mentioned can be addressed in two ways: first, by ensuring these people are happy to work with the construction site, which means making sure they experience as few unexpected events as possible so they can meet their budget and earn a fair amount; second, by establishing a relationship with the construction site, which, in our case, we manage well thanks to our limited production: we're able to make decisions on what to do in real time without incurring the inefficiencies of stagnant schedules. Finally, the payment method: its slightly shorter duration than that of larger construction sites, which can be important, facilitates our contractors' cash flow and allows them more precise budget control. And finally, human relationships are essential: decades of experience in the sector have built trust and close relationships with many of them.

After the delivery of Logica 59, what will your plans be?

“We plan to build a boat with the same principles as this 59-meter, but limited to 499 gross tonnage in order to have a more manageable production and to be able to broaden our potential customer base.

Alternatively, or in semi-parallel, we envision building a boat with the same characteristics as the Logica 59 but with a hull lengthened by two meters to create a fixed beach area aft that can be expanded with two side hatches for increased flexibility. Currently, the beach area covers approximately 30 square meters by lowering the central and two side hatches.

We will decide in September.”

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