Rossi (Rossinavi): "Aluminum is the key to innovating and challenging the limits of yachting."

Specializing in the construction of metal-hulled superyachts, Rossinavi has long defined aluminum as a strategic material for the shipyard's growth and development. As part of the roundtable discussion "Aluminum and Italian Excellence: Innovation, Design, and Sustainability in Shipbuilding," organized by the magazine Alluminio e Leghe and moderated by Eugenio Paroletti during the Metef aluminum industry trade fair in Bologna, Federico Rossi, COO of the shipyard, spoke about the strengths of using this alloy in the construction of its vessels. It was also an opportunity to interview Rossi about the reasons for this strategic choice, "which required our workforce to be highly specialized in handling and working with light alloy, and today it's not easy to find such skilled professionals." Also speaking at the conference were Vincenzo Zinni, CEO of Niche Fusina Rolled Products, Mattia Marconi, CEO of Alluminio di Qualità, Guido Godani, CEO of Metalluminio, and Franco Bonollo of the University of Padua.

Mr. Rossi, did your jet-powered models require different features than others with more traditional propulsion?

"These are fast displacement vessels, which means they're fast, and they required even more lightweight construction. We're the only shipyard in the world to have built a 63-meter vessel with an extremely high power-to-weight ratio. Just think, with the installed power, we've reached speeds that usually require 40% more power. Part of this success comes from the aluminum components we machine from solid. By doing the right calculations, we're able to save weight due to the oversizing that often needs to be applied for welding or to prevent deformation."

What other advantages does using light alloy imply?

“When the shipyard expanded to Florida, in the Miami area, we realized that the average yacht size was quite small, at least from our perspective, even though owners could afford much larger yachts. We realized that the biggest constraint was draft. Miami residents often sail to the Bahamas, another place with shallow waters. Aluminum allowed us to build a very lightweight 60-meter vessel, thanks in part to the hydrojet propulsion, with a draft of 2,10 meters, similar to a 25-30-meter yacht and therefore perfect for that area.”

What is the ratio between steel and aluminum yachts?

"Market analysis of yachts built worldwide shows that 75% of metal boats are made of high-strength steel and 25% are made of light alloy. In our shipyard, these figures are reversed: 46% of the boats we've built have steel hulls, while 54% are made of aluminum. This is because we want to maximize the benefits of light alloy, reduce power output, and consume less fuel."

What models do you consider important in your construction strategy?

The first is Endeavour 2, a long-range vessel built for an owner who wanted to cruise the world following the ancient routes of navigators like Magellan and Cook, powered by a diesel/electric propulsion system developed in collaboration between Caterpillar and Rolls-Royce. Steel is typically used for a yacht like this because high speeds aren't required. However, we managed to convince the client to build it entirely in aluminum, achieving significant savings in terms of fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. The second is Bel 1, a full-displacement motoryacht entirely constructed of aluminum that required a meticulous study of weight distribution, overall displacement, and interior volumes.

Besides draft and lightness, what other advantages does using aluminum imply?

"The main one concerns the yacht's tonnage, and the greatest efforts are needed to stay under the 500 GT limit. And here aluminum comes in handy, because on a 52-53 meter vessel, steel would weigh about 60 tons more, thus losing a lot of usable space for the owner. The exact same yacht built in aluminum has 10% more space, and for us, that's a major commercial advantage; we always look at the cost per square meter." 

And what about speed?

"It's another important element, allowing, for example, to return to port quickly in case of danger, and the difference between sailing at 15 or 18 knots is enormous. We achieved results far beyond expectations: not only did we reach 18 knots, a 20% increase in speed, but we also halved our fuel consumption at cruising speed. And in this, aluminum plays a key role, along with fast-displacement hulls and good weight distribution, which allows for a lighter bow and stern and limits vortices that reduce efficiency. Furthermore, the draft is 8% lower. This is all Rossinavi, but I believe it's a trend worth pursuing in our industry because it leads to significant results. And here I'd like to close with a message."

Prego

I'd like to thank all the people and companies who have turned aluminum beyond just a commercial product, but have turned it into a credo and have pushed for innovation. I'm also vice president of Navigo, the association that manages Tuscan companies working in the yachting sector, and my message is let's all work together. We all work together because we are made up of many small businesses, and each needs the other to build joint innovation that will allow us to maintain our current leadership. We have no intention of vying for our market share, our leading role that geographically has positioned us in the Mediterranean almost as a port of luxury and beauty.

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