Luciana Ferretti (Arpeca): "The shipyard is investing and doubling its size."

SUPER YACHT 24 meets Luciana Ferretti, marketing and communications manager for Arpeca SpA, a shipyard that has been operating in the maintenance and repair of yachts up to 52 meters since 1992, providing technical consulting and design services thanks to an efficient network of consultants built up over the years. We discuss the shipyard's activities and plans, which has already laid the foundation for its imminent further development.

Ferretti, the Arpeca shipyard will soon expand beyond its current 7.500 square meters. Can you share a few details?

We have acquired the concession for the Elle Yacht shipyard, which will allow us to nearly double our current space. This shipyard, which will be integrated into Arpeca, requires a complete renovation, which we will begin as soon as we have obtained all the necessary permits. The acquisition will allow us to increase our operational capacity, adding additional vessels to work on in addition to those already present in the historic shipyard. We will also build our new management offices in this shipyard, which will be significantly larger than our current ones. We also plan to include spaces and garages for the crews of the boats under construction, to facilitate their project management meetings and provide additional storage space. Our growing need for space could not be met at the current shipyard due to the lack of available adjacent space.

What additional benefits will this restructuring bring?

The complete renovation allows us to plan the work with an ESG focus. We plan to install a 14 kW photovoltaic system, which will cover the entire available surface area, and we are working to ensure accessibility for the disabled. We also intend to implement home automation and install electric car charging stations, both for our clients and ourselves, which will allow us to travel between our construction sites, which are 800 meters apart, without polluting emissions.

Given the congestion in Viareggio, have you ever thought about moving to Pisa's Navicelli Canal?

"Not at the moment, but I don't rule out exploring this option in the future. The space problem in Viareggio is a common issue for all shipyards in the district, but we prefer to stay here because of the presence of our skilled workers, who are essential and rare. Operating in refitting, we need specific skills that are readily available in Viareggio, while having to bring them in from outside would increase costs and complicate logistics."

Arpeca was founded in 1992, initially focusing on hauling and launching. When and how did refitting emerge as a core business?

In 1992, our focus was essentially on hauling and launching. The first significant refitting projects began in 2016, after completing work on the yard, which included the engineering work to widen the pit. We also invested in a 560-ton travel lift, capable of lifting boats up to 52 meters. This transformation was spearheaded by my father, then a highly experienced technician and president of Arpeca, and the current CEO, Cinzia Ramacciotti, who was able to combine her administrative skills with a commercial vision. It is thanks to them that Arpeca has become a benchmark in the refitting of large yachts.

What is the secret to attracting and retaining skilled workers?

Our subcontractors have been selected with great transparency, meeting their needs. Our boutique shipyard dimension has allowed us to develop personal relationships with each of them. We place great emphasis on the ability to communicate with each other to resolve any issues, and on ethics. People don't feel like 'numbers,' and they work well with us. The presence of a woman like Cinzia Ramacciotti at the helm and her human-centered approach—something uncommon in a shipyard—makes all the difference. This is where Arpeca stands out: it currently has 13 employees, about half of whom are women, including a chief boat engineer.

Besides the usual refits, have you carried out any special projects?

Last year, we refitted a 45-meter former Japanese whaling vessel from 1992, which had already been converted into a superyacht for a Mexican owner. We carried out a major refit, starting with the complete refilling of the hull, which was in critical condition. The hull was dismantled, rebuilt, and painted. We also updated the internal electrical system, adapting it to Mediterranean standards.

What trends are you observing in your industry?

We believe sustainability is the most pressing challenge. Shipowners, especially younger ones, and especially female shipowners, are careful about choosing locally sourced and organic food products. We're seeing a growing interest in sustainable energy solutions. In Europe, with the 2030 Agenda deadlines approaching, we're all committed to this, and I hope this mindset becomes global, considering what's happening with the climate. For now, the issue mostly concerns shipyards, which are studying the best sustainable solutions for materials and propulsion.

In a few years, these new solutions will also be of interest to you in terms of refitting; how are you preparing?

We're fortunate to be able to prepare ourselves calmly. In the next two or three years, the construction sites will provide us with maintenance parameters, just as happens in the automotive industry. The larger construction sites will likely have to produce sustainability reports in 2026, and at that point, the commitment will cascade down to us. I think we need to develop a mindset, a culture of sustainability among our employees, so that we can adapt to the conditions that are being created. And we're taking action in this direction. We care deeply about protecting the environment, and for years we've been implementing the Life Gate system: a bin with a pump positioned in the sea that can collect all plastic and microplastics, cans, and any other object we dispose of within a 100-meter radius. We're also introducing absorbent booms for any hydrocarbons we may spill over into the area.

How are you structured on the security side?

Safety is our priority. For this reason, since 2014 we have adopted Model 231, which encompasses safety, environment, and governance. This model requires us to follow processes monitored by the Supervisory Body, which we intend to strengthen also from an ESG perspective. Subcontractors, often from different countries, are constantly supervised by our staff to ensure they work safely; the foreman and our supervisors are always present to guide them. Prior to adopting the MoG, the shipyard had already equipped itself with a closed-circuit wastewater treatment system from hull washing, which represented the first step towards greater environmental awareness for the shipyard and the local nautical industry.

What critical issues remain to be addressed to ensure the development of your sector?

The nautical sector in general is still lagging behind, as is the entire country, in terms of new technologies. This is an area we need to organize ourselves on, even just for the network infrastructure, which doesn't yet cover the entire country. However, we are working with an IT manager on a digital system for secure web-based orders. The topic of cybersecurity is highly complex and constantly evolving. Navigo, with which we are associated, is studying solutions to ensure security for our entire sector; however, I believe that given its crucial importance, this issue should be addressed at the European level.

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