Superyachts and shipyards: "The Marche region has surpassed the Tyrrhenian Sea, but now it needs more space."

(at this link all the images of the event)

Ancona – Land and waterfront space are needed to build ever more superyachts, at least as many as the market demands. In this blessed land for shipbuilding, where growth is occurring more rapidly than in other nautical districts and where the market seems to recognize increasingly high quality, thanks in part to related industries and despite logistical challenges, companies face a single constraint: lack of space.

Marcello Maggi, president of Wider Yachts, introduced the issue at the second panel of the 6th SUPER YACHT 24 Forum, held in Ancona and titled "The Adriatic and the Yachting Industry: A Growing District of Excellence, Design, and Technology." "The yachting industry has always needed space, and so we're always looking for suitable spaces," Maggi said, "for the construction of our boats, and especially spaces that allow for the various processes a shipyard is required to perform. We've found this space in Fano, perhaps the only one available in the Marche region for a certain type of construction. We've built a warehouse that's nearing completion, but we already have 9 square meters of active warehouse space for building our catamarans. Space is important, and it would be wonderful to keep megayacht production here in the Marche region. I asked the president of the Port Authority if there's any news regarding a vast space like the former Tubimar area that could be dedicated to the construction of megayachts."

In addition to building them, megayachts also need to be moored. "Beyond the building," Maggi added, "we also need ports where these boats can be moored. As you can see, we're also fortunate to have the concept of this marina across from the shipyards, but there's a lack of seabed. Our problem, and I believe Rossini's in Pesaro as well, is unfortunately the seabed, which prevents many vessels from performing and easily entering the ports, also causing a loss of tourism. We should all make a little more effort to have our ships built here, which we then no longer see, but we see them around the world, to bring them back here to appreciate the area a little. The association is doing a great job with President Minossi."

Gianluca Fenucci of CNB Scart echoes this sentiment, calling for "a rapid response, in seizing opportunities." Commenting on the recent delivery of three boats built in Marghera and transported to the Marche region by barge, he said: "These solutions are complicated today, because since we have to handle the first part of the hull, we can't be late. We take the shipyard's input, translate it into hulls, and then deliver it to the various market players, allowing them to meet deadlines. With colleagues, we've had discussions 20 years ahead, now we need to start thinking about the next 20 years, considering infrastructure timeframes. We need serious, forward-looking planning, born from a needs analysis. Building boats in Marghera is difficult, bringing them to the Marche region is difficult and expensive, but we're excellent entrepreneurs, and we can do it."

Despite these challenges, the Marche region is increasingly considered "the best part of Italy for boatbuilding," according to Vasco Buonpensiere of Cantiere delle Marche. "Many clients who have had experience in Italy or elsewhere," he explained, "when they come across the Marche experience, they often say, 'It's refreshing.' And I think it's because we had a harder time getting out there, it's because of the passion we have. There aren't many craftsmen in the Marche region who do it for the sake of it. But here, there are people who do it for the desire to do it well. Even just getting clients to come to Ancona is complicated; coming to live here is difficult, even if it's wonderful. Those who come here talk to people who want to do it well."

Another strength of the Marche region is "the quality of subcontracting," says Francesco Carbone of Palumbo Superyachts, "which is on average higher, and the market recognizes this. Clients are increasingly interested and focused on construction quality, even before performance. This is a region where the more you experience it, the more you appreciate it. The players in this region have grown faster than others. Previously, to explain that you were from Ancona while traveling the world, you had to start from Bologna. If this focus continues, the gap in regular flows will narrow."

The Marche shipyards can easily compete with the major shipyards of Northern Europe. "Compromises to compete on price," recalls Bruno Piantini of CRN (Ferretti Group), "limited quality until a decade ago. Today, this is no longer the case; we can compete with Northern Europe. There has been product innovation that was previously the exclusive preserve of Northern Europe, which, with its extremely high prices, could afford to do whatever they wanted. Today, this gap has narrowed dramatically, especially in the Marche region. Our growth, compared to the market, is much higher. The Ferretti Group's superyacht fleet has grown by 200% at our shipyard, one of the largest in the world, employing over 1.500 people. Imagine the associated industries. This is a virtuous direction and the only way to compete in the long term, where our clients can afford anything. Our clients have no price limits. They can go wherever they want and spend whatever they want: we need to explain to them why they have to spend it."

Piantini also warns of the risks. "The Marche region," added the CRN executive, "has become a global brand in the nautical industry. However, there are challenges related to space, logistics, and people. Extraordinary work has been done on people. Regarding space, there's no denying it, we're all in serious trouble. The Ferretti Group wants to grow in the Marche region, but right now we have no outlet. We're looking for space, but it's not easy. Our production capacity is at its maximum, at half a billion a year. We can't produce more than that, but we need to grow; we're trying to grow in the Marche region. If Ferretti can't grow here, it will grow elsewhere. Everyone has the opportunity to grow, but the institutions must make the logistics facilities, space, airport, etc. available."

Speaking of ports and berths, Vasco De Cet of Assomarinas urged people to think of nautical accommodation not in terms of berths, but in terms of the square meters reserved for mooring. "Since 2011," said Vasco De Cet, "we've seen a decline in vessels from 10 to 20 meters, a phenomenon due to the impoverishment of the middle class. Ports must make an effort to restore mooring plans, moving smaller vessels out of dry docks to free up more space for large yachts, but we're facing considerable resistance, starting with institutions. Houseboats are excellent solutions for filling spaces that will soon be vacant. Accommodation must adapt to this new demand like a rubber glove, not a galosh. The new challenge is to transform existing structures, because the market is changing. Changing them, creating new, fragmented spaces, will not be a sustainable and successful solution. We also need to rethink ourselves culturally, as hoteliers."

"For us captains too," said Captain Francesco Schiano di Tunnariello of the Italian Yacht Masters association, "a great deal of work is being done in the Marche region. But often, foreign crews lack the adaptability we Italians have and don't want to come and look after a boat in a distant shipyard; they risk diverting it elsewhere." Speaking from the stage at the 6th SUPER YACHT 24 Forum, the experienced captain called on the Adriatic nautical hub to provide more services to accommodate the crews of superyachts under construction or refit in the Marche region and beyond. For example, Captain Francesco Schiano di Tunnariello is preparing to take delivery of a new 38-meter yacht by next summer. under construction at the new Italian Vessels shipyard in Termoli.

Marcello Maggi also spoke about marinas, explaining that "in the Marche region, the last mile is missing. We have so many ports that can't be used due to a lack of will, because people don't want to dredge. On the French Riviera, I see maxi-yachts coexisting with 10-meter vessels. Here in the Marche, there are ports right next to beautiful cities that can't be used. We in the industry must put pressure on the authorities to achieve that goal, which is already 90% done." 

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