Alberto Amico (Amico & Co.): "Promote professions and focus on training."
For the founder of the shipyard, the refit is facing an increasing difficulty in finding specialized manpower and underlines the importance of training and valorization of artisanal crafts to guarantee competitiveness and quality in a global market.
Founded in Genoa in 1991, Amico & Co SpA was a pioneer in the superyacht industry, becoming a leader in the Mediterranean and establishing itself among the world's leading shipyards in the maintenance, refit, and services for maxi and mega yachts. The company manages approximately 150 projects annually on vessels between 40 and over 100 meters. With a turnover exceeding €100 million in 2024, Amico & Co is preparing for a fully scheduled 2024-2025 season with full utilization of its facilities and production capacity. The shipyard covers an area of over 70.000 square meters and can operate up to 35 vessels simultaneously. For vessels up to 100 meters, there are six dedicated docks managed via the ShipLift system, in addition to the covered telescopic dock that accommodates vessels up to 102 meters. In 2021, the company inaugurated the Waterfront Marina, dedicated to welcoming maxi yachts and their crews. Able to accommodate up to 26 yachts up to 120 meters in length, it offers a wide range of services and equipped areas on land, including lounges and meeting areas, technical rooms, a gym, and a fitness area with sports fields. SUPER YACHT 24 interviewed founder Alberto Amico.
How is the refit market doing in Italy?
"Our target market is global, and 95% of our clients are international. Given the growing trend in the fleet of large yachts—there are currently over 6.000 of them—I'd say the market is in excellent health, and the challenge is to keep up with the growing demands of our clientele."
What are our strengths?
Italy has a basic logistical advantage, as the Western Mediterranean is the regular destination for the majority of the global fleet. This advantage is diminishing for larger yachts, as transit and usage areas are now expanding globally. Another advantage is undoubtedly the presence in Italy of a production chain that caters to both new builds and after-sales services. This means having the professionalism to meet the demands, a factor not taken for granted in other countries. The professionalism of employees and specialized firms in general is therefore a key factor, difficult to replicate outside of existing territorial clusters.
And the main concerns for the future of the sector?
"If professionalism and skills are a competitive factor for Italy, I believe that the recruitment and training of human resources are the areas requiring the greatest attention. In some sectors, such as metalworking, which are experiencing a declining market, there is a migration of workers to the professional nautical sector, but the challenge lies with future generations. Recruiting resources in artisanal and niche sectors is more complex, where we must focus on enhancing the skills and rely on the training capabilities of specialized firms as well as those of the shipyard."
What are the milestones achieved and what is the role of Amico & Co. in the port of Genoa?
The Port of Genoa has always been allergic to the presence of large yachts, often seen as a nuisance. This is part of a certain "conservative" culture, where innovation is frowned upon and often resisted, both by operators and by governments. In recent years, thanks to the employment volumes and the economic growth generated, both in the port and in the city, there has been a greater awareness of the wealth and social value generated by our sector. Unfortunately, however, this awareness struggles to translate into concrete attention to the sector's needs. We are available and, as a cluster, hope for more attentive and proactive discussions with governments, starting with the port administration, to transform the many development and improvement proposals currently stalled into reality. The willingness to invest, not only on our part but also among many companies in the sector, is a reality that is little considered, and these delays place us at a clear competitive disadvantage compared to our competitors, who, in Italy and abroad, are rapidly making great strides in offering new infrastructure and services to customers.
What are your strengths?
"Over more than 30 years, I believe that constant reputational growth is the key to Amico & Co., achieved thanks to our ability to transform a business that was originally artisanal into a semi-industrial one, with infrastructure and organizational models tailored to its size and significantly larger workloads. In short: consolidated expertise, strong client relationships, cutting-edge infrastructure, and a commitment to environmental sustainability are our strengths. Another important element that sets us apart, and which has been implemented in recent years thanks to the new Waterfront Marina and the hub system we have created, is our ability to welcome and provide ancillary services for yachts and their crews in the area. This contributes to enhancing Genoa's prestige as a first-choice destination for shipowners and an international benchmark in the yacht market. A widespread economy, which integrates with the surrounding area and enhances the city's talents, but which must be defended and protected above all from competition from other areas."
How are you addressing the increasingly popular sustainability issues?
We have always adopted a strategy based on efficient work processes and production organization, achieving ISO 14001 certification in 2005. Ongoing investments in eco-friendly infrastructure and technologies have significantly reduced emissions, with the installation of new thermal power plants, compressed air production and emissions reduction systems, and the implementation of a photovoltaic system that supplies 53% of the construction site's energy needs. Our commitment to ESG has led us to prepare the group's sustainability report two years ahead of the mandatory deadline set by the new CSRD regulations. We have established an internal team with cross-functional skills to prepare the financial statements and implement the sustainability plan, which will see us engaged in the areas of social responsibility and governance over the coming years, focusing on welfare and training for everyone who works within the organization.
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