Mediterranean yacht maintenance and repair specialist Monaco Marine is set to expand after investing $50 million in a new Marseille based shipyard.
The yard, which is set to open in 2022, will be specifically dedicated to larger superyachts of up to 130 metres. The move will enable Monaco Marine to serve the 80 – 130 metre market for the first time.
The yard, which will be based in the heart of the Bassin Mirabeau, will include a 50,000sqm platform with a two-storey building to house workshops, offices and a dedicated crew area.
Monaco Marine said the move was a response to market trends, specifically the growth in yacht production of over 80 metres, which it claimed account for 85% of the market.
The new yard will also include a 6000-tonne yacht lift, which will enable the yard to work on four superyachts measuring up to 130 metres at any one time.
A spokesman for the company said the installation of the lift, which will elevate yachts in a forward-facing position, is the “most obvious technical device to meet market requirements.”
“Seasonality is a major factor for these mega yachts that tour the world, usually alternating summer in the Mediterranean with winter in the Caribbean so it’s important to be able to step up to meet these spikes in demand in record time while at the same time maintaining the most exacting standards,” he added.
The location of Marseille is strategically important, according to the yard, and offers ample draught and necessary technical facilities for superyacht maintenance.
“The businesses with whom Monaco Marine has already worked for years are all based in the port of Marseille. Logistically, access to the port is easy, so it is an ideal place to offer this new service,” the spokesman said.