A new 4,000-tonne capacity shiplift is currently being installed at the Genoa shipyard of Amico, one of the leading superyacht repair and refit companies in the Mediterranean. It is expected to start operating by around mid-October.
The new lift is a key part of Amico’s near €30m expansion aimed at increasing capacity. It comes at the same time as news that MB92’s new 4,800-tonne capacity shiplift in Barcelona is now operational.
“We will become one of the most important hubs in the Mediterranean,” says Amico’s president, Alberto Amico, in a statement.
“For three days, a barge has been moored off the Fiera di Genova, where the former Nira building stood until recently. It sailed from Brindisi, where welding was carried out, and then, after a week at sea, it arrived here,” commented Fabrizio Scardigno, the shipyard’s manager.
The off-ramp for what is described as the largest “yacht elevator” in the Mediterranean was completed last week. “With our shiplift we will be able to bring vessels up to 95m (312ft) in length and 4,000 tonnes displacement onto dry land,” Scardigno added.
Vessels using the elevator are manoeuvred into position above the elevator which sits below water level. A large steel plate is then raised to the required height and with a system of tracks and small but very powerful zero-emissions electric motors, it is transferred onto the ground to be worked on under the cover of temporary climate-controlled enclosures.
“We will be able to receive up to five more megayachts at our shipyard,” Scardigno explained. “Before we only had two basins at our disposal for this kind of work: one at our facility, and the other in the Ente Bacini area, which we didn’t exclusively control.”
Amico commented: “In order not to be left behind by the competition, Amico decided to upgrade his company’s own site.” In a referemce to the MB92 shiplift, he said: “We expect to be able to receive the first boat in mid-October.” This from the MB92 news already issued will be around two months after the Barcelona facility commenced operation.
“The large-yacht sector is in full expansion, and we want to make the most of it, but we need adequate space and facilities,” he continued. “Amico has made available €27m for infrastructural upgrades across the 15,000sq m held in concession.
“Timeframes are an important factor for the yachting sector. Amico is in a hurry to beat Barcelona, our main competitor, and La Ciotat which is a year behind schedule.” The latter is also planning a 4,800-tonne capacity shiplift which will also be operated by MB92.
Amico’s expansion is being done under the branding of Megayacht Hub. The plan was first announced during MYS 2018 and it will be completed this year. The new expansion extends across a 15,000sq m area and within this is the 4,000-tonne shiplift.
The three open on-the-hard slots, plus the six refit sheds for yachts up to 60m (197ft), will still be operational together with the 835-tonne travel lift. The two covered graving dry docks will benefit from improvements to create the most efficient service and refit facilities in the 90m-100m range available on the market. Further open graving dry dock solutions up to 200m will provide added value to the existing services.
So far, the expansion has created an additional 15 jobs with another 10 anticipated in the coming months.
By David Robinson IBI PLus
