Following the recent opening of its new keel pit for large sailing yachts, Italian refit yard Lusben, part of the Azimut|Benetti Group, is currently undergoing a major investment project at its Livorno facility. Hannah Rankine sits down with the shipyard’s newly appointed general manager, Ferdinando Pilli, to get the details.
Congratulations on your new appointment as general manager. What excites you most about taking on this leadership role at Lusben?
I am excited to have taken on this new role at Lusben as it gives me the opportunity to contribute to the growth of a company with strong expertise in the yacht refit and repair sector. Lusben is known for its high standards of craftsmanship and innovation, and I am eager to collaborate with the talented team to push the boundaries of what we can achieve. I am particularly enthusiastic about leading initiatives that improve customer satisfaction and operational efficiency, helping us stay at the forefront of the industry and continuing to exceed customer expectations.
What kind of experience do you bring to the role?
I began to work in the yachting industry about 20 years ago, starting with refitting work at Perini Navi. From there, I moved to CRN, where I led the technical office, followed by a role at Benetti, initially heading the technical office and later taking on responsibilities as custom operations director. My journey through these prestigious companies has been instrumental in shaping my expertise, and arriving at Lusben feels like a natural progression. The fact that I have been part of the Azimut|Benetti Group for many years gives me the knowledge of the company I need to lead it in the best possible way.
What are your immediate priorities and long-term goals for Lusben as you step into this role?
The most important thing is to complete the investment plan launched two years ago, which still involves building facilities for crews and employees. The long-term goal is to establish Lusben as the strategic hub in the Mediterranean. This will be achieved by upgrading existing infrastructure, developing new facilities and continually implementing innovative strategies to elevate the quality of the services we provide to our clients.
What sparked the decision to do a major investment project at the Livorno site?
The expansion of the services offered was driven by the growing needs of both Italian and international yacht owners. With the steady increase in major, complex projects won by Lusben in recent years, it became essential to expand our operational sites, equipping them with new facilities and advanced technologies, and hiring experienced new project managers. These elements are crucial for supporting the growing demand we are already experiencing and expect in the future. At the same time, we aim to provide increasingly diversified and comprehensive services, which can be tailored to meet the unique needs of our clients.
What sort of upgrades will the investment project include?
Our investment plan focuses on enhancing the Livorno site, where renovation work is currently underway with a total investment of €12 million. Once completed, the total area will grow to 220,000 square meters, with 90,000 square meters dedicated to the shipyard and a water basin of 130,000 square meters. This will enable us to simultaneously accommodate up to three yachts over 100 meters in length on land, in addition to the ones we already host. The total number of available on-land berths will rise to 30, while water berths will increase to 25. The site is also equipped with a 2,400-ton synchro-lift, a 180-meter floating dock with a capacity of 18,000 tons, and a closed dock for work carried out on moored boats.
Tell us about the expansion of the sailing yacht facilities in Livorno?
Over the years, we've seen a gradual loss of key facilities dedicated to larger sailing yachts, leaving a significant gap in the market. Recognizing this, we carefully evaluated the opportunities and decided to invest in a new state-of-the-art facility that will allow us to become the new benchmark in this segment. Our goal is not only to fill this void but to set a new standard by offering comprehensive services, advanced technology and infrastructure tailored specifically to meet the demands of larger sailing yachts, ensuring that we can support the growing needs of both yacht owners and operators, while establishing ourselves as a trusted leader in the sailing yacht community.
What are some examples of services that the shipyard will be able to provide after the completion of the investment projects that it could not offer previously?
The introduction of this new keel pit for sailing yachts enables us to significantly expand our service offering and broaden our target market. This new facility allows us to take on specialized projects, such as interventions on sailing yachts equipped with canting keels, which were previously outside our scope. By enhancing our technical capabilities in this area, we are now positioned to attract a wider range of clientele and meet the growing demand for advanced yacht maintenance and refitting services, further strengthening our position in the industry.
When do you expect all the work to be completed?
Our investment projects are progressing on schedule: we recently inaugurated the new keel pit for sailing yachts with canting keels up to 70 meters in length, making it the largest in the Mediterranean, and this represents a major milestone in our development plan. While other initiatives are still in progress, we remain fully committed to completing all ongoing work in line with our strategic objectives by the end of 2026.
To find out more about Lusben’s new refit offerings, contact the shipyard today.
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