Following a request for proposals, Blohm+Voss has secured the rights to operate a megayacht refit facility along the public port of La Ciotat, France. The target audience: owners and captains of megayachts upwards of 262 feet (80 meters).
The company that sought the proposals is SEMIDEP, which manages La Ciotat Shipyards. A handful of service companies already have a presence there. According to an SEMIDEP statement, it wanted a partner for La Ciotat Shipyards “to gain a competitive edge over its Mediterranean competitors, and to create a strong foothold against the shipyards of northern Europe on bigger projects.” Ultimately, SEMIDEP adds, it and Blohm+Voss believe they will gain an edge “in the rapidly evolving refit market, as the race to build ever larger yachts intensifies.”
Fred van Beers, CEO of Blohm+Voss, sees the site as being a strong complement to its existing facilities in Germany. While new builds have long been its focus, service takes place there, too. “With our new office in Monaco and this central location in the Mediterranean, we are moving our core business closer to our customers,” he says. “We are now offering more flexibility and tailored lifecycle services.”
The agreement grants Blohm+Voss usage rights for an initial 35 months. Operations should begin this coming November. The timing is quite good, based on business in the region in recent years. The winter refit and repair period has been busy, partly due to the milder climate versus Northern Europe.
Blohm+Voss will have use of La Ciotat Shipyard’s drydock and workshops. That drydock measures 656 feet by 197 feet (200 meters by 60 meters). Blohm+Voss says it will hire both local craftspeople and suppliers. “Our reputation for undertaking complex refits on time and on budget,” in van Beers’ words, will further strengthen the partnership.
SEMIDEP says that Blohm+Voss should create about 500 jobs by the end of the 35-month period. Furthermore, SEMIDEP “has already begun to look at the future expansion potential of the shipyard.”
Leave a Reply