If you can’t beat them, join them.
That seems to be the spirit behind International Marine Service and Nautor’s Swan coming together to open a service yard for megayachts in southern France.
IMS, a refit company based in Saint Mandrier, France, that became a division of well-known French yacht builder Couach (formerly Guy Couach), was interested in acquiring a former military base that happened to also be in Saint Mandrier. Turns out that Finnish sailboat builder Nautor’s Swan was also looking at the property. So instead of outbidding each other, they came together to form a new company, Yachting Service Excellence Center, which will operate the facility.
Once it opens late next year or in early 2010, the refit and repair yard will be divided into three sections. One will be devoted to servicing Nautor’s Swan yachts, another Couach’s yachts. The third will be for Yachting Service Excellence Center, which will have boatlifts for megayachts to 50 meters (164 feet) as well as a painting shed.
There’s a serious commitment to this sector of the megayacht business: The total expected to be spent on converting the property is 22 million euros ($34 million).
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