The France-based refit yard acquired by Palumbo Group earlier this year is back operating. The 279-foot (85-meter) megayacht pictured here arrived at Palumbo Marseille Superyachts ITM this week. The shipyard is keeping her identity confidential. Palumbo Marseille Superyachts ITM is also keeping the scope of the work confidential.
The re-opening of the refit facility follows a challenging past year. It was then-known as International Technic Marine (ITM). ITM had performed warranty work on many megayachts built in Europe. Last year it also refitted two Oceanfasts, Sirona III and Perfect Persuasion. Financial struggles, however, left ITM seeking a buyer toward the end of 2013. Palumbo Group was one of two bidders for the facility. The Commercial Court of Marseille awarded the company ownership in February after Malta-based Melita Marine withdrew its bid.
Palumbo Marseille Superyachts ITM has extensive work areas. For example, it contains four dry docks. The above-referenced megayacht occupies one of them. The dry docks accommodate projects from 262 to 413 feet (80 to 126 meters). There’s also a covered shed measuring 312 feet (95 meters). And, a quay measuring more than 984 feet (300 meters) is available for in-water work.
All of this complements Palumbo Group’s facilities in Malta and Italy. (The yards in Italy are in Naples and Messina.) The yards there include two megayacht-only dry docks starting at 131 feet (40 meters). There are five more dry docks for other types of vessels. Palumbo Group further has abundant quayside workspace and covered work areas. And, of course, Palumbo Group is where the Columbus Yacht megayachts are built.
The restart of work at Palumbo Marseille Superyachts ITM bodes well for its region in other ways. Representatives of the city and port of Marseille are committed to having yachts remain in the area. They wish to create a new marina for that purpose in the next several years, for example.
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