Blohm+Voss reveals plans for new superyacht refit facilities

Blohm+Voss has announced a new partnership with SEMIDEP La Ciotat Shipyards, which will allow for the development of a new superyacht refit and maintenance shipyard in the South of France, capable of servicing yachts over 80m LOA.

As part of the new 'Grande Forme' venture, which was agreed by the board of directors of SEMIDEP on 29th June 2016, Blohm+Voss will lease dry-dock space of 200m by 60m within La Ciotat Shipyards for 35-months in a bid to optimise the use of the public port.

According to Blohm+Voss, it is hoped that the partnership will allow them to compete with Mediterranean and European shipyards on bigger superyacht projects.

Fred van Beers, chief executive officer of Blohm+Voss said, “With our new office in Monaco and this central location in the Mediterranean, we are moving our core business closer to our customers; we are now offering more flexibility and tailored life-cycle services.

“The dock in La Ciotat is 200-metres long and 60-metres wide. Our customers now have the choice of utilising our extensive shipyard facilities in Hamburg or our new base in La Ciotat for large maintenance, refits or conversions.”

Jean-Yves Saussol, managing director of La Ciotat Shipyards explained, “We have chosen Blohm+Voss as our trusted partner due to the quality of their business plan, their extensive track-record, the financial strength of the company and its strong desire to work closely with the local community.” 

Van Beers added, “La Ciotat Shipyards and Blohm+Voss are the perfect match: The location is ideal for us because it offers excellent facilities, highly-qualified local craftsmen and an extensive local supplier network for the megayacht industry.

“In return, we will bring additional business to the yard with our focus on the 80m+ sector and our reputation for undertaking complex refits on time and on budget. We look forward to cooperating closely with La Ciotat Shipyards and the local community to support them in developing a strong local foothold in La Ciotat as well as a worldwide reputation for the maintenance and refit of megayachts.”

Having recently undergone a 16 million euro renovation, the new development provides potential useable space of up to 335m with a large dry-dock and neighbouring workshop. Already embedded within an existing shipyard, it is hoped that the venture will create around one hundred jobs on site, as well as a further 400 jobs in local co-contractor companies.

Operations are planned to start in November 2016.

For more information, visit Blohm+Voss.

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