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MB92 La Ciotat Superyacht Shipyard Closer To Completion

MB92 La Ciotat, France’s leading superyacht refit shipyard, announced that a major milestone has been reached in the construction of the platform, maintaining the shipyard’s schedule for the opening of the facility as planned this autumn for yachts up to 115-metres in length.

What’s new?

Following the delivery last summer of the main elements of the structure and 9 months of engineering work on-site, the Matière-Bardex team has now completed the complex task of assembling and moving the lifting platform to its final position. At 100 metres in length, equivalent to a football pitch, and 20 metres wide, the platform weighs 1,100 tonnes and required a team of 20 people and 3 hours to carry out the exceptional manoeuvre of moving the shiplift structure and 2 days for the final installation in the concrete recess.

The innovative Bardex lifting system which includes 20 chain jacks is now being installed and features a hydraulic ram and chain system expressly designed to increase safety and reduce maintenance.

The Installation of the world’s largest artificial harbour-based fish nursery:

The platform’s docks have been equipped with a biomimetic solution supplied by the company Seaboost. Based on the complex structure of Posidonia seagrass, this solution creates an effective, integrated, and safe environment that will encourage the reproduction of local marine species.

In addition to the nursery, La Ciotat Shipyards, the local port authority, have administered an exemplary project, implementing numerous environmental measures during the construction phase such as soil decontamination, reuse of materials on-site, installation of a double bubble curtain, and anti-sediment curtains to protect cetaceans and water quality.

Mathieu Bauden, MB92 La Ciotat Facilities Director comments:

“This is a key stage in the delivery of the 4300t platform which leaves us well-positioned as we enter the final six months of the project. The next important steps are the delivery of the control building, the installation of all energy networks, reception of the transfer system, the cradles, and final testing followed by certification by Lloyds this summer.”

Vincent Escallier, Commercial Director of MB92 La Ciotat added :

“We are all looking forward to the imminent opening of our new facility and this latest accomplishment brings us one step closer. It’s an extraordinary piece of infrastructure that complements the wide range of lifting options available to clients of our shipyard.”

For a Yacht Crew Guide To La Ciotat, Click here

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Social distancing for the 0.1%: Shipyards fill as superyachts grow even more massive during COVID-19

Walking from Barcelona’s emblematic La Rambla boulevard toward Port Vell, 15 minutes away, the top of the yacht comes into view long before one enters the port. It is colossal, domineering, a study in the intersection of size and luxury. It’s the Eclipse , the largest of the four yachts owned by Roman Abramovich , the Russian magnate and boss of Chelsea Football Club. At 170 meters—almost 560 feet—the Eclipse is, at least for the time being, the world’s second-longest yacht after the 180-meter Azzam , owned by Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the president of the United Arab Emirates.

Superyachts like the Eclipse are big business and getting bigger in every sense of the word. Not only are more of them under construction than at any time before, with order books full until 2027, but the boats are getting bigger too. The superyacht of 30 years ago is dwarfed by today’s leviathans, as the mega-wealthy demand ever more magnificent marine palaces.

“When I started in this business, a 40-meter boat was considered huge, and now it’s not even average,” said Pepe García-Aubert, CEO of MB92, a major superyacht refitter with shipyard facilities in Port Vell. “When we first designed the shipyard in 1994, we were thinking of boats of maybe 75 meters. We didn’t think anything over 75 meters would be considered. By 2004 we were thinking, maybe 125 meters would be the limit, but by 2010 we could see it could reach 200, and now there are already 185-meter boats under construction.”

This year a total of 185 superyachts are being built, mostly in northern Europe, compared to 148 in 2019, according to data from MB92.

Yachting’s shoulder season

Yachting had a banner year in summer 2021, when COVID spikes ruined an expected return to regular Mediterranean travel. Serving as a kind of social distancing for the very rich, some 228 yachts, averaging a length of 171 feet, were seen off Italy’s coast in August , 20 more than the previous year. Greece saw an even larger jump, up 60 yachts to 193.

Now it’s October, and the Barcelona shipyard is especially busy. The Mediterranean yachting season is over, and the owners need their boats in shape to spend the winter in the Caribbean.

“The biggest challenge is preparing big projects with short notice and because everyone wants their boats ready at the same time,” said the yard’s commercial director Txema Rubio. “If you want to carry out a big extension you need a naval architect, but first you need a designer and you need the owner’s approval, and all of this affects timing.”

Rubio says they work closely with the crews, who stay with the boats during the refit—which take a minimum of three months, often six. Bigger yachts mean bigger projects, he says, with bigger crews and more companies to negotiate with. The shipyard itself accommodates around 650 crew members at any given time during the high season for refits.

“A yacht is like a city, it’s unique. We may have an agreed project, but the crew are the people who know how the boat works,” Rubio said.

The MB92 shipyard in Barcelona can work on around 25 yachts at a time and directly employs 170 people in the city, plus another 1,000 indirectly, García-Aubert says. He estimates the average cost of a refit at around €900,000 but says some may be as low as €50,000 or as high as €20 million.

In addition to its Barcelona shipyard, MB92 also has a base in La Ciotat, close to Marseille. MB92 has been owned by alternative investment firm Squircle Capital since 2019.

Big dinghies

On a tour of the shipyard, Rubio points out a boat that is rather less glamorous than the rest and explains that it’s what’s called a shadow boat, a boat that accompanies the yacht “to carry the owner’s toys.”

These toys are speedboats, Jet Skis, cars, helicopters, and even submarines that the owner doesn’t want cluttering up the yacht. So even as the yachts get bigger, there still isn’t enough storage space.

U.K.-based Towergate Insurance estimates that the annual running costs of a superyacht are equal to around 10% of the purchase price. On that basis, the $600 million Azzam would cost $60 million a year to crew, insure, and maintain.

Barcelona’s port, like the yachts in it, has come a long way in recent years. The old port was remodeled for the 1992 Olympic Games, and in 2010 it was ceded to the London-based Salamanca Group to be developed for superyachts. Since 2017, Qatari Investment bank QInvest and a fund with several international investors, including Lukoil CEO Vagit Alekperov , control the marina, whose concession expires in 2048.

Early next year the marina will undergo a €20 million redevelopment to provide 55 moorings. The entire area will also be landscaped. A mooring in Port Vell costs around €200 to €300 per square meter per annum.

“I believe that with this expansion we’ll become the biggest superyacht marina in the Mediterranean,” said Ignacio Erroz, director of Marina Port Vell. “Nearly all the moorings will be for boats of upwards of 50 meters. And we’re the only marina of this type that has a 400-meter quay that can accommodate any size of yacht.”

Naturally, not everyone in Barcelona is delighted that their historic port has become a place for the mega-rich to flaunt their wealth, less still now that the city has taken a big economic hit as a result of COVID. Itziar González, then the councillor for the district, criticized the decision to create a luxury marina, insisting that it was undemocratic and said the city should listen to residents who were opposed to the scheme.

However, both the marina and MB92 insist that the yachts bring benefits to the city.

A report commissioned by Marina Port Vell from PricewaterhouseCoopers says that the marina contributes €29.7m annually to the city’s GDP and directly employs more than 500 people.

“Also the people who are here—the crews—spend money here,” said García-Aubert. “A yacht is not only a luxury, it creates employment and brings money to the city.”

All about the Med

Although superyacht owners are more likely to hail from the United States, Russia, or the Middle East, the Mediterranean is the center of superyacht activity, with Italy the most popular destination, closely followed by France, Greece, and Spain.

And outside of the U.S., Italy, France, and Spain are far and away the most popular refit destinations.

“The superyacht business is much more professional these days,” said García-Aubert. “Thirty years ago the industry was very amateurish. Sometimes the captain of the boat was a friend of the owner, and the chief steward was usually the captain’s wife, and sometimes a friend of the captain owned the shipyard. This has all changed.”

Business is booming, boosted by the convergence between the cruise ship and superyacht sectors, with a growing trend for small, exclusive cruise ships that accommodate around 50 passengers, similar in scale to a superyacht.

“The market is growing dramatically and this year even more so in spite of COVID and financial crises,” said García-Aubert. “In the past, rich people built mansions all over the world. Of course, they still have mansions, but a yacht is a moveable mansion. You can take it anywhere.”

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MB92 Group Key Events

The MB92 Group brings together the combined expertise, experience and professionalism of the industry’s leading refit shipyards.

The Group was formed to create a superyacht refit hub offering clients unrivalled refit options and world class service.

MB92 Barcelona acquire 49% stake in Blohm+Voss La Ciotat, exclusive operator of the dry dock in the La Ciotat shipyard facilities.

MB92 Barcelona announce the acquisition of 75% of Compositeworks, a leading La Ciotat-based refit and repair center.

MB92 Barcelona acquire the remaining 51% stake in Blohm+Voss La Ciotat and begin merging procedures with Compositeworks to form MB92 La Ciotat. The new brand is launched in September at the Monaco Yacht Show together with the MB92 Group new brand.

Approval is given to start work on a new 4,000-ton shiplift in La Ciotat to be completed in 2022.

MB92 Barcelona forms part of Feadship Services Network, providing exclusive Feadship-approved and certified maintenance, repair and warranty work for new and existing Feadship customers.

Work is completed on the new 4,800-ton shiplift in the MB92 Barcelona facilities. The first haul out takes place in August.

MB92 La Ciotat signs an agreement extending the duration of the exclusive right-of-use for the 200m dry dock to August 2022.

MB92 Barcelona receives ISO50001 certificate for energy management.

Squircle Capital, a European investment firm, acquires a 77.5% stake in the MB92 Group

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By SuperyachtNews 19 Feb 2023

Dubai deal and shiplift enhance MB92's portfolio

Jean-marc bolinger, ceo of mb92 group, explains how the dubai facility complements a period of unprecedented growth for the refit specialists….

MB92 Group has had a busy few months. After announcing that it will be joining forces with Al Seer Marine and P&O Marinas to develop a superyacht refit and repair facility in Dubai, it has also put in place a 4,300-tonne shiplift in La Ciotat. Unsurprisingly, MB92 is now expecting increased activity and a positive knock-on effect on local employment.

It was just before the Monaco Yacht Show that the three companies announced that they had signed a memorandum of understanding with the view of setting up a joint venture to develop the first dedicated superyacht refit and repair facility in the UAE. SuperyachtNews had the chance to speak with Jean-Marc Bolinger, CEO of MB92 Group at the time, with the full interview available below. The shipyard construction is scheduled for completion in 2026, with superyacht repair and refit services available from next year as the start of this strategic plan.

Al Seer Marine has been looking to develop a world-class superyacht service centre and refit shipyard in the UAE since 2019, and after discussions with P&O Marinas in Dubai, it believes it has found the perfect strategic partner to bring the project to fruition. Now, with MB92 Group as the third partner and the chosen operator of the shipyard, this new facility will provide an alternative migration pattern for superyachts. Jean-Marc Bolinger, CEO of MB92 Group, says, “Creating a world-class refit shipyard from scratch, in the dynamic hub of Dubai and the Gulf, represents a very exciting and unique opportunity for our Group, which has been on our strategic agenda for several years.

“It will enable us to expand the footprint of our first-class facilities and provide our clients in the region with the same level of service and support they receive and expect in Barcelona and La Ciotat. We look forward to presenting the details of this exciting joint venture to our key stakeholders in the coming months.”

Gunther Alvarado, chief operating officer of Al Seer Marine, adds, “Leading this powerful partnership is part of Al Seer Marine’s overall investment strategy and vision for the Gulf region. With some of the most complex superyachts owned and operated in the region, we will have a world-class facility with leading suppliers and subcontractors that will serve their requirements.”

This is, of course, a massive piece of good news for the entire superyacht industry. Once construction is complete, the Gulf could potentially be just as popular with superyachts as regions such as the Caribbean and The Mediterranean.

Hamza Mustafa, chief operating officer of P&O Marinas, says, “The UAE is the ideal location to service the Gulf region’s growing number of superyacht owners. Dubai has developed its reputation over the years as a top destination for luxury yachting with the creation of several high-end marinas.

“We already look after some of the most exclusive and advanced yachts at Mina Rashid Marina. With the development of a new service centre and refit shipyard, the UAE and Dubai’s offering as a hub for yacht owners will be even more attractive.”

Meanwhile, MB92 La Ciotat’s new 4,300-tonne Atlas ship lift was officially christened by Martine Vassal, President of Métropole Aix-Marseille-Provence, and the inauguration was attended by representatives from La Ciotat Shipyards, La Ciotat City Hall, Région Sud, Département des Bouches du Rhône and MB92.

Speaking during the event, Bolinger hailed the inauguration of Atlas as “a historic moment for our shipyard and for the people of La Ciotat. It’s the beginning of a new era and we are excited to be a part of the continuing development of the site so that it can secure its position as the world’s leading centre for superyacht refit.”

Eight superyachts have already been welcomed since the yard opened its doors at the end of September. The new platform, which represents a total investment of €47.5 million for the Group, has accommodated these yachts for a variety of works and is expected to generate a significant increase in activity for the shipyard with a positive knock-on effect on local employment, whether directly with MB92 or indirectly with the increasing network of local subcontractors.

In addition, local commerce in La Ciotat, such as restaurants, hotels and shops, will see a sharp increase in business, thanks not only to the additional employees on site but also to the increase in the number of crew staying at the facilities.

In total, it’s estimated that MB92’s activity in La Ciotat will be responsible for more than 900 full-time employees by 2024 (737 direct and indirect employees for the shipyard, 168 employees for local commerce), an increase of close to 50 per cent from 2021, and a large majority will be based in La Ciotat.

Ben Mennem, CEO of MB92 La Ciotat, concludes, “MB92 La Ciotat is firmly rooted locally, with deep ties to the sea and a strong maritime heritage. The shipyard plays a central role in developing career opportunities for young talent and works alongside educational establishments to strengthen this link with our traditions and raise the technicity and professionalism of the local workforce.”

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These Boats Are Really Big, but Barcelona Has the Room

The city has become a hub for billionaires’ superyachts, banking on the strength of the “blue economy.”

A huge yacht under repair in Barcelona, Spain, which has become a hub for superyachts. Credit... Samuel Aranda for The New York Times

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By Raphael Minder

• Jan. 10, 2022

BARCELONA, Spain — Launched less than a year ago, the 460-foot-long, eight-deck Solaris is one of the newest of the superyachts that are the floating palaces of the sea. It has a helipad, of course, plus a swimming pool and all the other high-tech amenities required by its Russian billionaire owner, Roman Abramovich .

But on a recent morning in Barcelona, the $600 million Solaris was out of the water, wedged into a dry dock, as workers toiled underneath its light-gray hull. They were fixing its finlike stabilizers, which help steady the massive vessel in rough seas but retract when there are no swells. At the opposite end of the boatyard, another giant, the Sea Rhapsody, was getting a final checkup before being put back into the water.

As the rich have gotten richer during the pandemic, their boats have gotten larger and more expensive — and when these over-the-top superyachts aren’t taking their owners to private holiday spots in the Caribbean and the Mediterranean, they need a place to drop anchor and deal with repairs.

And it is here that Barcelona, whose days as a commercial shipyard faded years ago, sees an economic opportunity.

Barcelona has turned itself into a hub for these luxury vessels, combining a private marina that is investing 20 million euros ($22.7 million) this year to turn itself into the largest port reserved for superyachts in the Mediterranean and maintenance facilities that can hoist behemoths out of the water and then summon a small army to do repairs.

And it doesn’t hurt that Barcelona offers the ships’ crew members downtime in one of the Mediterranean’s biggest tourism destinations.

Attracting billionaire yacht owners is only a small part of Barcelona’s efforts to tap into the “blue economy” of the sea, said Jaume Collboni, the deputy mayor. Barcelona’s port authority recently approved the construction of a new terminal for cruise ships, set to open in 2024. The city is also overhauling the seafront area that was developed for the Summer Olympics of 1992, which Barcelona hosted.

The pandemic was a huge blow for a city that normally welcomes millions of visitors. It showed that “diversification is becoming very important,” Mr. Collboni said. “When tourism dropped down to zero, some parts of the city were heavily affected, and we have needed to find new jobs, also for a less qualified work force.”

At the same time, the spread of the coronavirus gave the world’s billionaires a new excuse for keeping their distance from other people, a role perfectly suited for superyachts.

Worldwide about 5,700 yachts are over 30 meters long (just under 100 feet), and this fleet is set to expand 15 percent by 2025, according to industry projections . At the pinnacle of this market are about 370 megayachts of over 60 meters, whose number has risen 70 percent in the past decade and is forecast to reach 500 in about seven years. Construction yards have been struggling to keep up: The order book for superyachts is full until 2025.

MB92, the company that operates Barcelona’s superyacht maintenance facility, known as a refit yard, has 180 employees, but much of the labor is carried out by about 1,000 subcontractors whose jobs cover a variety of specialties, including painting, carpentry and insulation work. About 40 workshops are scattered around the yard, and during the peak repair seasons of spring and fall the yard can work on about 25 yachts at a time.

The yacht maintenance business has been jumping. MB92, which also owns a smaller yard in La Ciotat, France, reported revenue of €191 million (about $215 million) in 2021, up from €150 million in 2019.

Even if a superyacht is a striking showcase of wealth, owners expect those working for them to keep silent about their assets and whereabouts. When asked about the Sea Rhapsody’s destination once it left the yard, Henk Dreijer, the commercial director of MB92, demurred, suggesting that it was bound for “the Caribbean, but it could also be the Seychelles or somewhere else.”

“We work for people who like to be very discreet,” he added.

In Barcelona, which is led by a left-wing city government , not everybody welcomes the arrival of billionaires and their yachts, whose marinas are typically fenced off from the rest of the city’s waterfront.

“We are bringing in the richest people in the world, but they don’t spend their money in our local neighborhoods, they have yachts that fly the flags of tax havens, and they hire crews who are not from Barcelona,” said Gala Pin, a city lawmaker in Barcelona until 2019.

“We have also allowed private and very opaque companies to squeeze profits from public land and instead fence off access to a port area that should be enjoyed by all the citizens of Barcelona,” she added.

A decade ago, Ms. Pin and other residents held demonstrations to protest the initial project to develop Port Vell, a privately owned marina for luxury yachts. But Ms. Pin now concedes that the yacht business is very firmly anchored in Barcelona. Meanwhile, the city’s dwindling fishing fleet is squeezed into a small enclave, sandwiched between MB92’s yard and the superyacht marina.

Port Vell is in the midst of a major overhaul to become the largest superyacht marina in the Mediterranean. It is jointly owned by QInvest, a Qatari investment firm, and a group of investors led by Vagit Alekperov, the president of the Russian oil company Lukoil. Mr. Alekperov is also a partner in a fund run by Squircle Capital, a private equity firm based in Luxembourg. In 2019, Squircle bought a majority stake in MB92, the shipyard operator.

Even if the owners spend little time in Barcelona, the largest of these yachts have several dozen crew members who make lengthy stays and are “people with salaries that are generally higher than local salaries and money that they have not been spending on board,” said Ignacio Erroz, the director general of Port Vell. He said a PwC study commissioned by his company had estimated that Port Vell contributed €30 million a year to Barcelona’s economy.

Mr. Erroz forecast that Barcelona would continue to grow as a superyacht hub, in large part because “being able to anchor right in the heart of a big city is a major selling point.” But he also anticipated tougher competition.

“I think we will see many more existing ports adapting their infrastructure to welcome this kind of boat,” he said.

Raphael Minder  covers Spain and Portugal, based in Madrid. He previously worked for Bloomberg News in Switzerland and for the Financial Times in Paris, Brussels, Sydney and finally Hong Kong. More about Raphael Minder

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8 Fascinating Facts About ‘Nero,’ a 295-Foot Superyacht Inspired by a 1930s Classic

We step aboard the star of this week's palm beach international boat show to glimpse behind the curtains of yachting's most interesting build., howard walker, howard walker's most recent stories.

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It’s described as the “most head-turning yacht on the planet,” and this week, the classically styled Corsair Yachts Nero is the undisputed headliner at Palm Beach International Boat Show.

At just under 300 feet long, the beautiful hull is too lengthy for the docks at the main show area on the West Palm Beach waterfront, so it is being displayed to potential charter clients in the nearby Safe Harbor Rybovich superyacht marina.

Nero is at the show to entice charter clients (through Burgess Yachts) for summer cruises in the Med and winters in the Caribbean. With Nero’s British captain David McMorrow as our guide, Robb Report took a tour of this iconic superyacht, discovering fascinating facts about this so-called “Spirit of Corsair,” based on financier J.P. Morgan Jr.’s series of Corsair yachts in the 1920s and 30s.

Here are eight unknown facts about this remarkable vessel.

One Man’s Success Leads to Another Man’s Dream

Back in 2004, the British videogame entrepreneur and yachtsman Neil Taylor set out to find and restore a classic motoryacht in the style of American banking legend J.P. Morgan Jr.’s series of yachts named Corsair . Unable to find a suitable candidate, he took the bold decision to build his own, styled on Morgan’s last Corsair, the 350-foot Corsair IV (above) launched in 1930. Such was Taylor’s commitment and passion to the project that he designed both the yacht’s exterior and interior layout himself, only turning to U.K.-based IMT Marine Consultants for the naval architecture and hull design. Built under tight secrecy, the steel-hulled Nero , as the yacht was christened, was launched in 2008.

A Shipyard Was Created to Build It

Taylor had hoped to use a European yard to turn his dream into reality. But in the end, he formed his own company, Corsair Yachts, and signed a deal with China’s Yantai Raffles Shipyard to rent its entire facility and 400-strong workforce. He also pulled together a team of 30 specialists who had previously worked with pedigreed builders Lürssen, Benetti, and OceanFast for the most technical work. It was not a quick process: Taylor micro-managed every stage of the yacht’s construction, which took over four years. 

Plenty of Power and a Fake Smokestack

Nero is powered by a pair of slow-spinning, commercial-grade MaK/Caterpillar diesels, rated 2,333 hp each. Flat out, it can run at 16 knots, though Capt. McMorrow prefers to cruise at a more sedate 11 knots. With the fuel tanks topped off with 46,000 gallons of diesel, the yacht has a range of over 4,500 nautical miles, burning just 118 gallons an hour at 14.5 knots. To keep it stable in those Atlantic swells, the yacht has four Naiad fin stabilizers, a full keel and extensive ballasting. “She’s incredibly stable even in the roughest of seas, and remarkably quiet,” says McMorrow. As for that distinctive yellow and black funnel on the top deck, it’s just for decoration.

A Fitness Lover’s Dream

As part of Nero ‘s major refit in Genoa, Italy, in 2021, the cozy sundeck den, or “snug,” was transformed into a state-of-the-art gym. It’s filled with the latest Technogym equipment, including a multi-function Kinesis machine, treadmill, cross-trainer and cardio bike. Steps away is the 18.7-foot-long resistance pool on the foredeck, along with a Jacuzzi at the stern. Naturally, one of the crew is a certified physical trainer. The previous location of the gym is now a beauty salon and massage area. Nero ‘s teak-covered top deck, at over 200 feet long, makes a perfect jogging track. And when the yacht is under way, that forward pool is drained and becomes a garage for the yacht’s 16-foot Nautica RIB. 

The 2016 Refit That Changed Everything

When Neil Taylor sold Nero in 2014, reportedly to Irish billionaire and Digicel telecommunications founder Denis O’Brien, the yacht headed to the MB92 shipyard in Barcelona for an eight-month major interior refit. The yacht’s original interior designer, Laura Pomponi of Italy’s Luxury Projects, oversaw the process, and it involved an exhaustive process of refinishing all the golden, high-gloss walls, ceilings, furniture, and joinery to a more contemporary, Hamptons-beach-house style. That meant many months of varnish removal and complex lime-washing. The refit also included stripping over 4,000 pieces of brass hardware and refinishing them in silver. Reupholstering Nero ‘s multitude of chairs and sofas involved well over a mile of new fabrics.

Toppled Over in a Drydock

Preparing for routine maintenance work at the Amico & Co dry-dock in Genoa, Italy, in 2019, Nero tipped over on to its port side while the dry-dock chamber was being emptied. According to a report at the time by Italy’s Liguria Nautica website, six crew members suffered minor injuries after a hull support in the dry dock collapsed under the strain of Nero ‘s weight. Despite the 30-degree angle, the vessel was said not to have touched the concrete walls and was successfully refloated.

The Owner’s Suite Spans Two Levels

“It really is fit for a king, and to me it’s the jewel in Nero ‘s crown,” says McMorrow, describing the vessel’s sprawling owner’s suite. Located on the main deck, it spans the yacht’s full beam and features an adjoining lounge on one side with a big-screen TV, and, on the other, twin, over-stuffed sofas, and a private den with a desk and conference table. Separate his-and-hers marble-lined bathrooms have huge walk-in closets and dressing rooms. A staircase leads up into Nero ‘s private observation lounge with access to the pool on the foredeck.

The Mini-Me Tender

A classically styled yacht requires a classically styled tender. So Nero ‘s elegant 31-foot ’30s-style wooden launch was built by Corsair Yachts in China by the same craftsmen who constructed the mothership. And when Nero went in for its latest refit in 2021, the tender also got a new coat of paint and varnish, new upholstery and a mechanical overhaul. “It’s a piece of art. Guests love seeing this tender as it approaches a dock for pick-up,” says McMorrow, noting top speed is an impressive 30 knots. The launch features mahogany construction, teak decks, and a low-profile cabin to keep guests protected from the elements.

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MB92 Acquired by European Investors Squircle Capital

Refit yard Marina Barcelona 92 (MB92) has been acquired by European investment firm Squircle Capital.

The firm will now be the majority shareholder of the refit, repair and maintenance group MB92, with a 77.5% stake in the business.

The acquisition marks a new phase of expansion for the MB92 Group following their purchase of a  majority share in Compositeworks  in 2017, and  Blohm+Voss La Ciotat , which then merged and became MB92 La Ciotat in 2018.

President and CEO of MB92 Group, Pepe García-Aubert, said Squircle Captial has an "exciting long-term vision" of how to grow the group.

"I have no doubt that we will benefit from their strategic expertise and broad experience," he added.

José Caireta, founding partner at Squircle Capital, added: “In just a few years, MB92 has managed to carve out a unique position, not only as a leader within the sector but also as an exemplary provider of refit, repair and maintenance services for superyachts."

The transaction has received regulatory approval but is expected to close in the coming weeks.

In 2015, MB92 was responsible for the refit of 90 metre classic yacht Nero , o ne of the largest superyacht refits the yard has even undertaken.

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Rolls-Royce and MB92 Group join forces to propel sustainable solutions for superyacht fleet

Posted on September 26, 2023

Images [1 Files, 1 MB]

Rolls-Royce Power Systems and MB92 Group, a world’s leading superyacht refit, repair and maintenance company, are entering a formal working partnership to provide sustainable propulsion and energy management systems for the global fleet of existing superyachts to reduce the climate footprint of the industry. JPG, 1 MB

• Initial focus will be on moving existing fleet over to to synthetic fuels such as HVO  
• Partners to share performance data, R&D initiatives, training programs for sustainable propulsion upgrades  

Rolls-Royce’s business unit Power Systems and MB92 Group, a world’s leading superyacht refit, repair and maintenance company with facilities in Spain and France, are entering a formal working partnership to provide sustainable propulsion and energy management systems for the global fleet of existing superyachts. This is part of a broader push to reduce the climate footprint of the industry.

The collaboration published on the occasion of the Monaco Yacht Show (September 27 – 30) will be part of MB92’s “ Refit for the Future ” service offered at the company’s shipyards in Spain and France.  

The new partnership will involve mutual sharing of system performance data, research & development initiatives, technical training, and the establishment of best practices for smooth installations. Providing climate friendly propulsion solutions will be key to lowering the climate footprint of the industry in a relatively short timeframe. The two partners see potential both in equipping existing yachts with environmentally friendly engines that also have particulate filters and SCR exhaust gas aftertreatment and in performing retrofits with hybrid drives.

“We want to be the proactive ambassadors for a clean and climate friendly superyacht operation and with the alternative fuel like HVO and others it’s easy to take the first step”, Rolls-Royce and MB92 stated.  

Focus will initially be directed towards moving the fleet towards synthetic fuels such as BtL (Biomass to Liquid), HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil) and PtL (Power to Liquid) such as e-diesel, also known as EN15940 fuels. All of them can replace conventional diesel fuel in mtu Series 2000 and 4000 engines without any adjustments – most of them are already released for EN15940 use.  

HVO provides an up to 90% decrease in emissions with no compromise on power output, providing the fuel is available. An existing yacht with engines that are not HVO-compatible can be refitted with modern mtu engines and thus be operated in a much more climate-friendly way than before. In parallel, the partners will look to integrate more advanced solutions as soon as possible in alignment with Rolls-Royce’s ongoing R&D efforts on methanol-based solutions and other innovative alternatives.

Denise Kurtulus, Vice President Global Marine at Rolls-Royce’s business unit Power Systems, stated, “While new generation systems can be easily applied to new build designs, integrating next-generation systems into existing hull designs is a complex task. Our collaboration with MB92 Group, known for their expertise in superyacht refit, brings exciting possibilities for our clients.”

MB92 Group CEO, Jean-Marc Bolinger, said: “I believe that there is great potential for those willing to take the initiative on driving progress in sustainability. The agreement further reflects our commitment to supporting the existing superyacht fleet in reducing their environmental impact. Rolls Royce’s advancements, particularly in areas such as Methanol optimisation, are really encouraging. Our role is to combine our skills to facilitate the addition of these solutions to refit worklists more regularly.”

MB92 Group is committed to a more sustainable and environmentally responsible future for the superyacht industry. Alongside efforts to lower their own impact, “Refit for the Future” is a new service tailored for superyacht owners looking to reduce the environmental impact of their yachts, trim operating and financing costs, and protect re-sale value.

Benefits of HVO

• HVO is already available to buy.·  
• As HVO is a drop-in fuel, no adjustments are necessary for most diesel engines that are approved for HVO use. It is advisable however, to check elastomer seals regularly in the first four weeks following a switchover to HVO.·
• The storage stability of pure HVO is substantially higher than that of pure Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME) biodiesel, or HVO / FAME mixtures, and even fossil diesel fuel B7. That makes HVO particularly attractive to operators of standby power systems.·  
• Our tests have confirmed that there are usually no differences in the released mtu common rail engines in terms of their maximum power, load acceptance and fuel consumption - regardless of whether they are fuelled with HVO or diesel.·  
• Depending on the fuel manufacturing process, CO2 emissions fall by up to 90%. Particulate emissions fall by over 40%. Nitrogen oxide emissions are up to 8% lower.

Source: www.mtu-solutions.com/hvo

About Rolls-Royce Holdings plc

• Rolls-Royce develops and delivers complex power and propulsion solutions for safety-critical applications in the air, at sea and on land. Our products and service packages enable our customers to connect people, societies, cultures and economies together; they meet the growing need for power generation across multiple industries; and enable governments to equip their armed forces with the power required to protect their citizens.
• Rolls-Royce has customers in more than 150 countries, comprising more than 400 airlines and leasing customers, 160 armed forces and navies, and more than 5,000 power and nuclear customers. To meet customer demand for more sustainable solutions, we are committed to making our products compatible with net zero carbon emissions.
• Annual underlying revenue was £15.409bn in 2023 and underlying operating profit was £1,590m.
• Rolls-Royce Holdings plc is a publicly traded company (LSE: RR., ADR: RYCEY, LEI: 213800EC7997ZBLZJH69)
• Rolls-Royce Power Systems is headquartered in Friedrichshafen in southern Germany and employs more than 9,500 people. The product portfolio includes mtu -brand high-speed engines and propulsion systems for ships, power generation, heavy land, rail and defence vehicles and for the oil and gas industry as well as diesel and gas systems and battery containers for missioncritical, standby and continuous power, combined generation of heat and power, and microgrids and is intensively engaged in the development of climate-neutral solutions.

www.rolls-royce.com

About MB92 Group

MB92 Group is an internationally renowned specialist in the field of superyacht maintenance, refit and repair, managing state-of-the-art shipyards strategically located in Barcelona and La Ciotat.

Founded in 1992 as Marina Barcelona 92 SA, the Group manages approximately 200 projects each year on superyachts up to 180 metres in length and has a growing workforce of 350 employees.

Projects are led by an experienced project management team supported by leading in-house technical knowledge and a global network of suppliers. Together, they bring passion, determination and expertise to each project to deliver on time and on budget.

MB92’s approach centres around proactive investment in people and facilities, aimed at continually adding value for their clients and communities. The Group strives to deliver excellence in superyacht refit and maintenance worldwide by listening, learning and innovating to grow its business sustainably and develop solutions that provide a positive impact for the superyacht industry.

In 2023, MB92 Group launched "Refit for the Future!", the world's first dedicated sustainability refit service tailored for superyacht owners looking to reduce the environmental impact of their yachts, reduce operating and financing costs, and protect re-sale value.

Squircle Capital, an established and innovative pan-European private equity firm with a demonstrable track record of transforming assets through thoughtful vision and purposeful management, has been the main shareholder since 2019.

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September 28, 2023

NEOM and MB92 Group announces a yacht repair center at Sindalah

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, NEOM, September 28, 2023 — NEOM and leading superyacht maintenance company, MB92 Group, have announced a partnership to establish a 10,000 square-meter repair facility for yachts at NEOM’s luxury island and yachting destination on the Saudi water of the Red Sea, Sindalah.

The partnership aligns with the imminent opening of Sindalah during 2024 and will be the first of several yacht repair centers in NEOM, responding to the anticipated growth of visiting and resident yachts, in the region in the coming years.

The new facility will provide yacht owners travelling to the Red Sea with access to MB92 Group’s experience in addressing the intricate repair demands of yachts and superyachts. It also mirrors NEOM’s vision of building a maritime destination in the region, with both partners committed to offering dependable, efficient, and sustainable solutions for maintenance or repair requirements. As such, the construction of the new center will prioritize sustainable development within its design, processes, and equipment.

NEOM’s Chief Urban Planning and Islands Officer, Antoni Vives, said: “Teaming up with MB92 Group reflects our commitment to becoming a distinctive yachting destination. This venture embodies our dedication to delivering world-class infrastructure and services to support yachts visiting the Red Sea."

MB92 Group Chairman, Pepe García-Aubert, said: “We are extremely excited to be a part of the remarkable NEOM project and embrace the opportunity that this partnership represents. We envision this as merely the beginning of a lasting and meaningful collaboration, allowing us to provide the local yachting community with a world-class refit and repair service in this incredibly beautiful region with so much to offer.”

The repair center will commence operations with a comprehensive repertoire of services including onboard electrical, mechanical, and hydraulic system repairs. The center will be capable of welcoming yachts of all sizes for in-water works and will extend its expertise to vessels of up to 40-meters in length for drydock operations.

For further information on Sindalah, please visit  https://www.neom.com/en-us/regions/sindalah

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Cruising the Moskva River: A short guide to boat trips in Russia’s capital

There’s hardly a better way to absorb Moscow’s atmosphere than on a ship sailing up and down the Moskva River. While complicated ticketing, loud music and chilling winds might dampen the anticipated fun, this checklist will help you to enjoy the scenic views and not fall into common tourist traps.

How to find the right boat?

There are plenty of boats and selecting the right one might be challenging. The size of the boat should be your main criteria.

Plenty of small boats cruise the Moskva River, and the most vivid one is this yellow Lay’s-branded boat. Everyone who has ever visited Moscow probably has seen it.

This option might leave a passenger disembarking partially deaf as the merciless Russian pop music blasts onboard. A free spirit, however, will find partying on such a vessel to be an unforgettable and authentic experience that’s almost a metaphor for life in modern Russia: too loud, and sometimes too welcoming. Tickets start at $13 (800 rubles) per person.

Bigger boats offer smoother sailing and tend to attract foreign visitors because of their distinct Soviet aura. Indeed, many of the older vessels must have seen better days. They are still afloat, however, and getting aboard is a unique ‘cultural’ experience. Sometimes the crew might offer lunch or dinner to passengers, but this option must be purchased with the ticket. Here is one such  option  offering dinner for $24 (1,490 rubles).

If you want to travel in style, consider Flotilla Radisson. These large, modern vessels are quite posh, with a cozy restaurant and an attentive crew at your service. Even though the selection of wines and food is modest, these vessels are still much better than other boats.

Surprisingly, the luxurious boats are priced rather modestly, and a single ticket goes for $17-$32 (1,100-2,000 rubles); also expect a reasonable restaurant bill on top.

How to buy tickets?

Women holding photos of ships promise huge discounts to “the young and beautiful,” and give personal invitations for river tours. They sound and look nice, but there’s a small catch: their ticket prices are usually more than those purchased online.

“We bought tickets from street hawkers for 900 rubles each, only to later discover that the other passengers bought their tickets twice as cheap!”  wrote  (in Russian) a disappointed Rostislav on a travel company website.

Nevertheless, buying from street hawkers has one considerable advantage: they personally escort you to the vessel so that you don’t waste time looking for the boat on your own.

Prices start at $13 (800 rubles) for one ride, and for an additional $6.5 (400 rubles) you can purchase an unlimited number of tours on the same boat on any given day.

Flotilla Radisson has official ticket offices at Gorky Park and Hotel Ukraine, but they’re often sold out.

Buying online is an option that might save some cash. Websites such as  this   offer considerable discounts for tickets sold online. On a busy Friday night an online purchase might be the only chance to get a ticket on a Flotilla Radisson boat.

This  website  (in Russian) offers multiple options for short river cruises in and around the city center, including offbeat options such as ‘disco cruises’ and ‘children cruises.’ This other  website  sells tickets online, but doesn’t have an English version. The interface is intuitive, however.

Buying tickets online has its bad points, however. The most common is confusing which pier you should go to and missing your river tour.

“I once bought tickets online to save with the discount that the website offered,” said Igor Shvarkin from Moscow. “The pier was initially marked as ‘Park Kultury,’ but when I arrived it wasn’t easy to find my boat because there were too many there. My guests had to walk a considerable distance before I finally found the vessel that accepted my tickets purchased online,” said the man.

There are two main boarding piers in the city center:  Hotel Ukraine  and  Park Kultury . Always take note of your particular berth when buying tickets online.

Where to sit onboard?

Even on a warm day, the headwind might be chilly for passengers on deck. Make sure you have warm clothes, or that the crew has blankets ready upon request.

The glass-encased hold makes the tour much more comfortable, but not at the expense of having an enjoyable experience.

Getting off the boat requires preparation as well. Ideally, you should be able to disembark on any pier along the way. In reality, passengers never know where the boat’s captain will make the next stop. Street hawkers often tell passengers in advance where they’ll be able to disembark. If you buy tickets online then you’ll have to research it yourself.

There’s a chance that the captain won’t make any stops at all and will take you back to where the tour began, which is the case with Flotilla Radisson. The safest option is to automatically expect that you’ll return to the pier where you started.

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