French shipyard La Ciotat Shipyards that had started global re-industrialisation project at their refit hub in 2017, has already reported investment of approximately € 100,000,000 from private funds. Meanwhile, the yard has recently announced a tender on allocation of 19 premises within its Yachting Village, to be completed by 2020 as a significant highlight of the development course.
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La Ciotat Shipyards, formerly known as SEMIDEP-Ciotat, is now considered among European leaders in yachts refit and repair, reportedly holding from 8% to 10% of the global market. In 2017, LCS launched broad expansion programme of the hub, with works starting in the third quarter of 2019.
Alongside the structural investments planned for the site (including works on megayacht platform and a 4,000-tonnes shiplift), La Ciotat Shipyards launched restructuring and commercialising project on new 12,000 m2 premises within Yachting Village in the beginning of 2019. The area will be designed to accommodate yachting companies in the heart of the harbour.
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The proposed premises shall correspond to the first and second phases of the scheduled works, as of below:
• 2019: Demolition of the old welding school and reconstruction of 2,000 m2 of floor space.
• 2020 - 2021: Construction of the centre island.
• 2023: Construction of 2,800 m2 workspace for tertiary activities.
• 2024: Development of the area situated at the shipyards’ entrance and construction of 1,200 m2 of premises.
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Jean-Yves Saussol, CEO of La Ciotat Shipyards and LCS Yachting Village comments on the project: “We are completing our portfolio of activities realised locally, both to expand our expertise and to minimise the use of external employees and companies. We will thus strengthen our competitiveness and create more jobs.”
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According to LCS, the Yachting Village will dispose of 8,000 m2 designated for industrial workshops and 4,000 m2 designated for offices. The company reports that thirty marine companies will be able to relocate onsite starting from 2019.
Each premises received a defined future activity type, according to analysis conducted by LCS. However, some of them are marked only with 'intended use' qualification, aiming to attract more potential companies. Nonetheless, tender applications for the Yachting Village should be submitted by 15th of March.
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Today, the harbour is the only French site accommodating megayacht refit projects due to its dry dock. LCS claims that approximately 100 yachts with LOA exceeding 50 metres, or about 1/7th of the world fleet, come to La Ciotat Shipyards every year. Counted in numbers, 11 yachts with an average size of 87 metres were refitted at local facility in 2017.
Source: La Ciotat Shipyards