Lusben, a division of Azimut|Benetti Group has announced important changes to its corporate structure, with the appointment of Giorgio Casareto as General Manager and a major new investment plan.
The launch of Masquenada
Giorgio Casareto has been given the task of pursuing Lusben’s expansion by drawing on his long experience in the yacht industry. Casareto will work on a refit area upgrade programme to further increase the significant growth forecast by the business plan in coming years. He is joined by Giovanni Paladino, who has been appointed Commercial Director tasked with developing the company’s sales structure and boosting its market presence. He comes to the company after gaining significant experience in top commercial and project management positions at major international industrial groups. The arrival of Giovanni Paladino completes the new corporate management team reporting to the General Manager, alongside Operations Director Alessandro Lazzerini, responsible for production, planning, logistics and project management for the yards, and Procurement Manager Leonardo Santini, tasked with integrating the purchasing structure for the three sites and harmonizing their strategies. All functions at the Livorno, Viareggio and Varazze sites report to the new corporate organizational structure.
Giorgio Casareto
The fast-growing company is targeting the international market and planning some major investments over the next three years to boost supply capacity. The strategy is to upgrade the business’s infrastructure and services and to develop new technology in response to rising demand for refitting, maintenance and repair work in the mega yachts segment.
The steady increase in large, complex orders won by Lusben in recent years has resulted in the need to expand the Varazze and Livorno operating sites. This will provide them with the new equipment and advanced technology that is vital to support growing demand – forecast to continue in coming years – as well as allowing them to offer an increasingly diverse and comprehensive range of services that can be tailored according to customers’ needs.
Masquenada
The 2023 investment plan sets out upgrades to the Livorno production site following the May 2022 purchase of the dock area. The redevelopment work currently underway is worth a total €12m. On completion, the site’s total area will rise to 220,000 sq. m, made up of 90,000 sq. m of yard area and 130,000 sq. m of water surface. This unusual and extremely innovative operation will provide additional space ashore for up to three boats more than 100 meters in length, over and above those routinely laid up. This will bring the number of berths ashore to 35, plus 32 moorings afloat. The site also offers a 2,400-ton sincrolift, a 180-meter-long floating dock with a capacity of 18,000 tonnes, and a closed dock for work to perform on yachts at their moorings.
An ambitious redevelopment project is currently in the planning stage for the Varazze site, with the total investment standing at about €7m so far. The area offers 15 lay-up berths ashore, plus 12 moorings afloat in the technical marina. When the project is complete, the site will also provide guest services in the crew area.
Lusben was founded in 1958 in Viareggio. The shipyard has over 60 years of experience in the yacht refit sector.
Credits: Lusben
Turkish builder ART Shipyard, part of Besiktas Group, will unveil its first superyacht – the 35-meter Bee Explorer – at the Cannes Yachting Festival from September 9-14. The steel-hulled explorer with aluminum superstructure was designed by Hydro Tec to stay under 300GT while offering a 4,000-nautical-mile range at 10 knots. Ocean Independence serves as worldwide central agent for the €15.25 million vessel, which is available for immediate delivery.Sergio Cutolo of Hydro Tec explained the design rationale: "The 7.7-meter beam provides additional fuel capacity without significant efficiency loss, allowing owners to take advantage of regional fuel price variations." The naval architecture prioritizes seakeeping and fuel economy, with computational fluid dynamics used to optimize the hull form.Michele Dragoni's interior design blends explorer yacht robustness with contemporary styling. Horizontal dark lacquer frames contrast with bleached oak paneling in the main saloon, while curved bulkheads and strategic window placement maximize natural light. The upper lounge features a ceiling-mounted TV lift and lowered cabinetry to create a more relaxed atmosphere.Measuring 35 meters LOA with 2.2-meter draft, the Bee Explorer will be displayed in Port Canto during the festival. The yacht represents ART Shipyard's entry into the competitive sub-40-meter explorer market, leveraging Besiktas Group's commercial shipbuilding experience. The Cannes presentation follows successful sea trials in Turkish waters. Prospective owners can inspect the yacht throughout the six-day show before its scheduled autumn handover to its first owner. Credits: Ocean Independence
July 16, 2025
Italian shipyard Tankoa Yachts has strengthened its leadership team with two strategic appointments as part of its expansion strategy. Isabella Picco joins as Head of Marketing & Communication, bringing extensive experience in the luxury yachting sector. "I look forward to helping guide the shipyard while maintaining its core values," Picco stated.Isabella PiccoGuido Orsi, a long-standing executive at Tankoa since its founding, has been promoted to Vice President. In his new role, Orsi will oversee sustainability initiatives, technological development, and international growth. "Tankoa combines tradition, innovation and family values," Orsi commented regarding his appointment.Guido OrsiThe Genoa-based shipyard, specializing in custom superyacht construction between 50-80 meters, continues to expand its production facilities and workforce. These leadership changes follow Tankoa's recent delivery of the 50-meter Bintador and ongoing construction of multiple projects at its Genoa shipyard.No specific details were provided regarding new projects or production site expansions mentioned in the broader growth plan. Tankoa currently has three superyachts under construction, with deliveries scheduled through 2026. The shipyard maintains its focus on semi-custom and full-custom builds, competing in the 500-1,500GT market segment.Tankoa was founded in 2007 and began production in 2008. A true “boutique shipyard”, focused on building semi-custom and custom constructions 45-meter and up.Credits: Tankoa
July 16, 2025
Pershing commemorated four decades of yachtbuilding with a three-day event in Capri, attended by owners and brand ambassadors including Formula 1 driver George Russell. The celebration, held under the patronage of Capri's municipal government, showcased current models including the GTX116 and newly announced GTX70 alongside heritage designs.Activities included sea trials with Pershing 6X, 7X and 8X models in the Gulf of Naples, while evening events took place at premium venues including La Canzone del Mare restaurant, where a 300-drone light show introduced the GTX70. Subsequent gatherings occurred at Quattro Passi in Nerano and Capri's Il Riccio and a-Ma-Re restaurants."Capri's natural beauty mirrored our yachts' design ethos," stated Ferretti Group CEO Alberto Galassi. The event partnered with Flexjet for private aviation services, Marchesi Antinori for wines, and featured a Pershing-branded capsule collection by Murphy&Nye. Water activities utilized Seabob personal watercraft.The anniversary highlights Pershing's evolution from its 1985 founding to current GTX and X-series production. The brand maintains operations at its Mondolfo shipyard, where it builds seven models between 15-47 meters. Recent launches include the 21-meter GTX70, featuring triple Mercury Racing 1100 engines capable of 48-knot speeds.No new model announcements accompanied the celebrations, though industry observers anticipate updates to Pershing's Performance series in 2026. The Capri event concluded without disclosing attendance figures or future anniversary initiatives. Current production focuses on the GTX sport utility line and Generation X performance models, with deliveries continuing through 2027.The Ferretti Group, led by Chief Executive Officer Alberto Galassi, is now one of the world’s leaders in the construction and sale of luxury yachts and pleasure vessels, with a unique portfolio of brands: Ferretti Yachts, Riva, Pershing, Itama, Mochi Craft, CRN, Custom Line and Wally.Credits: Ferretti Group
July 16, 2025
Italian builder Extra Yachts has launched the first 28-meter X90 Fast motor yacht, with plans to display the vessel at the Cannes Yachting Festival 2025. The GRP-built yacht, sold through broker Kristina Falkone of Aberton Yachts, features exterior and interior design by Hot Lab with naval engineering by the shipyard.The X90 Fast offers 86 square meters of exterior deck space across three cockpit levels - a dining area for 8-10 guests, lounge seating, and a waterside sunbathing platform. Interior spaces include four guest cabins with the master suite positioned amidships to utilize the 7.1-meter beam. Crew accommodations consist of two cabins forward.Powered by triple Volvo Penta IPS1350 engines (1,000hp each), the yacht reaches a top speed of 30 knots with a cruising speed of 24 knots. At 12 knots, the range extends to 1,000 nautical miles. Design features include concealed hull windows, an open galley with retractable windows separating the salon from the aft deck, and dedicated crew passageways to minimize guest area disruptions.The X90 Fast will be shown alongside other Extra Yachts models at Cannes from September 9-14, 2025. The launch marks the shipyard's continued expansion of its performance-oriented X Series, which currently ranges from 76 to 130 feet. Extra Yachts specializes in the development of yachts with a strong personality. Its distinctive lines are combined in a variety of motor yacht models ranging from 76' to 130' and a 30-meter motor catamaran. Developed thanks to the advanced technical experience of ISA Yachts, Extra offers customers all the advantages of being part of the Palumbo Superyachts network.Credits: Extra Yachts
July 15, 2025
Wally has completed construction of the second wallywind110 sailing yacht, scheduled for its world premiere in late August in Costa Smeralda. The 33.5-meter vessel shares the same judel/vrolijk & co-designed performance hull and carbon construction as its sistership Galma, while introducing several custom modifications.Key updates include a sand-grey hull color scheme, lighter interior finishes, and a reconfigured lower salon with a multifunctional workspace replacing the bar area. The VIP cabin now features a sliding bed system converting between single and double configurations. Studio Santa Maria Magnolfi maintained the exterior and interior design continuity with the first unit, preserving the wallywind series' signature elements: dedicated helm stations, integrated swim platform, and expansive guest areas.Performance features include a telescopic keel (adjustable from 4.5 to 6.95 meters), twin rudders, and a carbon rigging system from Hall Spars with North Sails. The yacht's construction benefited from lessons learned during the first hull's production, allowing Wally to optimize the build process.No charter or ownership details have been disclosed for the new vessel, which joins Wally's growing fleet of performance sailing yachts. The Monaco-based brand, now part of Ferretti Group, continues production of its wallywind series alongside motoryacht projects at its facilities in Forlì, Italy.The Ferretti Group, led by Chief Executive Officer Alberto Galassi, is now one of the world’s leaders in the construction and sale of luxury yachts and pleasure vessels, with a unique portfolio of brands: Ferretti Yachts, Riva, Pershing, Itama, Mochi Craft, CRN, Custom Line and Wally.Credits: Ferretti Group
July 15, 2025