By Merijn de Waard

Along the Tyrrhenian coast in the industrial town of Vado Ligure Eurocraft Cantieri Navali was established in 1989. The shipyard graced fame in Italy as a contractor for building high quality hulls and superstructures. In 2000, because of the strong growth in the superyacht market and the strategic location of the yard, it was decided to build custom superyachts under the Eurocraft brand. To achieve this major investments were made in the facilities, among the construction of a new main shipyard covering 60.000m3.

The Shipyard
The yard has to adjacent buildings, which can house 2 and 3 yachts respectively. The first shed, with a length of 55 meters, width of 20 meters and height of 10 meters, is used for building the hulls and has two gantry cranes, each one weighing 16 tonnes. The second shed, which has the same length, but a width of 35 meters and a height of 20 meters, is used for outfitting of the yachts. The yard also boasts 1.100 m2 for joinery and structural work and equally large space for offices.

Soon work will start to enlarge the seafront area. When finished it will reach a total surface of 20.000 m2, of which 5.500m2 indoor. To perform refit work as well a lifting platform will be built to raise yachts up to 1.100 tonnes out of the water.

The Fleet
Eurocraft built its first yacht already back in 1989. The composite hull of the 33 meter Pas Encore was built by Crestitalia and she was completed by Eurocraft. More recently Eurocraft completed the 28 meter Beja Flores in 2005 and the super-fast 19 meter Diablo.

The future looks bright for Eurocraft with the upcoming launch of two yachts: a composite 30 meter fly and aluminum 37 meter open. A 42 meter semi-displacement yacht is under construction for delivery in 2009 and work is about to start on two 43 meter explorer yachts. The 42 meter will be build out of aluminum while the explorer yachts will have a steel hull with aluminium superstructure.