The Italian press has reported that Gavio Group, owner of Baglietto, Cerri Cantieri Navali (CCN) and Bertram in the US, will merge its Italian shipyards under the Baglietto brand. The plan, first reported by the daily newspaper La Repubblica, is also to open a European branch of the Tampa-based Bertram brand. Baglietto has confirmed the merger will take place, hopefully before the end of the year, but declined to make further comment at this stage. 
Photo: Baglietto SpaThe reported motive is designed to maximise the synergy between the CCN facility in Carrara and the Baglietto headquarters in La Spezia, but it will also help to simplify and strengthen brand identity in a busy market, much as Perini Navi chose to do by merging with Picchiotti. Baglietto can rely on its iconic Flying Seagull logo and more than 160 years of history, whereas CCN has invested heavily in its E-Prop hybrid propulsion (31.2-metre Vanadis was the first motor yacht built in Italy to obtain Lloyds’ Hybrid Power certification). Once a builder of fibreglass series yachts, CCN has also increasingly diversified into one-off projects in steel and aluminium. 
Photo: Baglietto SpaFollowing the merger, the ‘new’ Baglietto will have two production plants focused on building superyachts from 30-70 metres in steel, aluminium and composite. The plan is that the former CCN yard in Carrara will build the new hulls while the outfitting and finishing, as well as maintenance and refit works, will be carried out in La Spezia. Between them, the two facilities employ around 80 permanent staff and up to 500 local subcontractors. 
Photo: Justin Ratcliffe / SuperYacht Times
Photo: Horacio Bozzo
In order to relaunch the Bertram brand, known for its sport fishermen boats, a new Bertram Europe division will be created. The hulls will be built in Florida, but they will be fitted out in Italy to reduce duties on importing the finished product from the US. Like all Italian shipyards, Baglietto and CCN are currently affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Administrative staff are working from home, but production is continuing for the time being at both facilities. Baglietto has had to delay the launch of two new builds, a 40-metre and 55-metre designed by Horacio Bozzo, which were scheduled to hit the water over the next few weeks.