Last week I visited the Cantiere delle Marche shipyard in Ancona, and met up with Vasco Buonpensiere, who was recently appointed as new Shareholder and Board Member, responsible for Sales and Marketing. These are exciting times at the yard, with two Darwin Class yachts under construction at the yard, and two signed contracts for the yard's new Nauta Air line.
During my tour of the yard, Vasco explained the yard's history. To date, the group that founded the Cantiere delle Marche shipyard has constructed, or collaborated in the construction of, a wide range of different vessels. These include tankers, hi-tech merchant ships, passenger vessels and the world’s most prestigious cruise ships, in addition to refitting and constructing pleasure craft for an international clientele.
With CdM, the yard filled a niche gap in the market, that of the construction of 25-35 metre steel and aluminium pocket-sized explorer superyachts. The first yachts that were delivered were all part of the Darwin Class series, and most recently include Percheron, a Darwin Class 86, which was very well received at yacht shows on both sides of the Atlantic.
Percheron's crew took her across the Atlantic after the summer season. Her captain commented: "I’m very happy with Percheron’s performance over the Atlantic, 14days non stop of cruising and not one problem on board. All systems worked fantastically! Overall we burnt 31 000liters of fuel, leaving us 11 000 liters remaining which allows for an extra 4-5days cruising. Therefore we arrived with a very comfortable margin".
Currently under construction at the yard is another Darwin Class 86, as well as the yard's first 96. The 86 is a sistership to Percheron and has a steel hull and a light alloy superstructure. The sizing of the shell plating and the structure go well beyond the requirements of the naval classification register in order to guarantee the ship-owner better hull robustness and durability, particularly given the intense use that this type of vessel is generally subjected to.
The 96 shares much of the same dna as the 86, yet offers considerable more space. The overall feeling I had when I went on board this 28.95 metre yacht, was that of being on board a 37 metre superyacht. Apart from offering a lot of space, the 96, which is constructed in steel and aluminium, has an incredible range of 5,900 nm.
The first Nauta Air 86’, that will arrive at the yard as soon as the 96 is launched, was the seventh CdM Explorer Yacht sold in less than 24 months. The Nauta line of yachts are built with the same principles as the Darwin Class, such as long range capabilities, low fuel consumption, and strong sturdy hulls. The exterior styling however, is much more contemporary, and is likely to attract a different type of client. The first unit was sold to an Australian client living in Thailand, combines seaworthy performance and low fuel consumption with an airy contemporary design, with large exterior spaces and a surprising volume. The yacht is the result of a collaboration between the renowned Milan-based design studio Nauta Yacht Design, and CdM.
Just a few weeks ago, the yard sold the second Nauta Air, this time an 88’. The aluminium yacht combines durable substance, seaworthy performance and low fuel consumption with airy, contemporary design and wide exterior space and surprising volumes. CdM Nauta Air is the result of the collaboration between Architect Mario Pedol, founder, along with Massimo Gino, of the renowned Milan-based design studio Nauta Yacht Design, and CdM. Nauta Air offers the perfect blend of the luxury and style of superyachts with the sturdy substance that characterizes Cantiere delle Marche’s yachts such as the Darwin Class Explorers.
What stuck to me most after my visit to the yard, was that CdM is clearly aiming for the highest level of quality and finishing available for this size of boat worldwide. Something everybody at the yard seems totally commited to.
Cantiere Delle Marche
+39 071 206705
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www.cantieredellemarche.it