For something a little different...
In an exclusive interview with SuperyachtNews.com, Arcadia Yachts CEO, Ugo Pellegrino explained that the Mediterranean shipyard is building on recent successes with its wholesale expansion into the superyacht market. With two new 30m+ models under construction, and another about to be signed, Pellegrino insists that the purchase of an Arcadia vessel is a totally unique proposition.…
Italian shipyard Arcadia Yachts has used Boot Dusseldorf to reiterate its intent to establish itself as a recognised superyacht builder. Thus far, the yard has enjoyed success with sales of its Arcadia 85 model, but as 2015 begins, its focus is increasingly on the production of yachts over 30m.
SuperyachtNews.com spoke with Arcadia’s CEO, Ugo Pellegrino after the Dusseldorf event about the outlook for the company as its business model evolves towards the construction of ever larger vessels.
The fourth model in its Arcadia 115 composite range has just been completed, Pellegrino explained, and hull five is currently being laminated. Alongside this a new 30.5m Arcadia 100 has been introduced to the market, with hull one being built on-spec.
And in a fairly radical departure for the yard, negotiations are at a “very advanced” stage for construction to begin on the first Arcadia 145, which once completed will be the first steel hull the company has built. This is being sold to an existing Arcadia company who wants to move up the size range with the shipyard.
“The Arcadia brand is on the rise and more and more customers are approaching the yard”, Pellegrino said. “We are the most different shipyard on the market; Arcadia projects are totally different. If you desire a boat that’s different to the others then you have to choose Arcadia, and the feeling you have when you come on board…convinces you to become part of our family.”
These ‘differences’ are, according to Pellegrino, comprehensive, from the way the yachts are built, to the superstructure design, which is an expansive composition of solar panels, which the company claims generates up to 25 per cent of the yacht’s electricity requirements. “We have a very efficient hull and very low consumption, the lowest on the market at the moment as far as I’m aware”, he added.
The company’s expansion will be focussed on the resurgent US market and has already seen the exhibition of the 85 at the most recent edition of FLIBS, with plans to attend the Palm Beach boat show and the establishment of a Fort Lauderdale sales office underway.
Pellegrino is also keeping an eye on China, which he says has proved a happy hunting ground thus far. Contrary to many in the industry Pellegrino believes, “it has potential. It’s not as big as the US market for us, but in the future it could be.”
Profile links
Click here to become part of The Superyacht Group community, and join us in our mission to make this industry accessible to all, and prosperous for the long-term. We are offering access to the superyacht industry’s most comprehensive and longstanding archive of business-critical information, as well as a comprehensive, real-time superyacht fleet database, for just £10 per month, because we are One Industry with One Mission. Sign up here.
