French Riviera refit companies gather in Marseille
The second annual superyacht refit and repair networking (SYRREN) business convention convened in Marseille at the end of November, focusing on business-to-business meetings and lead generation for the hundreds of companies that operate in this, one of the most concentrated superyacht markets in the world.…
The second annual superyacht refit and repair networking (SYRREN) business convention recently convened in Marseille, focusing on business-to-business meetings and lead generation for the hundreds of companies that operate in this, one of the most concentrated superyacht markets in the world.
“The overall approach to superyachting makes the French Riviera a major global centre,” said Laurent Falaize, president of the Riviera Yachting Network and general manager of Fioul 83, a regional marine diesel distributor. “The departments of the Alpes Maritimes and Bouches du Rhône and Var are complimentary: The eastern end of the region is more dedicated to brokerage and berthing in the summer season, with the western end more focused on refit, maintenance and repair in the winter.”
Shipyards Compositeworks, International Marine Services (IMS) and DCNS Other Angle among others were present alongside French maritime-focused clusters like Neopolia Marine Solutions and upstart companies like Hulltimo, who have started marketing their DAME-nominated hull-cleaning robot to superyacht crew.
A conference seminar on Wednesday morning promised a consideration of both cruise and superyacht refit building and refit, with representatives from cruise ship builders STX and Fincantieri (which has also of course recently delivered the 134m Serene and is currently building the 140m Victory), as well as Captain Andrew Schofield, president of the Professional Yachtmen's Association (PYA) and Rob Papworth from Compositeworks and ICOMIA’s superyacht refit committee.
While the numbers cited by the panelists did much to highlight the significant difference between superyachts and cruise ships, the shared focus on improving the order book and meeting emissions regulations suggested some opportunities for future collaborative discussion. Much of the focus however was on the development of Marseille’s drydock 10, which is being converted into a cruise ship refit base. According to Papworth, with only an estimated 10 per cent of the local subcontractor workforce for superyachts crossing over to the cruise sector, the impact on the superyacht industry is expected to be limited. Drydock 10 is also unlikely to be attractive to superyachts, as the levels of cleanliness and noise will be outside superyacht thresholds.
SYRREN was organised in collaboration with the Pôle Mer PACA (the sea innovation and business cluster) and Méditarranée Technologies, and was held in conjunction with—and indeed within the actual trade show premises of—Seatrade Med, a major cruise industry convention, this year held in Marseille.
“SYRREN is business convention offering superyacht captains the possibility of meeting with all types of shipyards and service providers for maintenance and complete refit work,” said Jacques Conzales, president of the French superyacht marine association, GEPY.
With clever web-based meeting software simplifying the process of setting up meetings with interested parties, the SYRREN event places a premium on making new connections and driving business, whether through refit contracts, new partnerships or media exposure to emerging companies.
A trip along the coast on Thursday to the French naval base in Toulon and the offices and workshops of DCNS highlighted the potential of their new partnership with JC Lenoir’s Other Angle refit business. Kogo was there, undergoing her last days of work prior to handover to her new owner. Works included an elaborate new audio-visual system upgrade, including a remarkable set of speakers on the pool deck, an innovative underwater lighting system, new tenders, general repairs and upgrades and the stowing of the owner’s supercar on the helideck for its transatlantic passage.
A full report on the Marseille region refit sector and the new DCNS partnership is forthcoming in the February issue of The Superyacht Report.
“The overall approach to superyachting makes the French Riviera a major global centre,” said Laurent Falaize, president of the Riviera Yachting Network and general manager of Fioul 83, a regional marine diesel distributor. “The departments of the Alpes Maritimes and Bouches du Rhône and Var are complimentary: The eastern end of the region is more dedicated to brokerage and berthing in the summer season, with the western end more focused on refit, maintenance and repair in the winter.”
Shipyards Compositeworks, International Marine Services (IMS) and DCNS Other Angle among others were present alongside French maritime-focused clusters like Neopolia Marine Solutions and upstart companies like Hulltimo, who have started marketing their DAME-nominated hull-cleaning robot to superyacht crew.
The SYRREN area at Seatrade Med hosted hundreds of meetings over two days
A conference seminar on Wednesday morning promised a consideration of both cruise and superyacht refit building and refit, with representatives from cruise ship builders STX and Fincantieri (which has also of course recently delivered the 134m Serene and is currently building the 140m Victory), as well as Captain Andrew Schofield, president of the Professional Yachtmen's Association (PYA) and Rob Papworth from Compositeworks and ICOMIA’s superyacht refit committee.
While the numbers cited by the panelists did much to highlight the significant difference between superyachts and cruise ships, the shared focus on improving the order book and meeting emissions regulations suggested some opportunities for future collaborative discussion. Much of the focus however was on the development of Marseille’s drydock 10, which is being converted into a cruise ship refit base. According to Papworth, with only an estimated 10 per cent of the local subcontractor workforce for superyachts crossing over to the cruise sector, the impact on the superyacht industry is expected to be limited. Drydock 10 is also unlikely to be attractive to superyachts, as the levels of cleanliness and noise will be outside superyacht thresholds.
Rob Papworth and Andrew Schofield at the cruise and superyacht session
SYRREN was organised in collaboration with the Pôle Mer PACA (the sea innovation and business cluster) and Méditarranée Technologies, and was held in conjunction with—and indeed within the actual trade show premises of—Seatrade Med, a major cruise industry convention, this year held in Marseille.
“SYRREN is business convention offering superyacht captains the possibility of meeting with all types of shipyards and service providers for maintenance and complete refit work,” said Jacques Conzales, president of the French superyacht marine association, GEPY.
With clever web-based meeting software simplifying the process of setting up meetings with interested parties, the SYRREN event places a premium on making new connections and driving business, whether through refit contracts, new partnerships or media exposure to emerging companies.
Superyacht Kogo at the DCNS Other Angle refit area of the naval base in Toulon
A trip along the coast on Thursday to the French naval base in Toulon and the offices and workshops of DCNS highlighted the potential of their new partnership with JC Lenoir’s Other Angle refit business. Kogo was there, undergoing her last days of work prior to handover to her new owner. Works included an elaborate new audio-visual system upgrade, including a remarkable set of speakers on the pool deck, an innovative underwater lighting system, new tenders, general repairs and upgrades and the stowing of the owner’s supercar on the helideck for its transatlantic passage.
A full report on the Marseille region refit sector and the new DCNS partnership is forthcoming in the February issue of The Superyacht Report.
NEW: Sign up for SuperyachtNewsweek!
Get the latest weekly news, in-depth reports, intelligence, and strategic insights, delivered directly from The Superyacht Group's editors and market analysts.
Stay at the forefront of the superyacht industry with SuperyachtNewsweek
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.
NEW: Sign up for
SuperyachtNewsweek!
Get the latest weekly news, in-depth reports, intelligence, and strategic insights, delivered directly from The Superyacht Group's editors and market analysts.
Stay at the forefront of the superyacht industry with SuperyachtNewsweek
