When Walter Antonini acquired the Pertusola shipyard in the Gulf of La Spezia in 1977, he started a long process resulting in the Antonini family’s investment in the marine industry. Due to its strategic position, the yard proved to be ideal for the assembly of large-scale structures and major construction projects.
Fast forward to the present day: Antonini Group is specialized in sectors such as oil & gas, with the construction of large steel structures, industrial plant engineering, the production of pressure equipment and the maintenance of complex plants.
THE ENTRY IN THE SUPERYACHT INDUSTRY
Over the course of four generations, the group led by family Antonini expanded its business into different markets, diversifying its activities, with their entry into the superyacht sector being a matter of time. In 2020, as a result of the collaboration with Aldo Manna, Antonini Navi was finally born: a yard focused on building full custom yachts.
The Antonini family brings financial strength, technological expertise, as well as more than 70 years of experience in the oil & gas and shipbuilding industries, while Aldo Manna provides his experience in yacht management and sales.
Only 3 years since the launch of this entrepreneurial challenge, 3 superyachts are currently under construction and two of them have been sold: a 32-m and a 34-m superyachts.
A DNA ROOTED IN QUALITY AND SAFETY
Aldo Manna, Partner and Sales Director of Antonini Navi, introduced us to this yard. A new player in the industry that, despite its young age, relies on strong and solid foundations, and is based in La Spezia, one of the most important hubs for superyachts.
Being called by the Antonini family in 2020, Manna immediately took up the challenge of launching a new business. At that time the pandemic demonstrated once more the vulnerabilities of the cyclical oil & gas market and, in order to diversify, the group decided to venture into the superyacht sector.
The shipyard boasts an expansive area of 50,000 sq.m in La Spezia; while all the yards are struggling to find new available spaces in order to build more superyachts, Antonini Navi owns an area second only to the Arsenale Militare.
The group relies on a workforce of more than 200 direct employees: workers skilled in competences such as welding and carpentry, but also an extremely efficient engineering department and a proficient management team.
CROSS-SECTOR KNOW-HOW
An expert purchasing department is already sourcing material globally, while the administrative office is employed to successfully deal with international customers and partners. As a result of having worked so long in the oil & gas sector, Antonini Group already possesses ample experience operating on a global scale. This multidisciplinary expertise gives Antonini a DNA strongly focused on quality, safety and after-sales.
Aldo explained to us: “In the oil & gas sector there is a strong focus on the aspects of safety standards. Just to mention an example: it is mandatory to inspect welding, with a sample of one test for every meter of weld, while on superyachts the inspection requirements are of one per every 5m welded”.
Antonini Group’s experience working in this industry also means the yard’s places a great focus on workers’ safety. “The EPC contractors or the end users impose stricter safety rules for the workers, the contractors, and for every person accessing the yard”.
The attention to safety doesn’t end when the product is delivered, as the company also takes the end user into consideration.
“That means guaranteeing the safety of the workers that will then work operating the platform, in the case of the oil & gas industries, or the crew and guests on board the superyacht, in the case of shipbuilding. The crew must be able to operate the superyachts and its components with their safety and that of the guests in mind. Our engineering department designed the equipment in a way which would make it easy to operate: thus, not only protecting the yacht as an asset, but most importantly, the people who use it”.
MAINTENANCE AND AFTER-SALES SERVICES
Last but not least, the experience acquired in the oil & gas sectors has led the yard to establish an after-sales team. “When you build an oil platform that is placed in the ocean” Aldo commented “you also are responsible for ensuring support to the customer for many years, not only in case of faults and breakages, but also when it comes to maintenance. For these reasons, in Antonini we have an in-house team dedicated to offering maintenance and after-sales services”.
This is very rare in the yachting world. Superyachts have a 24-month warranty, but the warranty and maintenance aspects are often subcontracted and delegated to suppliers.
For example, if there is a problem with an onboard component such as a desalinator, normally the yard will expect the manufacturer of the desalinator to intervene. Antonini Navi, relying on its own team, is able to swiftly and efficiently take care of such an issue, offering great after sales support to their clients.
Regardless of the project — be it tugs, oil rigs, or superyachts — the group maintains a consistent approach to safety and project management.
HOW TO GAIN NEW CLIENTS’ TRUST
The full custom explorer 32, named Hanaa, was the first superyacht sold by the Group. We asked Aldo how he managed to achieve this result and what were the difficulties encountered by the team when it came to convincing a client to become the owner of a new brand’s first project: “It was a big challenge. Everything you do before you sell the first unit is just mere empty talk. After, you really become a player. Obviously, a new client can be scared to give you credit, to invest in someone who hasn’t established a strong brand yet. It is a big leap of faith that shows trust in the yard”.
- To gain this trust, the yard needed to demonstrate that it has a strong financial basis, while the shipbuilding skills of Antonini were evident by the amount of hulls made for third parties: 8 hulls in 3 years.
- Another crucial factor in securing the initial agreement was undoubtedly Aldo’s professionalism, his ability to communicate with clients, his knowledge of critical aspects of the business, as well as his competencies in managing such an important job order.
- The deal was favored by the flexibility of the yard and a willingness to please the customer. Antonini Navi helped develop the project: the technical office meticulously analyzed, refined, and ultimately transformed the client’s initial ideas, which at the first stages were open-ended and evolving, into tangible concepts. An investment of months of engineering and specialized manhours that gave its satisfactory result.
- Its location in such a renowned hub for the superyacht industry – La Spezia – also represented a great added value. In this area, there are many expert key suppliers of some activities which are not performed in-house, such as the painting and some parts of the superyacht’s interior.
EXPLORER 32 HANAA
The 32-m full custom Hanaa, made of steel and aluminum, bears the signature of the engineering and design studio Hydro Tec, while the interiors are penned by the Milan based Hot Lab.
Sergio Cutolo’s firm is the go to name when it comes to the field of explorer vessels, and he was responsible for the exterior, naval engineering and layout.
The brief was to come up with a superyacht which provided comfortable, long range sailing, capable of handling any sea conditions, but with a modern touch and an attractive line.
Enrico Lumini of Hot Lab created interiors with a fresh, contemporary, and organic yet essential style in both geometry and colors. Hanaa will be delivered to her seasoned owner in 2025.
SEAMORE 34
A few weeks after the sale of the Explorer 32, Antonini Navi announced yet another successful transaction, this time the sale of the Seamore 34m. This second superyacht was sold to an Italian customer.
The collaboration with the two design studios Hydro Tec and Hot Lab has also been confirmed for this vessel. This semi-custom superyacht will be delivered in 2025 as well, and Antonini Navi plans to showcase it during the Cannes yachting festival celebrated on that same year.
MARKET TRENDS: EXPLORERS AND MILITARY-INSPIRED VESSELS
Explorers are experiencing a moment of extreme popularity: a recent report outlined that this segment of the market is growing year after year. From 88 projects last year to 99 this year, explorers represent 8.5% of the global order book.
Military-inspired superyachts often find positive feedback from owners as well. As an example, we can mention the recent projects M/Y Norn, and M/Y Bold designed by Espen Øino, and the M/Y Skat built by Lürssen. Both of these categories are represented in Antonini Navi’s current offering.
When asked regarding the importance of following design trends, alongside that of having a family feeling between the various models in the yard, Aldo Manna shared: “Obviously, following market trends helps with selling boats. We developed many concepts, ranging from crossovers to explorers, as well as more extreme expedition vessels. A very broad package developed with many designers and renowned naval engineers such as Sculli Studio and Hydro Tec, to give the customer an idea of what is possible. We are a full custom yard, we know that the client will contact us with his own concept and ask for a production slot”.
Regarding the military-inspired vessels: “I was working in this sector and sold many superyachts for a shipyard that was the leader in offshore patrol vessels. For these reasons we developed the OPV 56, designed by Fulvio de Simoni. It is a very fascinating concept that recalls military vessels with its rough and aggressive lines. It’s a project in which I strongly believe, and which I am sure will give us much satisfaction.”
UP 40: A MODULAR PLATFORM
Antonini Navi showcased his full custom capabilities also in another project signed by Fulvio de Simoni studio: the UP 40, which features an innovative modular solution. The approach to modularity has been refined during the Group’s decades of experience building oil platforms: it is coded in Gruppo Antonini’s DNA and lies at the heart of the UP 40.
UP stands for “Utility Platform”: the first pre-compartmented modular platform for the construction of a 40-m steel displacement hull.
The naval architecture, engineering and internal compartmentalization were designed to allow 3 different superstructures to be developed for 3 different superyacht concepts: an elegant Motoryacht, a streamlined Crossover and a solid Explorer. All these concepts share a common central hull body, each with a distinct bow and stern.
The modular platform hull was created as a response to two market needs that were apparently quite difficult to reconcile: the desire for customisation, alongside tight lead times.
Manna confirmed: “We did an in-depth market analysis, benchmarking with the competitors: it was evident that owners were reluctant to wait for two seasons before being able to use their new yacht, favoring shorter lead times. Thanks to this modular approach, the waiting period has been reduced to just 18 months. This means that new owners only need to wait for one season before enjoying their new superyacht. I developed this concept with yacht designer Fulvio De Simoni, whose flexibility and competences were vital for the finalization of such a project”.
THE TECHNICAL CHALLENGES
We asked Aldo how difficult it was, from the point of view of naval engineering, to find a hull whose core is able to meet the different needs of the three concepts. The engineer pointed out two main aspects: “First of all, there is the challenge presented from an aesthetic point of view. Secondly, it required many hours of dedicated work to optimize the naval architecture, the weight distribution, the different systems, the appendages, and the overall performance. It was very intense, but it gave our engineering department the opportunity to learn a lot”.
Many industry’s top players were involved in this project, and the hull was then tested at the MARIN (Maritime Research Institute Netherlands). “There we did the static and dynamic testing of the hull and appendages, in various conditions. In this way Antonini Navi can rely on a strong 40m platform appealing to a wide range of customers”.
Having graduated as a nautical engineer back in 1994, Aldo was the first person in Italy to hold this title. His studies in this field formed his strong technical background, which blended perfectly with his passion for sailing.
Aldo discovered this passion for seafaring at a very early age. He began sailing at the age of 14, sailed across the Mediterranean and took part in prestigious regattas, where he met his first customers. When 25 years old, he started a yacht management company, still active now. From there onwards, he had many experiences abroad.
Never judge a book by its cover
Manna traveled regularly to Miami, which gave him a cosmopolitan mentality. He explains: “Miami taught me that there are business and human values that differ greatly from the traditional Italian mindset. I learned not to judge by appearances. Some clients come in wearing Bermuda flip flops, yet can afford to buy a yacht. You can’t judge a book by its cover. The entire industry could benefit from this lesson, potentially opening up a broader market. We must understand that luxury also entails humility. Embracing this idea can propel us forward significantly. Presumptions and arrogance are not values that will drive progress in the yachting industry. The Antonini family knows the deep meaning of humility and simplicity, values that we shared and that formed the basis of our partnership that led to Antonini Navi”.
The importance of relationships
Talking about values, we asked Aldo about his relationship with a well-known name of Italian entrepreneurship: Luca Cordero di Montezemolo.
“He taught me to understand how important relationships are. It’s a word he uses a lot, and he knows how to invest time in creating and maintaining good relationships. He was a mentor for my entrepreneurial career, and he reminded me to always be very bold, advice I have followed in this adventure with Antonini Navi. In my career I learnt that a spirit of sacrifice and hard work are the foundation for important results. Perhaps those values are now lost in some younger generations of businessmen, who are sometimes driven by numbers and aren’t able to make sacrifices to ensure long term benefits. But strong success is built upon patience and hard work”.
Coming full circle
With the establishment of Antonini Navi in 2020, he says, “I feel like I’ve come full circle. After traveling and conducting business abroad, returning to my hometown to establish a brand is incredibly fulfilling. It’s an ambitious goal I set many years ago, and achieving it brings me great satisfaction”.
Antonini Navi, founded in 2020, is a shipyard specializing in the construction of full-custom yachts. The shipyard is located in the Gulf of La Spezia and is a member of the renowned “Miglio Blu”, the prestigious yachting district in La Spezia, which includes the most renowned and prestigious superyacht shipyards. Antonini Navi benefits from an in-house technical office with decades of experience in ship construction. With over 33,000 sq.m of open space, 2 warehouses covering a total of 4,200 sq.m, 200 direct employees, and 4 dedicated slots for yacht construction, the shipyard is a reference point for many industry players who choose to subcontract their superyacht construction. These elements enable Antonini Navi to offer a wide range of services, including building custom yachts of up to 70 m in length, refitting services, after-sales support, superyacht berthing, and third-party production.
