From Function to Emotion

Forte Yachts, West Navaltech’s new brand, is born: a project that brings the experience gained in the construction of workboats and components for large shipyards to the high-end yacht market, blending technology, craftsmanship, and emotional design.

Along the Miglio Blu of Italian shipbuilding, in Ameglia (La Spezia), stands West Navaltech, a young company already recognized as a reliable partner for major yards and for the professional shipbuilding sector. Founded in 2019, in just a few years it has established itself in two parallel sectors:

• the construction of aluminum and steel workboats ranging from 14 to 50 m in length – from passenger boats to special units, including a fully electric catamaran launched in September for a resort in Saudi Arabia;
• the production of high-tech components for the superyacht sector, such as hatches, gangways, bulwarks, and balconies.

Beginnings

“Our story began in the commercial sector,” says Fernando Moricca, co-founder of West Navaltech, “but within a few years we carved out a recognized role for ourselves in the world of luxury yacht construction as suppliers of aluminum solutions for shipyards such as Sanlorenzo, Benetti, and Baglietto. The quality of our workmanship and the reliability of our designs have allowed us to grow rapidly, to the point where we have now taken what we consider to be a natural step: creating our own yacht brand.”

Forte Yachts

That brand is Forte Yachts, with which West Navaltech is entering the leisure market directly.

“For me and my partner Livio Franchini,” continues Moricca, “Forte represents a dream we have been cultivating for years: to transfer the solidity, precision, and mentality of the commercial world to high-end recreational boating. The name came about almost by chance during a meeting in Forte dei Marmi, but we immediately liked it: short, direct, and easy to understand all over the world.”

Forte 47: a 14.3-m aluminum boat

The debut is marked by the Forte 47, a 14.3-m aluminum boat that defines a new direction in custom yacht design.

“We have three distinctive features,” Moricca points out:
• aluminum as a construction material, which offers enormous advantages in terms of strength and personalization;
• 6m-long side terraces, which transform the cockpit into a beach club unprecedented for this size;
• interior volumes that offer the livability of a 57-foot boat.

“These are tangible elements that immediately make the difference apparent to anyone who steps on board.”

Positioning and Target

Forte Yachts’ positioning is clear: a top-of-the-range product.

“We are not targeting customers who are looking for compromise,” Moricca explains, “but owners who want quality, exclusivity, and a direct relationship with the shipyard. Aluminum allows for a much greater level of customization than a fiberglass hull: from interior layouts to deck solutions, everything can be adapted. Our mission is to pamper the owner with availability and attention, not with discounts.”

Progressive Growth

The Forte 47 is the entry-level model in the range, but the company is already looking beyond it. A newly acquired facility will allow the shipyard to build 4–5 boats per year. Their business plan calls for one boat in the first year, two in the second, and then progressive growth.

“After the launch of the Forte 47,” Moricca emphasizes, “we will immediately start the second unit on spec, taking it to a level that leaves room for customization by the future owner. The goal is to deliver a boat in 8–10 months, which is competitive for the segment. Looking ahead, the idea is to expand the range with larger models.”

Embracing the Challenge

For West Navaltech, Forte Yachts represents a diversification of business but also a cultural evolution. “We are not abandoning the commercial sector, which remains solid,” concludes Moricca, “but with Forte we want to measure ourselves against a more emotional market, more linked to lifestyle. The challenge is to transfer the same reliability demanded by fire departments or resorts that commission work boats from us to luxury yacht engineering. Those who choose a Forte must be assured of a seaworthy, solid, safe, and at the same time refined boat.”

The Engineer’s Voice

If Fernando Moricca represents West Navaltech’s entrepreneurial vision, Livio Franchini is the technical soul of the project. A naval engineer, he led the development of the Forte 47 from a construction and plant engineering point of view.

From a technical point of view, what are the main features of the Forte 47?
Definitely the use of aluminum for the hull and deckhouse. It was a decisive choice: it allowed us to push beyond traditional limits, creating six-meter-long opening terraces amidships, a size that would be difficult to achieve with other materials. Aluminum also allows for extensive customization: the layout of the lower deck, for example, can be modified without the constraints of molds or fixed bulkheads, with much lower customization times and costs for the owner.

What were the main engineering challenges?
The first was to optimize the waterlines to achieve a perfect compromise between nautical properties and internal volumes. The second was the structural definition of the terraces and their interfaces with the hull. We designed them with an approach typical of superyachts: precise controls, laser measurements during welding, and tolerances reduced to a minimum.

Did you transfer commercial sector processes to the construction of Forte 47?
Many. All welds underwent non-destructive testing, which is rare in recreational boating. We implemented weekly quality checklists to monitor the work and relied on suppliers who regularly work in the superyacht sector for vessels over 40 m. This approach allowed us to raise construction standards above the industry average and strengthen our reputation for marine engineering excellence.

A 47-foot Boat That Thinks Big

The Forte 47 debuts with elegant lines, superyacht-style side terraces, and 57-foot interior volumes: an aluminum yacht that combines performance, customization, and attention to detail.

Designed by Paolo Giordano for the exterior and interior, with naval architecture by Umberto Tagliavini Marine Design, the Forte 47 is built in aluminum, a material that has always been West Navaltech’s specialty.

“We wanted to create soft but not extreme shapes, with a style that is both elegant and sporty,” says Giordano. “The focal point is the full-beam hardtop, which allows you to enjoy the main deck in all conditions, amplifying the perception of space and integrating with the side terraces.”

A distinctive feature of the Forte 47 are the 6m-long side terraces. The opening leads to a total cockpit area of over 40 sq.m, with a maximum width of 6.5 m. This transforms the stern area into a multifunctional beach club and sets a new benchmark in yacht innovation for this category.

Sober and Welcoming Luxury

The interiors reflect a sober and welcoming luxury. “We chose warm tones, simple geometries, and clean lines. Wooden floors, glossy and matte lacquers, gold-finish details: luxury here is not ostentation, but a refined atmosphere,” concludes Giordano. “We want those who see it to immediately recognize the Forte Yachts style: generous proportions, livable spaces, and a contemporary approach to the sea.”