MB92 La Ciotat welcomes first client onto the new 4,300t shiplift

MB92 La Ciotat, France’s leading superyacht refit shipyard, announced today that the new 4,300-tonne shiplift has successfully hauled out its first client, the 60-metre superyacht ‘Bella Vita’, built by Lürssen in 2010. She will be joined by a number of other large yachts over the coming weeks before the platform is formally inaugurated later this year.

The construction of the 4,300t facility, which can accommodate six superyachts simultaneously up to 115 metres in length, represents a total investment of €47.6 million for MB92 Group and was delivered on time despite multiple challenges from Covid-19 and supply chain issues.

The works, managed alongside La Ciotat Shipyards over the past 30 months, brought together 80 companies and involved the tenacity and professionalism of hundreds of people to create one of the industry’s most technologically and environmentally innovative superyacht platforms.

Highest industry standards with regards to safety, security and sustainability

In addition to standard amenities, the facility hosts a number of innovative features aimed at ensuring ultimate safety and security for each yacht while significantly reducing the project’s ecological footprint:

Safety & Security:

• Innovative solid chain jack lifting system with built in redundancy for safety.
• Accurate position control and synchronisation providing a perfectly level lift within 10mm across the entire platform.
• Closed Area with dedicated access control centre (ISPS compliance ongoing) in addition to main shipyard security gate.
• 24/7 Video Surveillance.

Environmental features:

• Onshore power up to 2400 Amps per vessel.
• Black and grey water collection central collection and processing.
• Zero discharge waste and run-off water treatment system to ensure zero sea water contamination
• Waste recycling centres for each yacht.
• Huge central compressed air system with noise treatment cabin to reduce localised noise near vessels
• The world’s largest harbour-based ​artificial fish nursery (see here additional info).
• Electric vehicle recharging stations.

Ben Mennem, CEO of MB92 La Ciotat, said: “The launch of the new shiplift is a historic event for the shipyard and the beginning of a new era for our company, enabling us to develop our activity while providing an unbeatable refit experience to our clients and jobs for the local community.”

The new 4,300 tonne facility perfectly complements the shipyard’s existing range of berthing solutions that cater for all segments of the superyacht market. A 300t travelift for 14 yachts up to 50 metres (300t Origins), a 2,000-tonne shiplift for 4 superyachts up to 80 metres LOA and the 200-metre drydock that can accommodate between 1 and 4 yachts simultaneously.