The Economic Development Commission (EDC) of Florida’s Space Coast is pleased to announce that Bertram Yacht, a legendary American yacht brand as well as respected builder of luxury sport-fishing yachts, will start moving from Miami, Florida to a new facility in Merritt Island, Florida in June 2012.
Bertram 800 Superyacht by Bertram Yacht
The new state-of-the-art boat manufacturing and marina facility in Merritt Island is situated on a 37-acre site which provides significant opportunity for future expansion of the Bertram brand. The property is conveniently located 45 miles from the Orlando airport and within minutes of the open ocean, making the location ideal for product testing, distribution and deliveries throughout Florida and the Eastern Seaboard. The new facility will use environmentally sound manufacturing practices including a low emission lamination process that incorporates infusion techniques to manufacture fiberglass parts.
“Bertram Yacht’s relocation will create more awareness of our state’s dynamic marine industry and make a very positive impact on the local economy,” said Gray Swoope, president & CEO of Enterprise Florida, Inc., the state’s lead economic development organization.
Moving the Bertram organization is a major undertaking. Relocation of the historic Bertram operating and manufacturing operations requires a unique convergence of financial, property and facility components to facilitate such a significant endeavor. The EDC worked closely with the Bertram Yacht to develop comprehensive proposals for state and local officials to obtain incentives which will assist in offsetting the cost for relocation and startup of the new facility.
“Bertram Yacht is a legendary brand and we are pleased to keep this company with a strong Florida history in the state,” said Lynda Weatherman, president & CEO of the Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast. “The company recognized the competitive advantages of a Space Coast location, particularly within our high-tech workforce. Bertram Yacht’s creation of new jobs is a positive step in mitigating the effects of our post-Shuttle economy. We welcome Alton and the Bertram Yacht team and we look forward to the company’s continued success and growth on the Space Coast.”
Bertram Yacht will relocate key management and production employees to the new facility, however, the new plant will also draw on the skilled labor force available in the Space Coast region, particularly those with experience in the marine and aerospace sectors, bringing more than 220 jobs to the region. The new production operation will also create significant demand for parts and services from local suppliers and contractors.
“We at Bertram Yacht deeply value our 50 years of history and culture in the state of Florida and are enthusiastic to remain in the state. We appreciate the EDC’s assistance and look forward to growing in an area with a highly skilled workforce that will help us build Bertram yachts that are so well known for hardcore saltwater sportfishing,” commented Alton Herndon, President of Bertram Yacht. “We also plan to bring many existing Bertram employees to Merritt Island to help establish our roots and keep the Bertram legacy growing,” added Herndon.
Bertram Yacht’s move to Merritt Island serves not only as a new foundation for the companys future but brings to fruition the successful changes and the new strategy developed and initiated within the last two years by the Bertram Management team. The brand new facility will also be an opportunity to implement new production processes and systems to continuously enhance and innovate the Bertram model range.
The Ferretti Group, one of the world leaders in the construction of motor yachts, and parent company of Bertram Yacht, recognizes the tremendous potential for the Bertram brand and has made a significant investment and commitment to Bertram and the American manufacturing organization. “Bertram is one of the best known yacht brands in the world and we are fully committed to support the Bertram management team as we embark on a new era for this iconic American brand,” said Norberto Ferretti, Founder and Chairman of the Ferretti Group.
Bertram will complete the current models in production through the summer of 2012 and will begin relocating key models and production to the new facility this fall in preparation to launch the first Merritt Island built models in early 2013.
BERTRAM AND THE FERRETTI GROUP
Bertram is a brand of Ferretti Group, a world leader in the design, construction and sale of motor yachts with a unique portfolio of some of the most exclusive, prestigious brands in the nautical world: Ferretti Yachts, Pershing, Itama, Bertram, Riva, Mochi Craft, CRN and Ferretti Custom Line.
The Ferretti Group, founded in 1968, is led by Chairman and Founder Norberto Ferretti and by CEO Giancarlo Galeone, has always been at the very heights of the pleasure boating market due to constant product and process innovation, continuous research and development and cutting-edge technological solutions.
The Group is present in the United States through its subsidiary Ferretti Group America, which manages a network of Sales Centers specializing in the distribution and sales of the Group’s brands throughout the North American market, and in Asia, through a representative and promotion office in Shanghai.
Overall the Group is represented by an exclusive network of around 60 carefully selected dealers globally with a presence in over 80 countries, thereby ensuring valued clients receive the very best customer service and support in marinas all over the world.
The Group has always been at the top of the yachting industry, due to constant product and process innovation and continuous research in innovative technology solutions. The Group’s comprehensive portfolio of yachts include flybridges, runabouts, open yachts, coupe yachts, lobster boats, fisherman yachts, maxi yachts and mega-yachts that are designed by highly specialized technicians and engineers at the Advanced Yacht Technology (AYT) research and design center in close collaboration with the skilful team of architects and designers at Centro Stile Ferrettigroup.
The teams are constantly developing their internal expertise while working together with internationally renowned yacht designers and naval architects. As a result, Ferretti Group’s yachts have always been characterized by high quality, best-in-class safety features, outstanding performance at sea; together with exclusive designs and timeless elegance, which are unparalleled in the boating sector worldwide.
