Nestled in the fabulous Italy yacht charter destination – Liguria, Marina di Loano, owned by Gruppo Unipol, revealed a new Superyacht Area yesterday, on April 17, 2014, confirming its position as European and Mediterranean yachting hub. The Area has been built with cutting edge technology and can accommodate recreational vessels measuring from 55 to 77 metres (180-250ft). More than 100 guests participated in the inauguration, comprising local authorities, superyacht brokers, captains and owners from Italy and abroad, local entrepreneurs, as well as national and international media.

Marina in Loano - Italy - Superyacht Area

Gianluca Santi, President of Marina di Loano, said of the new development: “Through the new Superyacht Area, Marina di Loano consolidates its leadership position in the world of European and international yachting, becoming a benchmark in the large yacht segment. At the same time the Marina offers the whole territory of Western Liguria additional opportunities in terms of accommodation capacity ensuring a positive impact on local tourism”.

According to the latest figures released by Federagenti, the National Maritime Broker and Agent Federation in Italy, the global fleet of yachts over 30 metres (90 feet) will continue to grow steadily in the medium to long term (2015-2032). The figures also demonstrate that the Mediterranean is the destination of choice for 74% of recreational vessels operating in the international charter market and that Italy is the world leader in orders of pleasure craft (36%). In the report Federagenti also states that since 2012, new orders in shipyards that buildyachts of over 30 metres are on the rise having declined between 2009 and 2010.

Thanks to a new mooring plan, Marina di Loano boasts more than 800 berths reserved to vessels ranging between 6 and 25 metres and a total of 32 berths dedicated to recreational yachts measuring up to 77 metres (250 feet), of which seven are in the Superyacht Area.

Marina di Loano - New Superyacht Area

“Our aim was to create a dedicated area on floating pontoons that on one hand would assure the strength and efficiency of a fixed pier and that on the other would offer the flexibility of a floating dock,” explained Marco Cornacchia, Director of Marina di Loano. “This was a challenge from a design point of view as we wanted to make sure that the walkways would aesthetically fit inwith the existing curving fixed pier: the floating quay is 122 metres long and 3,5 metres wide. Finally we had to take into account the significant size of the yachts we were going to be accommodating and the interaction with the three finger pontoons. These are up to 77 metres long and 2,8 metres wide and areanchored to a floating dock, which also has the function of service pier”.

Marina Di Loano inaugurates new Superyacht Area

The mooring system is anchored by 24 steel poles, 14 metres high and with a diameter of 810 mmthat have been driven into the harbour bed up to half their length. Two of the leading companies in the design and construction of this kind of complex structure took part in the project: Interprogetti, an Italian engineering company specialised in maritime and environmental work, and Bellingham Marine, an American company and global leader in building marinas, that specialises in the construction of floating docks.

Marina Di Loano unveils new Superyacht Area

All areas of operation and mooring have a five-metre (17ft) draft and every berth is equipped with IPS Service System columns that include drinking water and electrical power hook-up with free energy up to 400 amperes. Wi-Fi Internet, video surveillance and a fire alarm system are available in the entire area.

Marina di Loano also offers its guests a truly unique experience at the Yacht Club Marina di Loano, which includes nine suites, three meeting rooms, three lounge-bars, a restaurant and a solarium with an outdoor pool,which in the summertime is complemented by the Marina Beach on the east coast. The Amico Loano Shipyard as well as many opportunities that the area offers in terms of diving, tennis, golf clubs and cultural and gastronomic itineraries represent additional advantages for yachtsmen and women who choose to make Marina di Loano their home port.

Marina di Loano in numbers:

State land grant: 60 years
Total land grant area: 356,000 square metres
Total water surface area: 330,000 square metres