Balmaris has completed its first marina acquisition with the purchase of Moniga Porto Nautica on Lake Garda in northern Italy. The newly established collection of boutique marinas aims to build a presence across Europe by strengthening marina infrastructure and services and preserving the local identity of each destination.
Established in 2005, Moniga Porto Nautica has grown into one of the leading full-service marinas on the lake under the ownership of Laura Fadabini and Roberto Vassalli. The marina offers 220 wet berths and 170 dry berths, on-site catering and authorised dealerships for Van Dutch and Cranchi yachts.
A year-round boatyard supports maintenance and refit work, supported by a 20-tonne fixed crane, more than 6,000sqm of hangar space, dockside services, a fuel station and private parking. The marina’s current management will remain involved in the coming years, a step Balmaris said will provide continuity for clients and staff.
Reflecting on the decision to hand over the marina, Fadabini and Vassalli commented: “We built Moniga from scratch over the past twenty years, and choosing who would carry it forward was not a decision we took lightly.”
Baltisse, the investment holding of the Balcaen family, launched Balmaris this year to acquire and support premium marinas across Europe. According to the group, it plans to retain local marina teams and character while supporting infrastructure, services and long-term investment across its portfolio.
Fadabini and Vassalli added: “In Balmaris we found a partner that understands and values what makes this place special, its people, its setting and its service levels, and that has the patience and the means to take it further. We are proud to see Moniga become the first marina in the collection and are already planning further improvements in the infrastructure and services.”
Derek van Brussel, founder of Balmaris, stated: “Balmaris is built on a simple idea: keep what makes each marina distinctive, and add the strength of a group behind it. With exceptional service levels, Moniga sets the standard we want for the collection. It is the first of several acquisitions we intend to make in Italy and other European countries.”
Andreas Schryvers, investment manager at Baltisse, said: “As a family holding investing its own capital, we can back businesses without the deadlines of a traditional fund and give their teams the time, resources and support they need to do things properly. Moniga is exactly the kind of marina we want at the heart of Balmaris: full-service and exceptionally well run.”
