Luxury, exclusivity and all the trappings of wealth are ever-present in Mediterranean tourist ports, particularly in Italy due to its world leading position in the superyacht industry. Although marinas in the Med share much in common, the Italian market has its peculiarities and its areas of growth. Marina World looks into some of the latest regional developments.
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According to an Assomarinas report of its network marinas, carried out in September 2024, Italian prospects for 2025 are positive, with turnover likely to increase in every main area of the sector. This includes the big yacht market, which is driving a slight recovery for yachts under 24 metres which, until yesterday, were suffering.
The Italian picture is also influenced by the impact of almost double the number of imported US boats, and the fear shared by the rest of Europe of the repercussions of raised duties on industry costs and supplies. Alberto Glassi, CEO of Ferretti Group, confirms “there will be an effect.”
Throughout the entire Mediterranean, a wave of unforeseen events, uncertainties, forecasts and visions combine with the single certainty that large yachts, with their impact on both land and sea, require more space and better consideration. Sacred sites, such as Port Hercule in Monaco, Grand Harbour in Malta, Port Vell in Barcelona, Marina Genova in Genoa and, from 2026, D-Marin and Azimut-Benetti’s Porta a Mare in Livorno (Tuscany), and others, are busy implementing improvements or expansions.
Amidst this scenario, it is worth singling out the five projects being undertaken by Luca Dini Design & Architecture in Albania, which are putting the country on the high-flight circuit with regard to destination appeal and yachting facilities. The projects differ significantly from each other, incorporating influences from the past, alongside modern projections, and include tourist ports, towers, villas and luxury resorts. Some blend with natural surroundings while others are futuristic. The 30-storey Durres Tower, for example, is a self-sufficient ‘city’ unto itself with a green ‘lung’ that is spread out over several floors.
Atara Marina, which covers an area of 160,446 square-metres, has eight berths for yachts up to 50 metres and is overlooked by crested hilltops that guard ancient ruins. Krorez Marina is significantly larger (678,788 square-metres), with 231 berths up to 70 metres, and has been entirely designed to offer experiences that benefit well-being, in terms of physical health and lifestyle. The Life Marine Complex, with its 750 berths up to 70 metres, is located along the southern coast. The result is a project that encompasses two tourist ports, villages, hotels, shops, casinos and clubs that are immersed in coastal Mediterranean culture.
Back in Italy, Marina Olbia Yacht Service (MOYS) is building a new dock for superyachts in Marina di Olbia in Sardinia. This will be able to accommodate vessels up to 150 metres and will have a mooring field with 14 buoys for boats of 25 to 55 metres in Baia Marinella. Marina di Olbia is favoured as an urban area with shipyards and offers all essentials for live-aboards even in the winter. The Costa Smeralda International Airport and terminal for private planes is three minutes away by car, and the city centre and ferry terminal just five and seven minutes away.
The marina is the largest supply base on the northern coast of Sardinia and has around 200 metres of dedicated dock space to serve seven vessels at a time. At Baia Marinella, buoys are protected from the prevailing winds for most of the summer months and located in front of Porto Rotondo and the Grand Hotel Abi d’Oru.
The Marina di Porto Rotondo Group, owner of Marina di Porto Rotondo is, meanwhile, progressing several plans. A leading operator in Sardinia’s marina network, the group owns Cala Bitta, Punta Marana and Portus Karalis. Each is to have increased moorings, adapted infrastructure to better fit new boat dimensions, and a new yacht club.
Portus Karalis, with 118 berths, is the only marina in southern Sardinia able to accommodate vessels above 90 metres in length. Its position in the port of Cagliari, a strategic port for cruising to France and Spain, makes it an ideal technical stop-over. Like the other group marinas, its synergy with a shipyard gives it good reception facilities and storage services.
An exciting project is also in hand in Tuscany at the historic Marina di Punta Ala, where a radical €50-60 million two-year redevelopment will significantly modernise the marina. In 2024, the water system and network connection facilities were replaced and infrastructure put in place for fibre optics. The existing breakwater has been extended and an additional attenuator is being built. Both will protect and increase its 885-berth space, all reconfigured to suit bigger vessels. Currently, the maximum size accepted is 28 metres but, when plans are complete, docks will be available for yachts of 30 to 60 metres. The shipyard is being redesigned and expanded with new haul and launch equipment for large yachts, and amenity improvements will include revamped gardens, pedestrian areas, a restaurant and area for fishing boats needing shelter from adverse weather conditions.
The superyacht marina sector is no stranger to big investments and impressive statistics, but recent results posted by Marina Genova (Liguria), better known as Marina Genova Aeroporto are mind-boggling. The marina ended 2024 with a turnover in excess of €15 million (+20% on 2023) and a berth occupancy rate of nigh on 100%. Over six million litres of fuel was supplied (+43% on 2023), 254 superyacht arrivals were logged, and 6,855 stopover days were recorded. Since January, a 7,000m² photovoltaic system has been in operation and five high-power fuel pumps and an electric charge system (up to 320 kW/h) added.
Giuseppe Pappalardo, CEO at Marina Genova for 20 years and an authority in the superyacht marina sector, speaks of new goals for the marina and the influence that wars and taxes could have on Italian and Mediterranean tourist ports:
“Our strategy has always been to invest in the future, anticipating the new needs of large yachts up to 130 metres,” he says. “The traffic generated by super and megayachts in 2024 confirms Marina Genova’s role as the hub for large and very large yachts throughout the year in the heart of the Mediterranean.
“Our main goal is to continue to offer a lively superyacht marina village year-round, ensuring the well-being of all crew, thanks to the experience of our crew social manager, who can guide their free time in terms of outdoor activities, leisure, cultural trips and other things that make the crew feel at home, not alone, and well integrated into village life.
“The biggest challenge we face regarding future technologies is Marina Genova’s entry into the distribution of next-generation clean energy fuels, of which hydrogen is the next bet. We have a clear commitment to respect and protect the environment, with a special focus on the water, through interventions such as five Seabins to catch microplastics, and much more.
“On the renewable energy front, since our big photovoltaic system became operational in January, with 800 panels producing 500 MWh, we have saved over 270 tons of CO2, and helped the self-sufficiency of port activities. We are strongly committed to all these initiatives and, of course, we hope that the necessity for any kind of war, with or without weapons, ends as soon as possible. Our industry has already suffered enough, and we will suffer more from completely unjustified trade restrictions, as the cost increases, loss of purchasing power, and the slowdown and interruption of tourist flows, fundamentally affect our business.”
This article was originally published in issue 149 of Marina World magazine. Click here to read the online version.
