La Ciotat Shipyards seeks partners for new €100m expansion

SEMIDEP-Ciotat has called for partners to invest in the expansion of its La Ciotat Shipyards facility, with the most recent tender relating to a 40,000sqm refit platform dedicated to the haul out and maintenance of superyachts up to 80m LOA or 4,000 tonnes.

SEMIDEP-Ciotat, which manages the impressive array of facilities at La Ciotat, is seeking up to three partners to share in the new €100m investment, which includes exclusive rights to an area that will be serviced by a 4,000-tonne shiplift.

This bespoke project will be available for up to three operators, with design to be tailored the needs of the new investors. The minimum amount has been set at eight million euros per lot, with work estimated to begin at the end of 2019, to be operational by the end of 2021 or start of 2022.

The closing date for tenders is 2^nd February 2018.

Speaking to IBI recently, Jean-Yves Saussol, SEMIDEP’s CEO explained, “This is a new project to develop a new platform with the 4,000 tonne shiplift, which will take four years to complete. It will be ready for late 2021 or the start of the season in 2022. This will be a new platform to add to those that we already have, with the 2,000-tonne platform; the 300 tonne platform and the 200m (656ft) dry dock.”

The new shiplift will be dedicated to yachts over 80m (263ft), but Saussol indicated that the actual technology has not yet been decided on. He said, “We have been in touch with a number of companies, such as Synchrolift, and once we have appointed the partners then we will decide on the right technology for the project.”

By signing with SEMIDEP, the partners will be granted a 35-year operating concession - the longest that can be given within current law. Saussol explained, “With the 2,000-tonne lift project with Monaco Marine as the partner, the concession is for 50 years, but the law has changed and we can now only give 35 years.

“We are already working with a number of partners in the La Ciotat facility, such as Blohm + Voss La Ciotat (a Lürssen subsidiary); Compositeworks and Monaco Marine. These partners may share in the new project.”

In addition to the new refit platform, La Ciotat Shipyards will begin the development of an additional 12,000sqm area in 2018. Currently being underutilised, the new area will be commercialised as a business village, hosting superyacht-related suppliers and subcontractors, with delivery for the first sites planned for 2019.

For more information, visit La Ciotat Shipyards.