Ciotat shipyard set to reopen

Those who take their megayachts to Monaco this summer will have a new place to go if repairs are required. La Ciotat, the new shipyard from Monaco Marine and Semidep is possibly the largest megayacht facility in the Mediterranean.

Construction began in 2005 on this huge facility in the French port of Ciotat which covers a total of 35,000 square meters and can haul up 14 yachts from 40 to 80 meters. The yard has a 2,000 ton yacht lifting dock, a massive 90 metre climate controlled painting shed and a large building dedicated to workshops and offices. The large lifting dock can lift a vessel up in 30 minutes and the whole hoisting and transfer operation will take around three or four hours. Each yacht station on dry land has electricity, telephone and Internet access, compressed air and both fresh and sea water so that all board equipment can remain hooked up. The yard should officially be open in April.