New refit and repair shipyard launched in Sanya

Sanya Visun Tuscany Yachting Co (VTY) has announced the launch of Visun Tuscany Yacht Repair Service Centre in China, a shipyard dedicated to the repair and refit of yachts of up to 36m (118ft).

VTY is a Chinese law joint venture established in September last year by Toscana Refit, an Italian NewCo and Visun Royal Yacht Club, part of the large Chinese real estate Visun Group and key player in the local yacht industry.

The facility features a 2,000sq m open yard, a 850sq m covered painting shed, 12 berths, 650sq m office space, and is equipped with international level machinery, including a 160 ton boat-hoist and a 150 ton motorized trailer.

The shipyard area will be shared by the Sanya Yacht Harbour Joint Inspection Office, which collects all the different customs bureaus and departments related the maritime industry and will become the general control centre for the importation and visit of vessels from abroad. An on-shore/off-shore bonded warehouse will also be established, which will make possible for foreign yachts to be serviced in the facility without undergoing importation or visiting procedures.

The shipyard will be managed by the Italian party through an experienced Italian general manger and visiting technicians that will be in charge of training the local workers and carrying out the most complex works.

Andrea Giannecchini, the forerunner of the Italian party and chairman of VTY, comments: “The mission of VTY is to collect the same skills, spread all over the Tuscany Region, that for decades have made possible the creation of the most stylish and performing yachts in the world and bring them to China to offer to the local yacht owners a 360 degrees maintenance and refit service and, for the first time, at the same level with the product they bought.”

The launch of the facility is the first step to reach the long-term goal of the company. Chariman of Visun Group, Wang Da Fu, explains: “The phase two of the project is already planned out and it will see the establishment of two more shipyards by the end of 2015. The first of these will have a total investment of about €30 million and will be located in the Yacheng area of Sanya. With an area of 66.000sq m, five covered sheds, one 2000 ton ship-lift and one 900 ton boat-hoist it will be dedicated to servicing mega yachts of up to 80 meters. With the completion of phase two VTY will become in all regards the leader in providing yacht maintenance and refit services in the Asia Pacific region.”

SOURCE: Super Yacht Business