Lloyd’s Register Certifies VMG Sagunto’s 5,000-Tonne Yacht Shiplift

Lloyd’s Register has presented class certification for VMG Astilleros de Sagunto’s 5,000-tonne yacht-dedicated shiplift at the Monaco Yacht Show 2026. The presentation on 24 September adds an independently assessed safety milestone to the Spanish yard’s new large-yacht refit infrastructure, which was already classed by LR in April.

SYG previously covered the shiplift becoming operational; the new development is the formal classification recognition and the technical assurance it provides. For an owner or yacht manager considering a major lift, the question extends beyond headline tonnage to the standards governing the entire lifting arrangement.

102 metres of platform and 5,000 tonnes of lifting capacity

The shiplift platform measures 102 metres long and 22 metres wide, and is described by LR as the largest yacht-dedicated installation of its kind. The capacity creates another option for major refit, repair and maintenance projects involving large yachts that might otherwise have a limited selection of suitable yards.

After lifting, vessels can be transferred to land-level repair positions using self-propelled modular transporters, or SPMTs, across a 76,800-square-metre hard-standing area. The transporters give the yard flexibility in positioning vessels and planning concurrent work, subject to the facility’s engineering and operating procedures.

Class examines the lifting appliance, not merely the load figure

LR says its classification verifies compliance with its Regulations for Lifting Appliances in a Marine Environment. This provides a recognised framework for assessing the safety and operational integrity of the installation, rather than relying solely on a stated capacity or a successful initial demonstration.

Certification should still be considered alongside project-specific lift planning, vessel weights, docking arrangements and the yard’s procedures. A captain or owner’s representative needs a suitable plan for the particular vessel and cannot infer that every yacht within the headline tonnage can be handled without further technical checks.

Sagunto strengthens mainland Spain’s refit network

The facility forms part of VMG’s ambition to develop a major superyacht service centre at Sagunto. An earlier partnership with Astilleros de Mallorca is intended to combine existing refit expertise with the new mainland infrastructure, including work on yachts exceeding 75 metres.

The ceremony in Monaco puts the certification in front of owners, captains, surveyors and project managers during the industry’s main autumn show. Its operational value will be measured in safe lifts, reliable scheduling and the depth of services available once each yacht is ashore.