Lusben Expands Refit Capacity With 720t Lift and 180m Floating Dock Upgrade

Viareggio adds a 720-tonne travel lift

Lusben has expanded its Viareggio refit capability with a new 720-tonne travel lift designed to handle yachts up to about 55 metres. The equipment increases the size of yacht that can be lifted ashore at the site and gives project teams more flexibility for hull, propulsion, paint and structural work away from the water.

The investment forms part of a wider infrastructure programme across Lusben’s three operating locations in Viareggio, Livorno and Varazze. The Azimut|Benetti Group refit division is presenting those upgrades during the 2026 show season as it marks 70 years since the company was founded in Viareggio in 1956.

Livorno’s 180m floating dock remains central to large-yacht work

At Livorno, Lusben is working on the 180-metre floating dock Mediterraneo, one of the key pieces of infrastructure supporting the yard’s largest projects. The dock has an 18,000-tonne capacity and forms part of a site designed to accommodate very large motor and sailing yachts.

The Livorno facility also includes a large hardstanding and mooring area, a ship lift and a dedicated keel pit for deep-draught sailing yachts. Together, those assets allow Lusben to allocate different types of refit work across the site rather than relying on a single dock or berth for complex projects.

Crew facilities become part of the refit investment

Lusben is also developing a new crew lounge in Livorno for crews staying at the yard during maintenance and refit periods. That investment reflects the fact that major yard periods can last for months, making shore-side working and living facilities an important part of the service offered to captains and crew.

For owners and managers, crew support can also affect project efficiency because the onboard team often remains directly involved in surveys, testing, acceptance and operational decisions. Better shore infrastructure therefore supports the technical work rather than sitting entirely outside it.

Growing fleet increases demand for heavy refit infrastructure

The refit market is expanding as the global superyacht fleet grows older and more numerous. Larger yachts also require heavier lifting capacity, deeper berths, more powerful dock infrastructure and specialist trades, particularly when projects move beyond routine maintenance into major system replacement or structural modification.

Lusben’s current programme is aimed at increasing that capacity while keeping the three-yard model in place. The result is a network able to direct yachts to different facilities according to length, draught, project type and the specific equipment required for the work.