Navaltecnosud Develops 200-Tonne Supports for Superyacht Yards

Larger yachts create new engineering problems when hauled ashore

Navaltecnosud Boat Stand is developing yacht cradles and independent supports with individual load ratings reaching 100 to 200 tonnes. The Italian supplier says demand is being driven by the increasing size and displacement of yachts, which cannot always be handled safely using the standard equipment developed for much smaller craft.

The change is more complicated than simply manufacturing a heavier steel stand. A hull has specific areas designed to accept concentrated loads, and a large yacht resting ashore transfers forces through those points into the supporting equipment and the surface beneath it. A support system must therefore be engineered around the individual structure and the yard's ground conditions.

Customisation is now half the company's work

Roberto Spadavecchia, representing Navaltecnosud, says roughly half the equipment the company produces is customised. Yards are requesting cradles, shores and storage solutions that address particular hull geometry, displacement and site restrictions, rather than choosing from a uniform product list.

The manufacturer may request construction drawings or detailed hull plans when the intended contact areas are difficult to assess. These documents help identify frames, reinforced areas and the position of major machinery, although the final safe lifting plan also requires information about the yacht's actual loading condition.

A capacity rating must not be confused with an installation plan

A stand rated at 200 tonnes does not guarantee that a yacht can apply that force at any arbitrary point. The safe arrangement also depends on the total number of supports, angle of contact, hull strength, foundation conditions and whether the vessel can move as machinery or people work aboard.

Major refits may involve removing engines, filling or emptying tanks and moving heavy equipment. Each can shift the vessel's weight distribution while it is ashore. The blocking plan may therefore need reassessment as a project progresses rather than remaining unchanged from the moment of lift-out.

Certified equipment can reduce improvised yard fabrication

Shipyards sometimes fabricate bespoke cradles internally, using welders and engineers whose time is also needed for the yacht's own repairs. A specialist supplier offering documented design and appropriate certification can potentially simplify preparation and help the yard concentrate personnel on maintenance and construction work.

However, buying manufactured supports does not transfer every responsibility away from the operator. Installation, inspection, load monitoring and safe access remain subject to site procedures and the competent technical team. Equipment that is poorly placed can be dangerous despite having an adequate nominal rating.

The broader trend is investment around the shipyard

Navaltecnosud also works on storage systems and rack installations internationally, illustrating a broader market for equipment that supports yacht construction and refit without being installed aboard a vessel itself. These businesses are part of the infrastructure owners rarely see when inspecting a new yacht.

As hull sizes and refit complexity increase, lifting machines, hardstanding, supports and trained personnel must develop together. A yard's ability to advertise capacity for a larger yacht ultimately depends on the complete system rather than on any one high-capacity cradle.