ROSSINAVI
REDEFINING SUSTAINABILITY IN YACHTING
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ROSSINAVI
I PROFILE
Viareggio in northern Tuscany, Italy, is easily the boatbuilding capital of the country, with over a dozen yacht builders located in the town. One of those is Rossinavi, a family-owned builder of bespoke superyachts. Richard Hagan met with COO & Co-owner Federico Rossi, to find out how engineering breakthroughs at Rossinavi, including advanced AI and hybrid propulsion, are blazing a new path in sustainable yachting.
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iareggio’s picturesque seaside, gourmet restaurants and various cultural attractions make it a must-
visit destination for both tourists and locals alike. The town is also the perfect backdrop for Rossinavi, a superyacht builder specialising in the production of custom one-off superyachts ranging in length from 40 to 70 metres. The headturning, eye-catching yachts that have left its sheds over the years have made the yard famous worldwide as the top destination for the most discerning and demanding clients. The company’s ability to cater confidently to high-profile clients seeking the most specific, luxurious and revolutionary yachts, has guaranteed its place amongst the world’s elite yacht builders. And for good reason: not just any yard is capable of undertaking the complex projects routinely demanded by Rossinavi’s clients. This complexity is perfectly encapsulated by Rossinavi’s successful 2015 launch of its flagship project, Taransay, a 38.55m modern replica of a classic motor yacht of the same name that was originally built in 1930. With only a few pictures of the original vessel to go by, in 2013 Rossinavi set out to design and build the new Taransay for an enthusiastic German client. In addition to the lack of source material to inform the new vessel’s design, Rossinavi had to contend with the
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ROSSINAVI
I PROFILE
combined challenges of incorporating modern materials, modern safety regulations and modern equipment into a classic design. Consequently, highly creative engineering solutions can be found throughout the yacht, with one example being removable teak cladding that allows for easy maintenance of Taransay’s decks. “Taransay perfectly demonstrates our ability to build highly complex, full-custom vessels,” said Rossinavi’s COO & Co-owner Federico Rossi. “It required that we repli-
VIDEOWORKS
cate parts and structures that no longer exist on the market, as well as old con-
Founded in 1998, Videoworks is an interna-
struction techniques using new tech-
tional system integrator with 25 years
nology. It was a real milestone project
of experience in the design, construction
for us.”
and installation of innovative audio/video, communication, entertainment, IT and home
A familial foundation
automation systems for the yachting, archi-
Rossinavi began life in the early 1980s
tecture and business sectors.
as a small metal fabrication company with only a handful of employees - all
Since 2015, Videoworks opened branches
Rossi family members - supplying work-
in Schiphol-Rijk (NL), Fort Lauderdale, (FL
boat components to nearby shipyards.
USA), and Istanbul (TR) to better satisfy
Eventually, the company began producing
the demands of the exclusive global
entire vessels on contract for other ship-
yachting market. The company also
yards until, after having successfully built
boasts offices in Cagnes-sur-Mer (FR),
over 100 such vessels over the years, the
Milan and Viareggio (IT).
company made the major decision to rebrand and begin producing its own vessels. Thus in 2008, Rossinavi was born.
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editorial mention
Rossinavi remains a privately held
oration speaks volumes about CGT’s
business, proudly owned and run by
reliability and the integral role this
the Rossi family. Since its rebranding,
company plays in our operations.”
Rossinavi has launched on average two to three vessels per year from its five
Seacat and AI
modern, high-tech facilities all centred in
Rossinavi is blazing a new trail in the sus-
Viareggio. Though it has the capability to
tainability of the yachting sector through
fabricate yachts using any combination
Seacat, a futuristic new build project that
of steel, fibreglass and aluminium,
is putting the industry on notice.
Rossinavi specialises in aluminium fabri-
“Seacat will be the most innovative vessel
cation, of which it uses approximately
in the superyacht market; its launch will take
300 tonnes annually.
our sustainability efforts to extreme lengths,”
The company is staffed by 110 skilled
Mr Rossi revealed. “Seacat is the result of my
employees, evenly split between its
conviction that sustainability is everyone’s
workshops and office facilities.
responsibility, and it is one of the ways in
“CGT has been an invaluable strategic partner to us for a significant duration,
which we will begin to offer clients more sustainable solutions.”
serving as our trusted engine supplier,”
Powered by Rossinavi’s innovative,
said Mr Rossi. “Our longstanding collab-
eco-friendly BluE technology, Seacat is
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ROSSINAVI
I PROFILE
a futuristic 43m hybrid catamaran. Its
combine our technology and knowledge
design incorporates a diesel-electric
with that of our suppliers.”
drivetrain supplied by Siemens Energy,
Another valuable partner is
with whom Rossinavi has a long and
Videoworks, who supplies Rossinavi
close relationship.
with bespoke technology. Solutions
“Siemens Energy is able to guarantee
from Videoworks enable customers
worldwide after-sales support, which is
to manage on-board technology
especially important for advanced
through touch screen devices with
systems like this that are often new for
customised interfaces.
yacht crews,” Mr Rossi explained. “The onboard control room manages 4MW of
Sustainability as a statement
power, so there’s a whole new level of
For transatlantic crossings, Seacat’s large
knowledge that yacht engineers need
onboard solar installation ensures that
to have. Siemens Energy is the perfect
the yacht can spend 80% of its time in
partner for us, given our preference for
full-electric mode, where CO 2 emissions
strong collaborations that allow us to
are reduced by approximately 40 tonnes
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Federico Rossi COO
compared to a traditional yacht of the
is a challenge; the technology behind it
same size.
is a challenge. But with our high-tech
Seacat’s engineering includes an
design, we can define a new kind of
advanced Artificial Intelligence that, with
luxury that moves both people and the
the help of machine learning, monitors all
economy sustainably.”
aspects of the yacht’s operations, ensuring
Rossinavi recently celebrated the
that the propulsion and onboard electricity
opening of its brand-new office in
usage is constantly optimised according
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where the
to the vessel’s location, the time of day
new Rossinavi USA Corporation will be
and how the yacht is being used.
based. To mark the occasion, Rossinavi
“In future, we expect that Seacat’s
will launch two new catamaran design
AI will be able to communicate with
concepts in early 2024. The company
nearby boats to share information
hopes that these designs will bring
and learn from one another,” said
a new generation of American clients
Mr Rossi. “Sustainability in this industry
to the yard.
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