With one of the longest coastlines in Europe and a maritime history spanning centuries, Italy was well positioned when the pleasure-yachting boom began in the 1960s and 1970s. The country not only had the infrastructure to build leisure vessels, but it also offered an alluring cruising ground for boaters. With seemingly everything in its favour, it’s no mystery why Italy’s yachting industry emerged quickly – nor why it has grown exponentially ever since.


In 2022, Altagamma-Deloitte and ICE (Italian Trade Agency) estimated that Italy’s yachtbuilding sector had an economic impact of €11.4 billion and supported around 54,300 jobs. When factoring in marine tourism alongside yacht building, the industry generated a total of €27.7 billion for the Italian economy – especially noteworthy for a country more often associated with fashion, design and luxury cars.
Ferretti's Amor à vida © CRN

At the heart of this success are four dominant shipbuilding groups: Azimut|Benetti, Ferretti, Sanlorenzo and The Italian Sea Group. Each of these conglomerates oversees multiple brands, and despite their varied approaches and output, they are united by certain common threads – chief among them strategic acquisitions.

No company has embraced acquisitions more than the Ferretti Group, which has brought seven brands under its banner since its inception in the late 1960s. This move provides an unparalleled diversity of products and the ability for clients to pivot between Ferretti Group-owned marques (Riva, Wally, Ferretti Yachts, Pershing, Custom Line, Itama and CRN). Brands like Riva, one of the most iconic and legendary makes in all of Italy, sit alongside Wally, the builder known for its avant-garde, spaceship-like styles. Custom Line produces safe and reliable superyachts predominantly in GRP (glass-reinforced plastic), while CRN, the group’s big-yacht arm, prides itself on being a full-custom shipyard, meaning that no two of its steel-and-aluminium giants are ever really the same. Despite keeping its financials under wraps, Ferretti Group’s strategy is clear: cater to every stage of a client’s yachting journey. According to CEO Alberto Galassi, 44 per cent of sales come from clients moving across brands. “It’s a difficult exercise for us, to keep the brands from overlapping,” he admits, “but it’s ultimately crucial.”


The Italian Sea Group has also welcomed new acquisitions, now boasting five brands whose vessels range from ambitious full-custom catamarans to semi-custom yachts built for reliability on the charter market. Its brands include the historic Perini Navi and Picchiotti, Admiral, Tecnomar and refit specialist NCA. Still, in spite of its ample umbrella, the Italian Sea Group tends to focus on refining and streamlining its core product lines.

It’s widely accepted that Azimut|Benetti leads the field when it comes to the number of yachts delivered annually. The group maintains a clear distinction between its two brands: Azimut produces GRP yachts from 13 to 44 metres, catering to day boaters and cruiser enthusiasts; Benetti builds steel and aluminium yachts on proven engineering platforms, offering semi-customisation that ensures the yacht’s key components are the same, but small tweaks and personalisations can still be made.

CEO Marco Valle credits much of the group’s success to this balanced structure, as well as its positioning as a boutique, family-owned business. “We believe this approach helps us stay focused on a clear long-term vision, essential in an industry where decisions have lasting impact,” he explains. Azimut|Benetti also sees strength in its refit business, the Livorno-based refitter Lusben. “Having Lusben within the group allows us to offer our owners top-tier refit and after-sales services that are precise, reliable and fully aligned with the high standards they expect from us,” he points out.

As of 2025, Azimut|Benetti remains the only one of Italy’s Big Four without a sailing-yacht brand in its portfolio. That changed for its rival, the Sanlorenzo Group, in 2024, when it became the latest entrant to the sailing segment when it acquired the historic Finnish builder Nautor Swan (which already had Italian connections through its chairman, the fashion magnate Leonardo Ferragamo). Sanlorenzo CEO Massimo Perotti believes sailing will only flourish in popularity in the coming years. “The new generations are more sensitive and focused on sustainability,” he says. “And there is nothing greener than going to sea powered by the wind.” He adds that modern sailing yachts are increasingly comfortable, making them more appealing for longer periods at sea. “People want to escape the noise of the city,” he explains. “A sailing yacht lets you reconnect with nature.” Perotti seems to be onto something: earlier this year, Nautor Swan signed a deal with actor Tom Cruise for a new Swan 108.
Azimut Grande © Azimut

The acquisition of Nautor Swan was driven by a shared commitment to innovation – a drive shared by all four of Italy’s top shipbuilding groups. In 2024, Sanlorenzo launched the world’s first fuel-cell-powered superyacht, using green methanol to generate electricity from a never-before-seen system on board. Meanwhile, Bluegame, another of its brands, debuted a hydrogen-powered chase boat at the 37th America’s Cup in Barcelona that was able to foil at 50 knots. 


Innovation is also a priority at Azimut, where extensive research and development in hull design have cut fuel consumption on some models by up to 40 per cent. The brand recently introduced its first hybrid model, featuring a proprietary propulsion system now being trialled for future production in the mainstream.

Technological advancement is critical, yes, but it’s also among Italy’s Big Four that new designs are hatched. Features that are now commonplace began with Italian ingenuity, like the open waterfront beach club, which debuted on Benetti’s Oasis deck; the triple-opening beach club below a glass-bottomed pool, now seen on yachts across the world, began with Sanlorenzo.

Sanlorenzo 50 Steel © Sanlorenzo

While it’s more difficult to set design trends with one-off custom creations, The Italian Sea Group has been responsible for some remarkable engineering feats over the years. Its radical catamaran, This Is It, features 600 square metres of glass panelling. The Admiral flagship, Platinum, required third-party validation due to its complex glass shaping and engineering. The group also places huge emphasis on the customer journey, having famously turned its primary yacht-building facility in Carrara, on Italy’s Ligurian coast, into an art gallery-cum-private members’ club. Partnerships, too, are a core value, whether it’s collaborating with Lamborghini on its Tecnomar brand or working with an art foundation on its catamaran ArtExplorer.


Ferretti Group also believes in the importance of positioning its brands as luxury assets. “Our partnerships are very important to us,” said Galassi at a recent event, during which Riva unveiled a pair of bespoke aircraft cabins for private jet company Flexjet. Ferretti also frequently leverages its A-list client base – including David Beckham, Elton John and Charles Leclerc – to market not just boats, but the yachting lifestyle itself.
The Italian Services Group's This Is It © TISG

Indeed, community is key at Ferretti, which frequently gathers its owners together for exclusive galas and one-off experiences, like a trip on the Orient Express. Nautor Swan sees it the same way, having created its own members’ club, ClubSwan, which allows Swan owners to sail and compete against each other in different locations, such as Saint-Tropez and Sardinia.

They may be rivals, but, in the end, Italy’s Big Four operate in distinct niches. Their strategies, specialities and design philosophies diverge, but together they represent the very best of what Italy brings to the global yachting stage – passion, craftsmanship and innovation. And there’s no sign of that slowing down anytime soon.

Header image: © Sanlorenzo