There is a sector of Italian industry that knows no crisis, sails in safe waters, increases production, sales, exports, turnover, employment, and looks to the future with the knowledge that these primates are unlikely to be get scratched. It is the nautical sector, in particular the large nautical sector, the one dedicated to the production of super yachts and mega yachts, a sector capable of enhancing engineering skills and design, as well as enhancing the integration between industry and craftsmanship.

In Italy, little is said about it, often focusing attention on collateral aspects, which undermine the real image of the sector (unbridled luxury, exhibitionism, tax evasion). But the reality is different, and there is no shortage of virtuous examples, capable of giving us international consensus.

The most recent proof comes from the United Kingdom, home of Boat International, a prestigious nautical magazine which has been analyzing data from the superyacht market since 1992 to show the scope of a sector with an important global impact. Well, for the 23rd consecutive time the Azimut-Benetti group ranked first in the Global Order Book , the annual ranking of the largest yacht builders (189 shipyards active on 5 continents). A prestigious success, which also involves other big names in our boating industry, such as Sanlorenzo (2nd), The Italian Sea Group (8th), Overmarine (10th), Palumbo (12th), Baglietto (13th), Cantiere delle Marches (19th). The Ferretti Group would also appear among the top three most productive shipyards, but as has already happened in the past, the holding company led by the lawyer Alberto Galassi has remained out of the ranking for not having provided precise data on the size of its orderbook. The same goes for the English of Sunseeker and Princess.

Azimut-Benetti's primacy can be explained by record numbers: there are 168 projects in the pipeline, equivalent to 5,991 meters in length! And in the last year - it is worth remembering - the company founded by Paolo Vitelli has increased its order portfolio up to 2027, recording a production value of more than 1.2 billion euros for the current year.