Benetti

Infobox_Company
company_name = Benetti S.p.A.
foundation = 1873
location = Viareggio, Italy
key_people = Lorenzo Benetti (till 1914))

industry = Yacht Building,
Ship Building
products = Yachts
revenue = Unknown
homepage = [http://www.benettiyachts.it Official Website]

Benetti is an Italian shipbuilding and Boat building company based in Viareggio, Livorno and Fano, owned by Azimut

Benetti designs and constructs motoryachts, and is one of the leading builders of custom superyachts.

History

Founded in 1873, when Lorenzo Benetti (1844 - 1914) bought the Darsena Luca shipyard to found the Benetti shipyard. The yard built commercial vessels, including fishing boats and Mediterranean trading ships. On his death in 1914, his sons Gino and Emilio took over, and renamed the yard Fratelli Benetti. They continued using wooden construction, but now built ocean-going ships, and some private yachts. After the death of Gino in 1927, his sons Gusieppe and Girvilio took over his share, while Muarizio and Bertani assisted their father Emilio.

During World War II, the yard built medium sized military vessels in steel, but due to highly effective bombing, the production was severely limited. After the war, and with restrictions on Italy on what she could produce militariliy, the yard produced the first steel-hulled diesel powered vessel in the locality, the "Raphaelo". In 1954, Fratelli Benetti split its sailing and yacht business (Gino's family), from the commercial ship building business which continues under the name M&B Benetti (Emilio's family). Emilio has a holding in both companies, and chairs both companies.

In 1963, Emilio dies and the running of Fratelli Benetti is taken over by Gusieppe and his son Lorenzo. Lorenzo is the driver of the yacht business, moving instantly from wooden to steel construction, and designing three styles of yacht which will bring the name Benetti to the world: the Delfino, the Tirreno and the Meditteraneo lines (from 18 to 33 metres). Demand for these vessels outstripped the capabilities of the yard. In 1978, the yard launches the "Viano", a sailing yacht which on corrected times wins the Admirals Cup. In 1979, the yard launches "Nabila" for Adnan Khashoggi, which at 83 metres and 2465 tonnes is the largest yacht of its time.

ale to Azimut

Lorenzo died in 1980 and the company fell into financial difficulties until 1984, when it was purchased by Paolo Vitelli, the owner of Azimut, who renamed it Benetti Shipyard.

In 1988, Benetti built a ship to challenge for the transatlantic Blue Riband award but its efforts proved unsuccessful.

Today

In 1997, the yard was vastly expanded at Viareggio to 10,000sq metres to allow indoor building of yachts up to 70metres, and the expanison continued with the purchase of the Siar-Moschino yard in Fano in 1998, taking the total capacity to 44,000sq metres. In 1990, Benetti took over the 47,000sq metres Lusben yard in Viareggio, to allow for construction of both the Azimut range up to 100 ft, and the composite Benetti range. In 2003, Azimut-Benetti bought the Livorno yard. But Benetti Yachts are some of the best known in world yacht building. Some of the most known models of Benetti are: "Benetti Tradition", "Benetti Classic", "Benetti Vision" and "Benetti VB". All these models are giving to the all customers a nice place for their holiday and for their comfort on board.

Benetti Models

"Benetti Tradition" is model of tradition yachts built by Benetti Yard. The yachts from that series are looking beautiful and very nice. The largest model from this serie is 99 feet, which is pretty large size for yacht. The luxury of the yacht is all around and the engines are Caterpillar C18, which is one very useful and reliable engine for yachts from this class. The material ffor the hull is fiberglass. The maximum speed of Benetti Tradition 99 is 15 knots."Benetti Classic" is one classical yacht, with outlooking very similar to those of Benetti Tradition, but with a little bit larger sizes. The sizes of the yachts from series Benetti Classic are between 99 feet to 120 feet. The main engines used here are two Caterpillar C30, with higher power of 1,650 hp (each), which is giving a maximum speed of 16 knots."Benetti Vision" is one more modern style yacht with large measurements up to 143 feet. The beauty of this yacht is in the whole atmosphere and nice shape and exterior. Benetti Vision has two main engines of Caterpillar 3508B, with maximum power of 1,300 hp (each). This is giving to the yacht maximum speed of 15 knots. A little bit less than Benetti Classic series, but with lower fuel consumption. The yacht is very beautiful designed interior with equipment for watersports and fishing. This is giving to the all guests a garancy for nice time on board."Benetti VB" is the last series, but absolutely most interesting in Benetti yacht building. This is the series of super yachts built by the famoust yard. Some of the names of the yacht built by Benetti in the series VB are called Amnesia, I Dinasty, Wind, Alibella and many more. All of these yachts are from the highest level of luxury, comfort and expences.

uper Yachts

Benetti have built super yachts for many customers, including:
*"Nabila" for Adnan Khashoggi
*"Reverie" for Kjell Inge Røkke
*"Lionheart" for the Monaco based Philip Green

ee also

* List of large sailing yachts

External links

* [http://www.benettiyachts.it Official homepage]
* [http://www.ships-info.info/yacht-Benetti-85.htm Benetti 85]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/business_azimut_benetti/html/1.stm BBC News Photo tour of the Benetti factory]