Seventy years is an age that commands respect in Italian industry. Few companies reach such a milestone while maintaining a clear identity, operating in a growing market and pursuing a concrete development strategy. Lusben has achieved exactly that, following a path that reflects not only its own evolution but also the broader story of Italian yachting.

It was 1956 when Luschi and Benelli founded Lusben Craft in Viareggio. At the time, the Tuscan town was undergoing one of the most significant transformations in its history: working boats were gradually giving way to pleasure yachts, and what had once been a harbour of fishermen and master shipwrights was becoming one of the emerging centres of global yachting. Benetti was already operating in this environment, building large yachts and helping establish the reputation of Italian boatbuilding beyond national borders.

Lusben was born within this ecosystem, absorbing its manufacturing culture and, from the outset, choosing a specialization that was far from obvious at the time: refit as a structured process rather than an emergency repair service. The distinction is important. Treating maintenance and refitting as planned, organized and quality-driven activities anticipated by several decades a concept that the market now fully embraces: a yacht’s life does not end at the shipyard—it returns there. And returning under the right conditions makes all the difference.

The company took a major step forward in the early 2000s, when Paolo Vitelli—founder of Azimut|Benetti, a leader in yacht construction above 24 metres for the past 25 years—integrated Lusben into the Group. This was not a routine acquisition. It represented recognition that refit is an essential part of the industrial value chain, complementary to new construction and crucial for maintaining a long-term relationship with yacht owners. From that point onward, Lusben grew as a dedicated division rather than a supporting activity.

Today, the company operates from three sites—Livorno, Viareggio and Varazze—with the capability to service vessels ranging from 30 metres to over 100 metres in length. Each facility has its own specialization. Varazze focuses on smaller and mid-sized yachts; Viareggio serves the 40- to 55-metre segment and is preparing for further expansion through the installation of a 720-ton travel lift; Livorno has become the company’s centre of excellence for major refit projects. The Livorno facility, acquired in 2004 and progressively transformed into a hub for complex projects on yachts above 50 metres, has been the focus of Lusben’s most significant investment programme. Approximately €12 million has been allocated to docks, hard-standing areas and logistics infrastructure, with an additional investment phase soon to begin for new crew facilities and further expansion within the Morosini Dock area.

The scale of the operation is substantial: 220,000 square metres of shipyard and water basin, a 180-metre floating dock capable of handling vessels up to 18,000 tonnes, laser scanning technology and 3D modelling systems used to plan and manage projects with precision.

Among the projects that illustrate the complexity of work performed at this level are the hull extension of the motoryacht Masquenada—a highly sophisticated naval engineering operation—and the refit of the Benetti Alfa, which involved a complete renewal of paintwork, onboard systems and interiors on a relatively young yacht. These projects go well beyond routine maintenance. They represent true regeneration. Another segment on which Lusben is investing heavily is sailing yachts. Historically less represented within the refit industry, this market is now expanding rapidly. In Livorno, the company has developed a dedicated keel pit designed to accommodate yachts with deep or lifting keels of up to approximately seven metres. Supporting these operations is a workforce whose technical expertise has been built over many years.

The company’s overall activity level speaks for itself: approximately 80 projects annually across Livorno and Viareggio. These projects are now distributed throughout the year rather than concentrated within traditional seasonal peaks, reflecting a more sophisticated approach by yacht owners, who increasingly coordinate refit schedules with cruising programmes across different regions of the world.

Market dynamics continue to support this trend. The global yacht fleet is growing, vessels remain in service for longer periods, and between 2026 and 2027 a significant wave of five-year class surveys is expected to generate demand for interventions extending well beyond regulatory requirements. Technological upgrades, machinery improvements and layout modifications are becoming increasingly common. In a Mediterranean market where Barcelona and Palma are strengthening their positions in the refit sector, Lusben’s response is based on direct control of the entire process. Rather than relying on fragmented networks of independent contractors, the company operates with centralized project management, an in-house technical department, collaboration with Benetti’s Style Department and Yachtique for architectural aspects, and dedicated personnel overseeing quality control and project progress.

One challenge remains shared with the wider industry: attracting and retaining skilled professionals. Carpenters, welders, electricians and pipefitters are increasingly difficult to find, and Italian shipbuilding risks losing some of the specialist expertise that has historically been one of its greatest strengths. Addressing this issue requires more than infrastructure investment. It calls for stronger collaboration between companies, technical institutes and vocational training organizations.

Meanwhile, Lusben continues to strengthen its commercial presence closer to its clients. A sales point in Antibes is already operational, a new office in Genoa is under development, and participation in major international events—including the Monaco Yacht Show and the Cannes Yachting Festival—helps maintain visibility in the markets that matter most.

Seventy years after that first workshop opened in Viareggio, Lusben does not appear to be a company celebrating its past. It is celebrating because it has a clear vision of its future.