Walk the docks and look at the gangways used by British boat builders. Chances are that on the stern of every Sunseeker, Princess, Fairline and Pearl that you spot the passerelle will be of Italian design and manufacture.
Now Phoenix Marine Solutions, a British company based in Peterborough England, look set to turn the tables on the matter having just returned from talks with major Italian Shipyards keen to install British built passerelles on the sterns of Italian built boats.
Elizabeth Noles, MD told us: “Our reception at Italian yards was fantastic, and a little overwhelming really! In the UK we suppliers are made to feel we are the enemy rather than part of the overall solution. But in Italy, the yards were very interested in our current range of products and impressed with our knowledge of our sector.”
“Spending a full day at the group headquarters of Ferretti, we reviewed all new and existing projects with a view to presenting complete mechanical and hydraulic systems for their yacht. Our designs and current solutions including Bathing Platforms, Folding Balconies, Passerelle’s, Garage Door Hinges, Beach Club Door systems, Tender Winches, Trim Tabs and Stainless Steel Cylinders were all discussed in detail for their applications.”
We also met with by Azimut-Bennetti, San Lorenzo and Admiral Tecnomar during our visit in February, and are already working closely with Ferretti and Azimut-Bennetti on a number of new projects.
Phoenix seeks to offer shipyards a one stop shop for all auxiliary hydraulics on-board, with the benefit of space, weight and cost savings. The company designs, engineers and manufactures all of the mechanical mechanisms, hydraulic systems and electronic controls in the UK at their recently upgraded R&D and Manufacturing facilities.
Working closely with the company as technical advisors is Alpha Marine Consultancy(AMC), another British based company expert and well experienced in yacht build, project management, manufacturing techniques following many years of yacht operations.
With their current track record of high quality, flawless designs and zero failure rate Phoenix are well on their way to the top of the industry.
Which begs the question?
When the Italian Shipyards are so interested in UK designed and manufactured systems, why is it that British Boat Builders Shipyards still choosing to go abroad to Italy for theirs?