Marine services agency BWA Yachting has opened a new office located inside La Ciotat Shipyards, one of the world’s largest super-yacht refit shipyard with a unique range of services and worldwide connections.
Situated between Toulon and Marseille in the heart of the Provence, La Ciotat revamped itself in the beginning of the 2000s as an important pleasure boat harbour with the biggest elevator for mega-yachts in Europe. Add to that its beautiful beaches, its many sports and water activities, many churches and historic monuments, some of the most famous ski destination at few hours drive, and it’s clear why La Ciotat has become a very popular vacation destination both in Summer and Winter.
“La Ciotat was a sensible choice for us and for our clients,” says Paschalis Patsiokas, BWA Yachting CEO. “The exceptional growth of La Ciotat Shipyards and the strength of the yachting community in the region make it the perfect place to expand our operations, and to offer our great super-yacht service to captains in the area. La Ciotat Shipyards currently owns an important market share of the superyacht refit industry and is equipped to accommodate yachts measuring up to 200 metres, a true rarity in the western Mediterranean area. Furthermore, since La Ciotat dry dock is managed by the Barcelona superyacht refit firm MB92, this gives us the chance to grow our long-running partnership with the Spanish refit centre stronger”, he adds. “Yachting is a truly global industry, and La Ciotat has fantastic business connections with the yachting community all over the world, so we will not only be able to expand our business in the region, but it will also strengthen our connections worldwide”, he concludes.
The new La Ciotat office, is run by Malourène Corbeille, who closely cooperates with Sarah Futhazar, BWA Yachting France operations manager.
With a network of offices in the Mediterranean, Caribbean and Americas, the yachting services provider helps yacht managers, captains and crew with the increasing demands of managing a modern superyacht. Their broad range of marine agency services provided includes fully integrated global packages, through to handling single port calls and last-minute specialist VIP concierge requests.
Sarah Futhazar comments “We will now be able to assist clients all year around in the area. Clients could already count on BWA Yachting local team for their cruise in the west part of the French Mediterranean coast from Toulon up to Port Vendres, but can now have full support from BWA Yachting’s agents also during shipyard season in La Ciotat, Toulon and even Marseille. Whether clients need crew accommodation, immigration services, taxis, medical assistance, purchasing for deck or interior, crew activities organization, provisions, we are here at their service! Thanks to the new office BWA Yachting can also help with providing temporary crew for the shipyard period. Working in collaboration and synergy with all shipyards and contractors in La Ciotat, we are ready to welcome clients making their stay easy and enjoyable!”
Working with the range of other companies also based at La Ciotat, BWA Yachting hope to 846 become an integral part of the community in the region, able to link up and provide services to captains as part of the strong supply chain. With services including a yacht agent, temporary crew, crew organisation and immigration services – the strong growth the area 550 demonstrates in the yachting industry makes La Ciotat the logical choice of base.