Restructuring but no bankruptcy
There was no shortage of rumors surrounding the Silent Yachts shipyard at the end of January 2024. The builder of large electro-solar multihulls for the very high-end yachting market is facing financial problems, and some were predicting outright bankruptcy. The Austrian Silent Group, owner of the companies marketing the boats, finally issued a statement denying the company's liquidation, while admitting difficulties.
The building site shows : "Silent Yachts, with its shipyard in Fano, Italy, is working normally at present. Nevertheless, the failure of a subcontractor, which produced a significant proportion of the catamarans, has forced the company to conduct a restructuring phase. The aim is to make the transition from a founder-financed to an investor-financed entity, led by experienced industry professionals. Substantial investments are being made and supportive customers have expressed their commitment, demonstrating their unwavering belief in the product, their dedication to the brand and their confidence in the founders. [...] The transition to modular mass production is scheduled for March 2024. In this approach, all boat components will be positioned side by side in a nave, enabling simultaneous rather than sequential installations. This repeatable process method significantly reduces set-up times, minimizes costs and improves product quality."
At the same time, the company announces the appointment of Fabrizio Iarrera as operational director. Founders Michael and Heike Köhler will continue to be involved in the commercial and development aspects of the brand.
Involved customers
Among Silent Yachts' backers, our colleagues at IBI report that Turkey's VisionF is positioning itself to take over 24 Silent Yachts models and molds. The two shipyards had already collaborated on the launch of the VisionF Silent 82, an 82-foot electric catamaran.
