A nave sacrificed to meet space requirements
Failing to expand onto new land, Chantiers navals de La Ciotat has opted to reorganize its existing property. The forthcoming demolition of a 1950s-era nave, one of the last remaining witnesses to the site's industrial era, will free up space to support the growth of a business village dedicated to refit and yachting services.
Until now, this building has been used as a storage area and for various technical operations. Its dismantling is part of a wider project to redevelop the site being carried out by the local public company La Ciotat Shipyards (LCS), in consultation with the Architecte des Bâtiments de France.
Re-industrialization and optimization of available volumes
The project involves the gradual reconfiguration of the site's buildings and roads, with a focus on pooling services and upgrading infrastructures. This transformation is designed to improve working conditions for companies in the yachting sector, while maintaining the site's competitiveness in a highly competitive Mediterranean context.
The investments made by LCS are aimed at strengthening La Ciotat's appeal in the refit segment for yachts 80 meters and over, a buoyant market in which the shipyard has already conquered a strategic position.
Continued sales growth
Buoyed by this dynamic, LCS sales rose by 10% between 2023 and 2024, to reach 12.5 million euros. This result reflects both the strong demand for yacht maintenance services, and the effectiveness of the investments made in recent years at the site.
In 2025, LCS plans to finalize several other redevelopment projects, including the refurbishment of quays and the improvement of technical services, to support the ramp-up of its industrial capacities.
By dismantling one of its last industrial vestiges, La Ciotat has confirmed its determination to anchor its future in the high-end yachting sector. This transformation, carried out with method and consultation, bears witness to a clear strategy: to reconcile naval heritage with maritime economic development.
