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The MB92 Golfe-Juan shipyard was inaugurated on January 29, 2026 in Vallauris Golfe-Juan, after more than a year's work. Beyond the ceremony, this commissioning raises questions about the evolution of shipowners' expectations, environmental constraints and the structuring of refit on the Côte d'Azur.
A site upgraded to meet regulatory requirements
The first challenge is compliance. The Golfe-Juan site, covering 8,600 m2 of open land, has been completely refurbished. The objective is clear: to meet the health, safety and environmental obligations applicable to refit sites.
For the sector's professionals, this upgrade is a prerequisite for accommodating recent yachts and for working with increasingly vigilant harbour master's offices and authorities. The installation of a UDEP-type water treatment system reflects the priority given to effluent management, which has become a central issue in Mediterranean port areas.
Technical capabilities adapted to units up to 43 metres in length
MB92 Golfe-Juan is positioned in a specific segment: yachts from 12.5 to 43 meters. The shipyard is equipped with a 260-ton travelift, designed for this type of yacht. This responds to sustained demand on the Côte d'Azur, where turnover of intermediate-sized yachts remains high.
Services include mechanical and electrical engineering, painting, carpentry, interior refits and complex rebuilds. For shipowners and fleet managers, the advantage lies in the concentration of these skills on a single site, with controlled lead times in a historically saturated area.
A working site during construction
Another noteworthy point is that business was not interrupted during the site's transformation. By 2025, 61 projects had been completed on yachts up to 41 meters. This maintenance of production during the construction phase represents an operational test for the teams and subcontractors.
Rob Papworth, General Manager of MB92 La Ciotat, underlines this point by pointing out that this level of activity, achieved despite the work, reflects the organization put in place and the experience acquired on other Group sites.
The challenge of local fabric and subcontractors
For a refit project, infrastructure is not enough. Operational success depends largely on the network of local suppliers and service providers. MB92 has announced its intention to develop relationships in Golfe-Juan similar to those built in La Ciotat or Barcelona.
This point is of direct interest to the region's paint, mechanical engineering, composites and technical services companies, for whom the arrival of a structured player may represent an increase in volume, but also new requirements in terms of quality and lead times.
Situated between Cannes and Antibes, the Golfe-Juan site is ideally positioned for ship owners in the Western Mediterranean. Rapid access to cruising areas and proximity to airports make the site even more attractive for short technical calls or planned refits.
MB92 Golfe-Juan is part of the global strategy of the Group, which is present in Barcelona, La Ciotat, Golfe-Juan and the Red Sea. Founded in 1992, MB92 Group manages around 250 projects a year on yachts up to 180 meters in length, with nearly 400 employees.
