Sanlorenzo Unveils Strategic “Road To 2023” Growth Plan With Focus On Innovation And Sustainability

On the eve of the opening of the Cannes Yachting Festival 2022, which launches the new nautical season every year, Sanlorenzo held its press conference on the beach of the Hotel Majestic Barrière. In addition to the unveiling of new models, the SP110, SD90/s and the BG54, Sanlorenzo shared the key strategy behind the group’s unstoppable growth in recent years, and the direction in which the Group will focus on in the coming decade.

The success of Sanlorenzo models is the result of a strategy that during the last 10 years has consolidated the positioning of what is now increasingly known as “the Maison Sanlorenzo”: utmost attention to design, not only in the lines of the yachts whose mastered evolution has made them iconic, but also in the interiors.

Sanlorenzo was the first in the industry to bring on board prestigious collaborations with the most famous names in contemporary design, imprinting an epic transformation in yacht interiors. The step from design to art was almost ‘natural’ for Sanlorenzo, a route once again explored by the pioneers in the yachting industry.

The founding pillar of this strategy defined almost 10 years ago is innovation within tradition, with the constant search for balance between the drive to introduce new ideas and consistency with the brand’s history. A balance that has always been successfully maintained.

There are countless revolutionary innovations introduced by Sanlorenzo to the industry, and now these ideas have been replicated by most shipbuilders, such as the open terraces on the sides of the hulls or at the stern, first seen on the Superyacht 40 Alloy launched back in 2007. Or more recently, the daring decision to forgo a lateral walkway from stern to bow in favour of greater internal volume and without any visual interruption between interior and exterior. This was the birth of the Asymmetric line, first proposed on the SL106A, whose immediate success led to its being extended to all the new models in the SL and SD ranges.

At the start of the conference, the Sanlorenzo group also presented an impressive record book, during which the figures for the 2022 half year, approved by the Board of Directors were shared. Excellent data, in particular regarding order intake, which exceeded the record value of 1.4 billion euros, enables the company to improve its forecast for the 2022 financial year.

Strengthened by the leadership it has acquired thanks to this clear vision, Sanlorenzo has recently enriched its strategy with additional guidelines: sustainability, technology, services, and supply chain are the essential themes on which it will focus its action in this decade, confirming its recognized ability to be ahead of the times.

The introduction of innovations and technologies to reduce the environmental impact of yachts is therefore at the heart of the activities of the Group’s Research and Development department, whose high degree of expertise and experience has enabled it to sign strategic agreements with the world’s largest players in power generation and energy management. Joint projects focus on the marine use of hydrogen fuel cells, which many believe is the real answer to the demand for sustainability in the yachting sector.

These partnerships started with an exclusive agreement with Siemens Energy, signed in 2021, for yachts between 24 and 80 metres, working on the integration of fuel cells powered by hydrogen obtained from methanol to generate electricity on board. This technology, that will be first in the market, will see the light of day on a 50Steel superyacht scheduled for delivery in 2024.

This initiative was recently joined in August 2022 by another very important exclusive agreement with Rolls-Royce’s business unit Power Systems, with its product and solution brand MTU, for the installation of hydrogen propulsion systems obtained from methanol. These solutions will be combined with fuel cells supplied by Siemens Energy and will be installed initially on a prototype Sanlorenzo superyacht scheduled for delivery in 2026. The use of green methanol, produced with electricity from renewable sources and CO2 captured from the atmosphere, enables the new generation of “carbon-neutral” power.

In more exciting news Bluegame, a brand of Sanlorenzo, has been selected by American Magic, challenger in the 2024 America’s Cup, as a partner for the design and construction of the first “chase boat” with exclusively hydrogen propulsion and use of foils. An extremely complex project, this will be the highest possible expression of sustainable technology on board a vessel. On the back of this extraordinary achievement, and as proof of its design capability in the use of hydrogen in propulsion, Bluegame has also reached an agreement with Volvo Penta to install a pilot IPS hybrid propulsion system, which will be combined with hydrogen fuel cells developed from the America’s Cup project on a new build. It will be the BGM65HH (hydrogen-hybrid) model, to be launched in 2025, that will accommodate this cutting-edge technology.

Another driver of the strategy for the coming years is the implementation of the proposal of services dedicated to clients, in coherence with the philosophy of pursuing maximum excellence and with the ‘made to measure’ positioning of the brand. This is a sartorial approach in which the excellence of manufacturing, high quality, innovation, and design is accompanied by the exclusivity of the relationship with the client.

This package of services, offered exclusively to Sanlorenzo clients through a dedicated company that will be established by the end of the year, includes the world’s first monobrand charter programme (Sanlorenzo Charter Fleet), training programmes for crew members at the Sanlorenzo Academy, tailor-made leasing and financing, and maintenance, restyling, and refitting services (Sanlorenzo Timeless).

Closing a 360-degree journey into Sanlorenzo’s vision, the finale of this presentation gave a glimpse into 2023, with the anticipation of two new models that once again promise to be highly differentiating: the SX100 to complete the now iconic SX range, and the BGM75, the first luxurious and sustainable multihull from Bluegame.

Please contact our dedicated team at sanlorenzo@simpsonmarine.com to enquire for more information on Sanlorenzo yachts in Asia.