The hybrid Ark of Fate, Baglietto’s first T52, arrived in Hong Kong in 2025

In an industry increasingly driven by visibility and trends, some shipyards choose a different path, one built on heritage, engineering and quiet confidence. Baglietto is one of them.

Founded in 1854 in Varazze and now based in La Spezia, Baglietto is among the oldest and most respected shipyards in the world. For more than 170 years, the Italian yard has shaped maritime history through naval, commercial and high-performance vessels, before becoming a reference in custom and semi-custom superyachts. This long shipbuilding heritage is not something Baglietto looks back on; it’s something the shipyard continues to apply, daily, to the yachts it builds today.

NAVAL HERITAGE

Baglietto’s reputation was built long before yachting became a lifestyle industry. Its early work in naval and commercial shipbuilding required absolute precision, reliability and performance – values that continue to shape the shipyard’s philosophy today.

As Baglietto transitioned into semi-custom and custom superyachts, these foundations remained intact. Rather than starting from a blank sheet for every project, the shipyard developed proven platforms that allow extensive personalisation – ensuring reliability, efficiency and long-term performance without limiting creativity.

Personalised sundeck on Awandra, the seventh T52, among Baglietto models by Francesco Paszkowski Design

The result is a shipyard that approaches yacht construction with depth and discipline, particularly in larger sizes where engineering integrity truly matters. This technical background allows Baglietto to create yachts that are not only visually striking but also purposeful, capable and built for real cruising.

GLOBAL BENCHMARK

Italy has long been regarded as the heart of the superyacht industry. Its shipyards combine engineering expertise, craftsmanship and an innate understanding of design and proportion.

Baglietto exemplifies this tradition. By maintaining strong in-house capabilities across engineering, construction and project management, the shipyard retains control over quality, execution and long-term performance. For owners, this translates into confidence, and a yacht conceived and built by people who understand the sea as much as the lifestyle.

OWNER INVOLVEMENT

What truly differentiates Baglietto today is the way each yacht is conceived and built. The shipyard’s core production is semicustom yachts built on carefully engineered platforms that serve as a foundation for extensive owner personalisation. This approach allows Baglietto to combine design freedom with technical consistency, controlled timelines and proven performance.

Awandra, a Baglietto T52

Owners are involved from the earliest stages in shaping internal layouts and circulation, deck usage and outdoor living spaces, owner and guest areas, as well as interior concepts reflecting personal taste, culture and lifestyle.

This process goes far beyond selecting finishes or adjusting details. While not every yacht is fully bespoke from a blank sheet, every Baglietto is developed as a distinct project, structurally and conceptually aligned with how the owner intends to use the yacht.

Equally important is the shipyard’s deliberately limited production. Baglietto typically delivers around six to seven superyachts per year, allowing dedicated teams to focus fully on each project. This ensures a level of attention, flexibility and build quality that cannot be achieved at scale.

As Fabio Ermetto, Baglietto’s Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), explains: “Baglietto has never been about following trends. Our yachts are contemporary because they are designed with confidence and purpose. Behind every design decision is engineering, performance and long-term thinking.”

Andala, the eighth Baglietto DOM133

This approach allows Baglietto to maintain close dialogue with owners, designers and engineers throughout the build process, ensuring that every decision serves both form and function. For owners, this means a yacht created with care, clarity and long-term vision – not repetition.

NEW CHAPTER IN ASIA

As owners move into the 35m-plus category, priorities naturally evolve. At this stage, owners are no longer looking for a familiar formula; they want a yacht designed around how they live on board.

It’s also the point where owning a yacht is no longer about choosing a brand. It is about choosing a shipyard philosophy.

For many experienced owners, Baglietto represents that next step: a shipyard offering depth, discretion, contemporary design and a refined balance between semi-custom structure and bespoke expression. According to Laura Verbrugge, Sales Manager at Fraser Asia, this evolution aligns perfectly with Baglietto’s philosophy.

“Asia’s yacht owners are becoming increasingly mature and informed,” Verbrugge says. “They are looking for something more personal, more flexible and more distinctive. Baglietto is the natural next step, a shipyard that offers limited production, deep customisation and a strong design identity that resonates with experienced owners.”

The DOM133 is a 40.6m all-aluminium superyacht

With more than 170 years of shipbuilding expertise and a long history of building exceptional private yachts, Baglietto combines engineering depth, contemporary design and a sophisticated semi-custom philosophy.

Today, the shipyard is committed to – and excited about – working closely with Asian clients to create yachts designed specifically for their cruising waters, lifestyles and expectations, from concept to delivery.

INSIDE THE SHIPYARD WITH FABIO ERMETTO, CCO, BAGLIETTO

How would you describe Baglietto’s approach to yacht building today?
Every yacht we build starts with the owner’s brief. Whether semi-custom or fully custom, we work closely with owners, their representatives, designers and our engineering team to develop a yacht that reflects how they want to live on board.

What does ‘tailor made’ mean at Baglietto?
It means we offer a very high level of flexibility within a solid technical framework. Layouts, circulation, deck usage and many technical solutions are adapted to each project, ensuring that no two Baglietto yachts are the same.

Baglietto has sold at least a dozen units of the DOM133

Baglietto builds fewer yachts than some other shipyards. Why?
We typically deliver six to seven yachts per year by choice. This allows us to dedicate the same level of attention to each project, maintain quality and remain closely involved throughout the entire build process.

How does Baglietto balance design and engineering?
Design is always supported by engineering. Our background in naval and commercial shipbuilding influences every project, particularly in larger yachts where performance, range and reliability are essential.

Are Baglietto yachts suited for long-range cruising and Asian waters?
Yes. Many of our yachts are designed for long-range cruising and adaptable use. We regularly work with owners planning to cruise in different regions, and we tailor each project accordingly.
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