As superyacht refit becomes more complex,and STP Shipyard Palma expands its capacity, General Manager Joan Rosselló embraces innovation and sustainability, and prepares for the industry’s next chapter.
Words: Erica Lay
Come winter, Palma’s waterfront changes gear. The charter yachts and summer visitors may have moved on, but behind the gates of STP Shipyard Palma, things are only getting busier. On any given day during refit season, the yard is a hive of activity: captains juggling project lists, engineers overseeing major technical works, contractors moving between yachts and crew taking advantage of a few precious months to tackle everything that couldn’t be done during the season. At peak times, around 3,000 people can be working within the facility, with some 850 specialist companies operating on site.
Around 1,500 yachts pass through STP each year and average winter occupancy reaches 100 per cent. It is a long way from where the story began almost two decades ago. Today, STP is firmly established as one of the world’s leading superyacht refit hubs. For General Manager Joan Rosselló, that success cannot be attributed to one thing alone.”I believe this success is the result of a combination of factors, most notably Mallorca’s well-established industrial network and the highest level of service offered to vessels. At STP, we have been able to provide a flexible working environment, first-class facilities and a highly specialised team, always adapting to the needs of an industry that is constantly evolving.“Added to this is our location in Palma de Mallorca, one of the Mediterranean’s leading yachting hubs, and the trust we have built over almost 20 years with owners, captains and professionals from all over the world. This ability to evolve without losing our essence is probably the key to our growth and international recognition.”
AN OPEN SHIPYARD
One of STP’s defining characteristics is its Open Shipyard model. Rather than restricting yachts to a predetermined group of suppliers, the model gives captains and owners the freedom to choose the companies and specialists they want working on their vessel.“Our Open Shipyard model allows each captain or owner to freely choose the companies and professionals they wish to work with during the refit. STP provides the infrastructure and essential services, including berthing, lifting, launching, high-pressure cleaning, water and electricity, as well as coordinating additional services such as cranes, containers and lifts, allowing all operations to be carried out safely and efficiently within the same facility. “This flexibility gives clients greater control over their projects, encourages specialisation and competitiveness among companies, and allows each refit to be tailored to the specific needs of each vessel.
It is a model that has proven to add value both for our clients and for the industry as a whole.”Crucially, that freedom is supported by the marine industry that has developed around the shipyard. Mallorca has become one of the Mediterranean’s major refit destinations, offering not simply somewhere to berth a yacht for the winter, but access to an extensive network of specialist skills and services. “Mallorca offers a combination that is difficult to find in other destinations: a strategic location in the Mediterranean, excellent international connections and a unique yachting environment. The island is home to a wide network of highly specialised marine companies, experienced professionals and services capable of meeting the needs of any project, from routine works to the most complex refits.“In addition, Palma offers an excellent quality of life for owners and crew during their stay, making the island an ideal destination for carrying out a refit with complete confidence.”
THE CHANGING FACE OF REFIT
The work being undertaken during those refit periods is changing too. Routine maintenance remains part of the equation, but modern yachts are increasingly technologically sophisticated, bringing a new generation of projects through the shipyard gates.“Yes, we are increasingly receiving more complex projects with a greater technological component. In addition to routine maintenance, we have seen growing demand for upgrades related to energy efficiency, hybrid systems, digitalisation, onboard connectivity and the modernisation of equipment.” “We are also seeing greater awareness of sustainability, both among owners and the shipyards and companies involved in these projects. This evolution reflects how the industry continues to adapt to new needs and technologies.”Sustainability is increasingly influencing not only what happens aboard the yachts themselves, but the facilities carrying out the work.“Sustainability is a natural part of STP’s evolution.
We are continuously working to make our facilities more efficient, incorporating initiatives such as photovoltaic energy generation for self-consumption, while promoting the responsible management of resources and waste throughout refit projects “We also work closely with the companies operating within the shipyard to encourage good environmental practices and continue moving towards an increasingly efficient and environmentally responsible operation.”And the pace of technological change is unlikely to slow.
Looking ahead to how yacht maintenance itself could evolve over the next decade, Rosselló expects technology to play an increasingly significant role. “I believe that, as we are already beginning to see, there will be a greater integration of technologies that can anticipate maintenance needs, optimise system performance and improve vessel efficiency.“Digitalisation, real-time monitoring, artificial intelligence and automation will play an increasingly important role, enabling more predictive and efficient management. At the same time, the transition towards more sustainable propulsion systems and energy solutions will continue to shape the evolution of the industry.”
GROWING WITH THE FLEET
As yachts become more technologically complex and the demands placed upon refit facilities increase, STP is preparing for its own next phase, with a major expansion designed to increase both its capacity and capabilities.“The expansion represents a strategic step towards continuing to grow at the pace demanded by the industry. With this project, STP will increase its surface area from 130,000 m² to 162,000 m², add five new berths for vessels of up to 110 metres in length, and optimise the shipyard’s operations to accommodate increasingly complex projects.“This investment further strengthens our position as one of the world’s leading refit hubs and enables us to continue offering the flexibility, capacity and level of service demanded by an industry that is constantly evolving.”
MORE THAN A SHIPYARD
For the thousands of yacht crew who spend the winter in Palma, however, STP is more than a collection of berths, travel lifts and workshops. During the busiest months, the yard becomes one of the focal points of Mallorca’s professional yachting community.“During the refit months, the shipyard becomes a space where captains, crew and hundreds of specialised companies come together, creating a unique collaborative environment. “We aim to promote and host training initiatives, professional gatherings and other activities that encourage knowledge sharing, foster networking and strengthen relationships between the different players in the industry, while also contributing to the development of the local economy.”
That concentration of expertise is particularly important as the refit industry faces one of its biggest challenges: finding enough skilled professionals to meet the increasingly specialist demands of modern yacht projects.“The refit sector is facing increasingly demanding challenges. One of the main challenges is the availability of skilled professionals, at a time when projects are becoming increasingly complex and require a high degree of specialisation. This is compounded by the need to coordinate multiple teams and meet tight deadlines without compromising the high-quality standards expected by yacht owners.
All of this requires a strong capacity for planning, collaboration and adaptability from everyone involved in each project.” The concentration of skills and expertise is only part of Mallorca’s appeal as a refit destination. For Rosselló, its strength lies in being able to bring the different elements a yacht needs together in one place.“What sets Spain, and Mallorca in particular, apart is its ability to offer a comprehensive solution for any refit project. Here, owners can find everything they need in one destination: first-class infrastructure, a wide range of specialised services, excellent international connections and an exceptional setting, with a climate that allows refit work to be carried out throughout the winter months.”
LOOKING AHEAD
With the expansion underway and the nature of refit itself continuing to evolve, the next decade is likely to look rather different from STP’s first two. Yet despite the increasing scale and sophistication of the yachts passing through Palma, Rosselló’s ambition for the shipyard is rooted as much in preserving what has worked, as embracing what comes next.“I would like STP to continue to be recognised as an international benchmark in the refit sector, not only for its facilities and capabilities, but also for the way we approach the industry. We want to continue evolving, embracing innovation, sustainability and continuous improvement, while preserving the flexibility and the essence that have always defined us. That is the path we want to continue building in the years ahead.”
