Identity

The shipyard tradition in Marina di Carrara traces back to the Picchiotti brothers, who expanded their activity to this area alongside their established presence in Viareggio, bringing with them a craft culture rooted in Tuscan shipbuilding since 1575.
Their decision to extend operations to Marina di Carrara coincided with the creation of the Zona Industriale Apuana at the end of the 1930s, when the area was identified as a strategic industrial and maritime hub closely connected to the port and national infrastructure.
Early constructions included the Giulia, followed by working bragozzi built for the fishermen of Bocca di Magra, and later the brigantine Emma. The Emma, commissioned by Filippo Polacci of Forte dei Marmi and built by the Viareggio master shipwright Natino Celi, is remembered as one of the finest expressions of Italian sailing ship construction of its time.

Between 1943 and 1945, the shipyard and the wider Zona Industriale Apuana were directly affected by military occupation. During this period, industrial facilities in Marina di Carrara were subjected to destruction and reprisals, including the deliberate burning of vessels and structures by SS units during their retreat.
These events caused severe damage and brought shipbuilding activity to a halt, leaving the yard temporarily inactive at the end of the conflict.

In the aftermath of the conflict, shipbuilding activity gradually resumed as the yard entered a phase of reconstruction and technical renewal.
Under the ownership of the Aermacchi Group, the shipyard was equipped with its first modern installations, enabling a transition from pre-war practices to a more organised industrial structure capable of building medium-tonnage vessels.
Throughout the 1950s, sustained investment in facilities and equipment allowed the site to expand in scale and capability, laying the foundations for a phase of growth that would extend into the following decade.

During the 1960s, the shipyard underwent a decisive phase of expansion.
Investments in infrastructure and lifting capacity enabled the construction of increasingly complex and specialised vessels, reaching up to 20,000 tonnes.
By the early 1970s, the yard had delivered close to one hundred ships across multiple categories, including cargo vessels, passenger ships, vehicle carriers and private yachts, establishing Marina di Carrara as a recognised industrial shipbuilding centre on the Tyrrhenian coast.

By the early 1970s, the shipyard operated within a broader national context marked by industrial contraction, social unrest and profound economic uncertainty.
In 1973, this climate culminated in a severe crisis that led to the temporary closure of the site. The interruption of activity was accompanied by a prolonged workers’ occupation, reflecting a period in which labour, industry and the State were engaged in open and often difficult confrontation across much of Italy.
The future of the shipyard remained unresolved until public intervention initiated a new phase of restructuring and renewal.

The resolution of the crisis came through direct public intervention.
The Italian State assumed control of the shipyard through its industrial holding structures, initiating a comprehensive programme of restructuring and investment.
Renamed Nuovi Cantieri Apuania, the site was radically transformed. New infrastructure was introduced, including a large dry dock, high-capacity lifting systems and dedicated outfitting areas. Construction methods evolved from traditional slipway assembly to modular block construction, aligning the yard with contemporary shipbuilding standards.
This phase marked a decisive shift from survival to structured industrial renewal.

From the 1980s onward, Nuovi Cantieri Apuania entered a phase of diversification and technical specialisation, expanding its production to include commercial vessels, Ro-Ro ferries, technologically advanced units and high-value private yachts.
During the same period, Marina di Carrara also supported the emergence of large sailing yacht construction, with Perini Navi establishing its production presence on site. While operating independently, Perini Navi drew upon the skills, workforce and technical culture of the Apuan industrial district, reinforcing the shipyard’s long-standing association with complex yacht construction.
By the 1990s, the site employed, directly and through its supply chain, close to two thousand people and was widely recognised as one of the most capable shipbuilding centres along the Tyrrhenian coast.

From the late 1990s onward, the shipyard operated within an increasingly competitive global environment.
The consolidation of international shipbuilding groups and the rise of large Asian yards exerted sustained pressure on European industrial shipbuilding, particularly in sectors characterised by high capital intensity and thin margins.
Despite its technical capabilities and workforce expertise, Nuovi Cantieri Apuania was not immune to these structural shifts. The gradual contraction of traditional naval construction marked a period of reduced activity and strategic uncertainty, setting the stage for a profound redefinition of the site’s industrial role.

The first decade of the new millennium represented a challenging phase for the shipyard.
Economic volatility, reduced order books and changing market dynamics placed increasing strain on the industrial model inherited from previous decades.
Yet, even during this period, the site preserved a core of technical knowledge, infrastructure and skilled labour. This continuity, rooted in centuries of shipbuilding culture, proved decisive in enabling future transformation rather than irreversible decline.

A decisive turning point came in the early 2010s with the integration of Nuovi Cantieri Apuania into The Italian Sea Group.
This transition marked a strategic shift from large-scale naval construction toward high-value yacht production and refit activities, aligning the site with the evolving dynamics of global yachting.
Substantial investments were directed toward infrastructure, facilities and operational reorganisation, allowing Marina di Carrara to reposition itself as a centre of excellence for complex yachts and refit programmes, while preserving its industrial scale and technical depth.

In its current configuration, NCA Refit represents the latest evolution of a long industrial lineage.
The shipyard specialises in refit, repair and maintenance activities for large yachts, combining heavy engineering capabilities with the precision required by high-end yachting.
Operating within the broader ecosystem of The Italian Sea Group, NCA Refit draws on centuries of maritime expertise while responding to contemporary demands for reliability, efficiency and technical sophistication.
What endures is not nostalgia, but continuity: a shipyard shaped by history, yet fully engaged with the present.