The society of Ports of Monaco (Société Monégasque Internationale Portuaire - Societé Monegasque Internationale Portuaire which belongs to the Ports of Monaco and the government of the Principality - bought 20% of the Port of Sanremo Srl, a company that presented the renovation project of the historic port of the city in the province of Imperia. Faced with a growing demand for berths for luxury superyachts and after acquiring the tourist landing place of "Cala del Forte" in Ventimiglia, the Principality of Monaco is also entering into the business of the old port of Sanremo - just 16 miles from Montecarlo – started by the company created ad hoc by the entrepreneur Walter Lagorio which retains the majority of the company with an 80% share.
Smip was assisted by a lawyer as part of the purchase operation Marco Paoletti assisted by a team from the Nunziante Magrone studio led by the partner Vieri Paoletti and Priscilla Merlin. Both Marco and Vieri Paoletti had already assisted the Monegasque company in the agreement for the acquisition of 20% of the Port de Cap d'Ail company (in February 2020), holder of the concession to exploit the port of the same name until 2027. While Walter Lagorio was assisted by the lawyer. Simon Brambilla of Milan and by Dr. Massimo Calvi of the associated firm Calvi and Cugge Accountants of Sanremo.
The Ports of Monaco company and the acquisition of the port of Ventimiglia
In 2016, faced with the ever-increasing demand for berths for yachts and the saturation of the Principality's ports, Monaco Ports decided to create the Smip (Société Monégasque Internationale Portuaire) and bought the port of Cala del Forte in Ventimiglia, near San Remo is 8 nautical miles away from Monaco. The project was born out of a desire to expand, but also to foster cross-border collaboration.
Commissioned on October 21st after refurbishment, Cala del Forte is one of the most advanced and best equipped ports in the Mediterranean. Like its sister ports of Port of Hercules and Port of Fontveille, it operates to the same standards: with 178 berths ranging from 6,5m to 70m, an electric golf cart transport and delivery service and high security surveillance 24 /7.
the Principality of Monaco sets its sights on Sanremo
The project provides for a further transfer of shares to the Casiraghi group by the end of March. It is not excluded that other important companies will become part of the Porto di Sanremo srl consortium, which will apply for the tender for the new marina concession, the tender for which will be published shortly by the Municipality of Sanremo. The project involves a reorganization of the surface and the docks to be able to pass from the current 380 to 470 berths of considerable size. The work calls for an investment of 41,8 million euros and about 20 are public works. While as regards the concession, a duration of around 60/70 years is assumed.
In detail, Porto di Sanremo Srl was set up specifically with Cantieri degli Aregai while the other shareholder is Marina di Varazze which belongs to Paolo Vitelli of the Azimut group and had already entered into collaboration with Porti di Monaco in 2019. The technical-economic feasibility project foresees the redevelopment of the port area, with the rearrangement of the boats, reserving places for fishermen (who will not pay for parking), for sport fishing companies, associations, the Yacht Club and Canottieri. In this way the city center will be directly connected to the port.
The Italy of luxury superyachts
Super rich stuff: it's about the luxury nautical tourism. In recent years, the landing of gigantic boats in Italian locations has represented a significant share of the annual turnover of the ports between mooring and refueling costs, which for luxury superyachts can reach tens of thousands of euros a day. In 2019 alone, mega yachts made over 9 calls in Italian marinas, with average stops of 4 days according to Federagenti. A business that has not been particularly damaged by the pandemic crisis given that many foreigners have preferred to spend their holidays aboard their boats with family and friends. But not even from expensive fuel, rising energy costs, inflation or the economic crisis. However, the effects of the recent sanctions against the Russian oligarchs - who represent the second catchment area after the United States - could generate huge losses on our territory for the 2022 summer season.
