Coronavirus: Standstill at the production lines. Shipyards in lockdown mode

France

The Beneteau, Jeanneau, CNB, Lagoon and Excess Catamarans sailing boat brands are affected by the temporary halt to construction at market leader Beneteau. After the group management had already reduced production at its manufacturing sites in France and Italy a week ago due to the virus pandemic and streamlined operating processes, the definitive shutdown followed yesterday. Although the Beneteau Group's production facilities in Poland and the USA are also being reduced in terms of capacity, they will remain operational for the time being.

The same picture applies to catamaran manufacturer Fountaine Pajot and Dufour Yachts, which have been merged into a group of companies since last year. Their production sites in Aigrefeuille and La Rochelle have also been forced to take a break in difficult times. The production of new boats has come to a standstill. A national curfew has been in force in France since last Monday. This means that all harbours and transport companies must also cease operations. For this reason alone, the delivery of new yachts cannot take place to the usual extent. Fountaine Pajot expects production to be halted for at least two weeks. Customers will be informed of the new delivery dates in good time.

Germany

The situation in Germany is different. Both Bavaria Yachts in Giebelstadt and the Hanse Group in Greifswald with the Hanse, Moody and Dehler brands are continuing production without restrictions for the time being. What's more, as Hanseyachts AG reports, the conveyor belts are currently even running at an "above-average level". Similar news from Giebelstadt: Production at Bavaria Yachts is fully booked until at least July 2020, and production is still running at full speed.

Nevertheless, both major shipyards in Germany have taken far-reaching measures to protect their employees and thus contain the spread of the virus to the best of their ability. Sales and production structures are being more strictly separated, and wherever possible, employees at Bavaria and Hanse are also working from home. Trade fairs have been cancelled.

The Sirius shipyard on Lake Plön is also continuing to build boats, albeit with reduced capacity. The administration and production areas are also consistently separated here, and as of yesterday, the shipyard management has left it up to the employees to decide whether they come to work or not.

Italy

In the crisis-hit region of northern Italy, Solaris Yachts in Aquileia has had to switch to lockdown mode following an order from the authorities. The production staff have been sent home. The shipyard management is therefore expecting delays in the delivery of new yachts.

The Cantiere del Pardo shipyard in Forli on the Adriatic coast, where the production of sailing yachts from the Grand Soleil programme can continue almost without restrictions, is apparently not subject to any official restrictions. According to the shipyard, all employees are safe and sound and the protective measures ordered by the government are being respected. The supply of parts and transport routes have also remained largely unrestricted. The shipyard therefore does not expect any significant delays in delivery.

Scandinavia

The situation appears to be relaxed in Sweden: there is no reason why their ships should not continue to be delivered on time, as they have been for 75 years, Magnus Rassy, head of Hallberg-Rassy, told YACHT online. The delivery of components and materials continues to be unrestricted and there is no foreseeable change to this. Everything possible and necessary is also being done at the production site in Ellös to protect employees. Those who can are also working from home here.