Italian shipyard acquired by Turkish businessman

Italian boatbuilder Austin Parker Yachts, which was founded by Giovanni Sebastiano Gravagno and has a history of over 25 years in Europe and the US, has been acquired by the Turkish businessman Baris Nalcaci.

Austin Parker Yachts, which has its commercial headquarters in Liguria and production yard in Pisa, currently has a range of seven models of yacht from 36 to 72 feet (11m to 22m), including the Ibiza, Mahon and Palma. At the end of the 1990s, the yard became one of the first in Italy to build traditional ‘lobster’ boats, popularly used by fishers in Maine, USA.

In 2008, the Austin Parker brand was acquired by a group of entrepreneurs and eventually developed a new line of lobster boats, in collaboration with Italian yacht designer Fulvio de Simoni.

Nalcaci is the president of Epsilon Composite, a manufacturing company based in Turkey that supplies composite materials to the aerospace and marine markets.

“With Baris Nalcaci on board, we begin a new era for the brand,” says Giovanni Sebastiano Gravagno, founder of Austin Parker Yachts. Gravagno also confirms the yard will now open a new 27,000sqm shipyard in Pisa.

“[Nalcaci’s] experience in global brand development, composite and other materials, as well as product design, will help us in the new project. We feel fortunate to have him as an investor, so we can start this journey from our new shipyard, which covers an area of 27 thousand square metres, at the Navicelli Canal in Pisa, just five km from Galileo Galilei International Airport.”

In March 2022, Italian design studio Pininfarina Nautical and De Simoni revealed they are working on a 48ft motor catamaran project for a new brand called Epsilon Yachts, launched by Epsilon Composite. 

Nalcaci says: “Giovanni Sebastiano Gravagno will continue to be at the helm of Austin Parker Yachts during this exciting journey with his immense experience as he is the heart and brain of the company. We will maintain the soul of Austin Parker Yachts, which has been very successful in various markets so far, particularly in the 44- to 85-foot range.

“In addition to strengthening our position with the existing product range, we will add new products that we believe will bring a wave of excitement to the market. The first line of these products will be the motor catamarans that we will present at this year’s Cannes Yachting Festival. I am excited that these catamarans, designed by Pininfarina in collaboration with the great naval architect Fulvio De Simoni are coming to life. I am very confident about this fantastic journey with Giovanni Sebastiano Gravagno.

“The interest in our products is beyond my expectations, even at this early stage.”