MB92 Barcelona expands facilities with €40m investment

MB92 Barcelona has received approval from the Port of Barcelona for a 10-year extension to its existing shipyard concession and an additional 4,000m² of operating area. The concession has initially been extended to 2050, while work is ongoing towards a further five-year extension to 2055, with the possibility of a longer term following a subsequent review.

The shipyard will invest more than €40m between 2026 and 2028 in infrastructure development. The programme includes extensions to quayside and operational areas, new lifting equipment, upgrades to existing infrastructure including the dry dock and measures intended to reduce the environmental impact of the facility.

“This agreement gives us the space and long-term certainty allowing us to further invest in the shipyard to meet our clients’ needs in the years ahead,” says Jordi Ariet, managing director of MB92 Barcelona. “The additional capacity and improved infrastructure will provide more efficiency and further elevate service quality as we continue striving for excellence, enabling us to handle increasingly large and complex projects for our clients.”

The redevelopment of the Travelift and Syncrolift area is a central part of the programme. A new 680-tonne telescopic Travelift will serve five hardstanding spaces for yachts up to 55 metres, increasing lifting capacity for yachts in this size range.

A new 110-tonne electric Travelift will provide dedicated lifting capacity for tenders and smaller support vessels.

The investment programme also includes changes to the shipyard’s water collection, treatment and reuse systems. AiguaNova, an initiative launched in 2025, recovers greywater from a local leisure centre for uses including yacht washing, facility cleaning and cooling towers.

New wastewater collection and treatment systems will also be installed. MB92 says these measures are intended to reduce demand for freshwater resources as activity at the shipyard increases.

Infrastructure redevelopment

Further infrastructure work will include the rehabilitation of the 220-metre dry dock, alongside the extension and reinforcement of quayside and operational areas at the Western Dock (Muelle Occidental).

The programme also includes a study into a new system intended to reduce the acoustic impact of shipyard operations.

MB92 Barcelona provides refit, repair and maintenance services for superyachts at its 126,500m² facility, with capacity for vessels up to 200 metres. The site includes a 4,800-tonne Shiplift, a 2,000-tonne Syncrolift, a 220-metre dry dock and berthing for 14 yachts up to 220 metres. The Barcelona operation employs more than 200 people and is part of MB92 Group, which also operates facilities in La Ciotat, Golfe-Juan and the Red Sea region.

MB92 Barcelona has operated for almost 35 years and has continued to invest in its facilities during that period. The latest programme will increase capacity while upgrading existing infrastructure at the Barcelona site.

Beyond 2028, the company plans further investment in new buildings and workshops, the redevelopment and modernisation of existing facilities and office spaces for employees, and upgrades to infrastructure across the shipyard.

This subsequent investment programme is intended to support an application for a further five-year extension of the concession to 2055. A later review could allow for a further extension beyond that date.

John Nery, managing partner and head of investments at Squircle Capital, which owns the group, concludes: “The group has established a strong international reputation at the top of the refit market, built over more than three decades by staying close to its clients and evolving with their needs. This programme will help MB92 build on those strengths and further enhance the service it provides. The successful conclusion of the concession process is further testament to the strength of management and relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including port authorities.”