The €35 million luxurious super-yacht Baraka is undergoing a three-month servicing job at the Melita Shipyard floating dock facility in Grand Harbour.
The 58-metre-long vessel is being given her first refit since she was launched five years ago. The job, expected to be completed by next month, includes engineering, painting, mechanical upgrades and underwater works.
The Georgetown-registered Baraka, based in Northern Italy, was custom-built by Turkish Proteksan Turquoise, and her contemporary interior was designed by renowned Italian studio Paskowski Design.
The yacht, which can be rented out for about €350,000 a week and is wheelchair friendly, sleeps 12 guests in six sumptuous staterooms, including a master suite, VIP room and two double and twin rooms. The exterior is outfitted to the full, with a barbeque and bar connected to the sky lounge through an electric sliding door.
Baraka has 10 multinational crew members, including a newly recruited Maltese stewardess, who is just starting her yachting career.
“As is customary with every yacht, the Baraka is having her first five-year routine refit at Melita Shipyard. This is the third yacht I have brought to the Melita Marine Group in Malta because, since 2008, I have had excellent experiences,” Baraka’s captain, Fernando Silvano, said.
This is the third yacht I have brought to the Melita Marine Group, because I have had excellent experiences
He said Malta had changed since his first visit.
“The yacht industry has shown a massive growth over the last seven years. The capacity to accommodate superyachts and the skilled workforce puts Malta in a much better position to land these high-end jobs, and the country has become a stiff challenge to competition in the Mediterranean,” Capt. Silvano said.
Pierre Balzan, Melita Marine Group’s managing director, said the floating dock was almost always full since it started being used last May after an investment of millions of euros and employing more than 100 skilled workers and Maltese subcontractors.
The largest superyacht docked in Malta so far was the 75-metre- long Plan B.
Other yachts included the 67-metre-long Garcon, the 70-metre-long Martha Ann and the 45-metre-long Kriss.
The yard is awaiting a 100-metre-long superyacht, meant to arrive in the coming months. There are about 5,000 superyachts in the world, 1,000 of which sail the Mediterranean.
“The investment is known to have a massive impact on the Maltese economy, running into millions of euros in sales, not only in terms of works in the dock. Crews are known to be good spenders and, during their stay, use many facilities, ranging from restaurants to excursions and taxis and spas,” Mr Balzan said.
The Melita Shipyard floating dock offers full shipyard services, including specialised engineering and painting and has a 5,000-tonne lifting capacity to accommodate superyachts of up to 100 metres long.