Portosole Shipyard, located on San Remo’s beautiful Mediterranean coast, recently showcased the versatily and quality of its impressive refit capabilties and facilities with its expert engineering turnarounds on two of the world’s most iconic superyachts – Kingdom and DB9.

Kingdom: from significant damage to a full return to sea

Work on Kingdom began after an incident at sea. The impact compromised the entire bow section – causing extensive damage to both the plating and the internal structure.

”A temporary repair carried out on site allowed the yacht to be transferred to Portosole Shipyard, where a refit programme spanning several months began,” explains Emiliano Martino, Portosole Shipyard site manager. “The first phase took place in the port: preparation, securing of the area, and planning of the upcoming works in the shipyard. The team set up a complex scaffolding system and fully enclosed the bow section – an essential step to work continuously and safely with full respect and protection of the environment. The damaged plates were removed and the entire structure rebuilt – restoring the yacht’s original integrity. The refit also included work on the hull side.”

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Damage to Kingdom compromised the entire bow section

At the same time, the team carried out routine maintenance, metal carpentry interventions on a deck, minor interventions in the interiors, and an extensive painting job. Reconstructing the original lines of such an historic yacht required meticulous research: the team relied on archival photographs to reproduce the exact shapes and proportions of the era in addition to the original documentation and technical drawings provided by the vessel then shared and approved by the Classification Register (Lloyds) prior to execution.

Kingdom returned back to the sea with the same aesthetic identity and full structural reliability, the result of a comprehensive refit that respected both its character and its history.

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DB9’s owner demanded fast turnaround times

DB9 : non-stop refit for a 52m superyacht

The 52m Palmer & Johnson-built superyaht, DB9, arrived at Portosole Shipyard at the end of 2024. The haul-out, carried out on Christmas Eve, marked the beginning of a continuous workflow shaped around an owner who required fast turnaround times and absolute precision.

”The refit included a full repainting, a structured series of technical inspections on the hull, and various interventions on the technical systems,” says Emiliano Martino. “The team then proceeded with the reassembly of the components, restoring the yacht to full operability.”

After the launch, DB9 returned to the shipyard for the second chapter of the project: the removal and replacement of the entire teak deck. This is a complex operation, performed by highly specialised personnel, and will keep the yacht in the yard for several months. During the removal phase, additional metal carpentry work may be required – and will be carried out – to ensure the long-term durability of the new deck. Filler was added and preparatory work was carried out before the teak was laid.

After the initial works and the season at sea, the yacht returned for works on all decks

The refit of DB9 showcases Portosole Shipyard’s ability to work on large superyachts with continuity, accuracy, and versatility, meeting owners’ demands without interruption.

 

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Kingdom’s original integrity was restored

KINGDOM 5KR

  • LOA: 86m (282ft)
  • Displacement: 1,768 gt
  • Builder: Benetti
  • Year: 1980

Designed by Jon Bannenberg Ltd., with interiors by Luigi Sturchio, she remained Benetti’s largest vessel until 2016. Originally commissioned as Nabila by Saudi billionaire Adnan Khashoggi she was, for a time, one of the largest private vessels afloat, gaining a pop-culture status and appearing in the James Bond film Never Say Never Again. She was then sold in 1988 to the Sultan of Brunei who in turn sold her to Donald Trump. In 1991 she changed hands one again, this time purchased by Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal, who renamed her Kingdom 5KR.

 

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Complex operations were carried out by Portosole Shipyard’s skilled workers 

DB9

  • LOA: 52.3m (171ft)
  • Displacement: 495 gt
  • Builder: Palmer Johnson Yachts
  • Year: 2010

DB9 was launched on July 2010 at the Palmer Johnson shipyard in the UK and delivered the following year. The interior and exterior design were created by Nuvolari & Lenard.

 

PORTOSOLE SHIPYARD

Situated within the prestigious context of Portosole Sanremo, Portosole Shipyard benefits from one of the most exclusive marinas in the Mediterranean – a key destination for superyachts, megayachts, and gigayachts up to 100m.

Its privileged location combines the excellence of nautical services with the timeless allure of the Riviera dei Fiori.

Just a few kilometers from the French border, the shipyard offers a strategic base for navigating the French Riviera or embarking on cruises to the most captivating destinations of the Western Mediterranean.

Being part of Portosole means having everything within reach: a secure, fully equipped harbor, comprehensive crew services, rapid connections to major international airports, and direct access to a vast network of nautical professionals.

For more information go to: www.portosole-shipyard.it

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