Italian Shipyard quality...?

Just to reference Adelante to New Bern. While it is considerably west, it is just barely south. In fact, it is still north of Wilmington, NC. I think it is easy for those from other countries to overlook the distances in the US, Canada and Australia.

That is an interesting comment, having been in this Industry (in the US) for the past 25 years, what are these similarities that you mention?

I assure you that the labor/trade groups are handled completely differently, are you only referencing consolidation?

Consolidation and ownership changes. I know there are huge differences but then you see some of the moves in the industry and just wonder where they will lead. Specifically you see some of the names with such tremendous heritage under new stewardship.

I would not say that is unique to our Marine Industry, as consolidation is happening across the board as well as globally in most industries.

When you look at the successful US builders, you will usually find vertically orientated businesses that can control all phases of boat building. There are exceptions of course, but this general approach is quite different then the Italian boat building world.

No, it's not unique to the marine industry. It's just as a person interested in boats, I find it more bothersome in this industry watching as we lose some of the most revered brands or they are diminished. It doesn't really bother me that the brand of toothpaste I used as a kid was absorbed and is no longer offered.

I'm also not saying consolidation is inherently good or bad. I do, however, worry when any company is taken over by another that has no experience in the industry at all or when it's strictly an investment or venture capital firm rather than one known for it's operation of businesses. I worry when it's a rather small investment company and when it's a bulldozer company. Now, I'm hopeful they all work out.

Now somehow we strayed far off the topic of the quality and future of Italian Shipyards. But thats also where US shipyards and Italian share a commonality in varying quality and uncertain futures. That is also not something unique to the marine industry.