Italian shipowning group Ocean Srl has joined nlcomp’s shareholder base, alongside long-standing partner Samer & Co Shipping and investor CDP Venture Capital through the Cleantech Accelerator programme.
The investment from Ocean, led by Michela Cattaruzza, will be used to develop nlcomp’s workboat segment, designed for ports and professional fleets.
Alongside the new investment, nlcomp is to officially open its new production facility, where work is underway on the Offshore 34 yacht which is scheduled to officially launch this October under the Northern Light Yachts brand.
The factory, based in the port at Monfalcone, Italy, is able to produce components up to 20 metres in length.
Capital increase
Ocean’s investment completes the reorganisation of nlcomp’s shareholder structure and takes the form of a new capital increase.
“Our investment in nlcomp stems from two complementary rationales,” explained Michela Cattaruzza of Ocean.
“On one hand, we are supporting a young local company made up of entrepreneurs who — like us — have the sea in their DNA and who are accelerating the transition toward sustainable, environmentally responsible practices.
“On the other, we are investing in a sector closely connected to our own, whose every element and context we know intimately.
“This puts us in a position to be a valuable partner for nlcomp, supporting the development of the market and benefiting directly from the R&D activities nlcomp will produce in the future.”
nlcomp is targeting the workboat segment as a significant growth market, accelerating the transition toward low-impact materials and products in this sector.
Professional vessels
The company will now start the design and industrialisation of a new generation of workboats built with rComposite technology — the recyclable material developed in-house that delivers high performance and a circular life-cycle validated by DNV for ISO 14021:2016.
“Ocean brings with it a deep understanding of the workboat market’s needs and a long experience in operating professional vessels in port and maritime environments — a great added value for us,” explained Fabio Bignolini, CEO of nlcomp.
“Ocean joining our shareholder base is an important step for our project. As we approach the inauguration of our factory in Monfalcone, we are progressing in the recreational boating sector with the production of yachts and components, developing our first projects in wind energy, and — supported by Ocean — moving into the workboat segment.”
Equity rounds
Ocean operates more than 50 vessels and has an operating holding in 22 companies. Through its subsidiary Ocean Marine, the group also offers boat storage and mooring services for pleasure craft in Monfalcone.
nlcomp was founded in 2019, bring its products to market in 2024, and has developed its ecoracer line of recyclable sailing yacht prototypes.
The start-up has raised more than €1.5 million through equity rounds, plus more than €1 million in regional, national and European grants for R&D projects and for the establishment of the rFactory.
