Boots on the ground: why local presence matters when building in Italy

Building a superyacht is a highly technical process that depends on close collaboration between the shipyard and the owner’s team. The most successful projects are those where both sides work as partners, with trust built through consistent, on-site engagement. Burgess Technical Services (BTS) strengthens that relationship by embedding experienced technical experts within the shipyard – ensuring alignment, clarity, and constant momentum throughout the build.

Based on the west coast of Italy, home to some of the world's most renowned shipyards, Barry Gray is our man on the ground – an engineer, project manager, and seasoned problem-solver with over a decade of experience in Italy’s most respected yards, and more than 25 years at sea as a chief engineer before that. Whether it’s a series-production build or a custom flagship, Barry ensures your vision is protected from the inside.

Being physically present at the shipyard allows for immediate identification and resolution of issues, ranging from weld defects and poor cable routing to missing insulation or brackets that would compromise performance and longevity. These aren’t hypotheticals; they are common occurrences that require proactive technical oversight. A floating interior that touches hard structure, or a pipe unsupported through a bulkhead, may not be obvious from a drawing, but they could create problems down the line. Our presence ensures they are caught early and corrected. 

We’ve built enduring relationships with Italy’s leading builders, relationships forged through technical credibility, consistent presence, and shared goals. This mutual respect fosters cooperation and timely execution, especially when technical challenges or client-side changes arise.

Importantly, the yard values our presence as a constructive and knowledgeable support to their team. Our role is to work alongside them offering practical insight, streamlining decisions, and contributing to the shared objective of delivering a yacht that not only meets the owner's expectations but also showcases the yard’s craftsmanship at its best.

At Burgess, our difference is not just in what we do, but how seamlessly we do it. Our in-house brokerage, technical and yacht management teams operate as a cohesive unit – streamlining communication, anticipating challenges, and delivering outcomes that reflect our clients’ expectations. 

BTS functions as the vital link between shipyard execution and owner ambition, providing real-time updates, interpreting technical complexities, and translating them into clear, actionable insight. While specifications and contracts form the project’s foundation, complex systems and owner expectations often exceed what is captured on paper. Our team interprets these expectations with technical fluency and operational expertise, bridging the space between ambition and engineering to deliver what the client actually needs, not just what’s documented. 

Italy remains one of the most active and capable regions for production and semi-custom builds. It offers availability, efficiency, and design excellence, but that doesn’t mean it’s hands-off. 

Every production build is still a bespoke experience at heart. Details matter. Decisions made during construction define the final on board experience. Onsite presence means issues are caught early, solutions are enacted quickly, and design integrity is preserved throughout. From build spec to interior fit-out, details are monitored in real time by the on-site crew and BTS. For the owner, this translates to peace of mind and a smoother path to delivery.

Our involvement doesn’t end once the yacht is delivered. We offer comprehensive lifecycle management – covering everything from warranty oversight and crew integration to performance optimisation and future refit planning. Our long-term commitment ensures continuity and peace of mind well beyond delivery.