International Marine Management acquires Atlantic Refit Center
International Marine Management (IMM) acquires Atlantic Refit Center (ARC), marking IMM’s expansion into Europe.
ARC specialises in superyacht refit, conversion and repaints. Based in the only deep-sea port on the French Atlantic coast in La Rochelle, France, its facilities are designed for working on superyachts ranging from 25 meters to 140 meters in length, including two dry docks (176 and 107m long), a 250-ton travel lift, cranes up to 150 tons, 300 metres of afloat repair docks, and 2,000 m² of hard-standing space,
Operating for over 20 years, projects include the conversion of the 71m M/Y Enigma XK, which was recognised at the World Superyacht Awards as ‘Best Refit of the Year’ for its exceptional transformation into a high-performance expedition yacht.
Stephane Marcelli, Co-Founder and outgoing President of ARC, will remain involved in operations to ensure a smooth transition. He said:
“I am thrilled to see ARC passing into such capable hands. Norina & Fabrice share our commitment to a customized, flexible, and reliable approach to superyacht refit. Fabrice and IMM’s return to La Rochelle marks an exciting new chapter for the yard as a superyacht refit hub.
“The integration of ARC into the IMM group brings exactly the kind of expertise and momentum the French Atlantic superyacht sector needs to further strengthen its position internationally.”
IMM provides refit and maintenance services to the global superyacht community from its bases in St. Maarten, Guadeloupe and Grenada. Founded by Fabrice Maitre and Norina Edelman, its 130 in-house employees are the largest task force servicing the yachting industry in the Caribbean.
Maitre was behind the major refit of MY Tatoosh in La Rochelle in 2007.
Maitre said:
“In many ways, this expansion is a full-circle moment. France is where my career began, and the Tatoosh refit in La Rochelle was a significant step in both my career and superyacht refit generally."Establishing IMM’s presence here, with such a capable facility, allows us to bring our experience, standards, and approach back to a market we know deeply.”
Services offered by IMM include marine electrics, mechanics, metalwork, piping and plumbing as well as laminate, composite, teak and interior carpentry.
IMM’s Global Director Víctor Pérez commented:
“Having a rich network of local contractors, as well as easy connectivity to Central Europe, makes ARC particularly attractive, especially for yachts over 5,000 tonnes, for whom haul-out options on the market are very limited, especially in shipyards specialising in superyacht refit.”
Víctor Pérez – IMM’s Global Director
Norina Edelman, CEO of IMM, said:
“Returning to Europe is a defining step for IMM. Marrying the strength of ARC’s existing infrastructure with IMM’s spirit and values will create a unique client experience in terms of flexibility, quality and transparency. We are excited to operate a European shipyard that will allow us to give every client a bespoke experience.”
Norina Edelman – CEO of IMM