Italy's roster of yacht builders has a new entry. Forte Yachts has emerged from the technical foundations of West Navaltech, bringing with it an ambition to occupy a distinct space in the market: one where industrial capability, considered design, and quiet luxury come together. The brand's first creation, the Forte 47, is currently taking shape and is set to offer buyers something both contemporary and enduring.
West Navaltech operates out of Ameglia, close to La Spezia, and has spent years earning its credentials in the unforgiving world of commercial vessel construction. Across more than 3,000 sqm of facilities, the company has produced fireboats, tugboats, passenger ferries, and electric catamarans. Its command of aluminium hulls, superstructures, and precision-fabricated components has established it as a dependable partner for prominent names along the Miglio Blu, Italy's celebrated yacht-building corridor.
Technical Manager and partner Livio Franchini describes the reasoning behind the new venture. "The creation of Forte Yachts marks a strategic expansion," he explains. "We wanted to separate our workboat production from our leisure brand, keeping both worlds independent but complementary."
The name chosen for the brand is deliberate and layered. Co-founder Fernando Moricca explains the thinking: "The name Forte refers both to strength, reflecting aluminium's durability, and to Forte dei Marmi, a place of Italian style and elegance. It just fits: short, Italian, global, and evocative." That dual meaning shapes the brand's positioning. Rather than pursuing ostentatious luxury, Forte Yachts presents itself as a builder of authentic, precise, and respectful vessels.
The Forte 47 spans 14.35 metres and is offered in two distinct configurations: Grand Tourism and Lounge Deck. Both versions are built around an aluminium construction, share a 4.5-metre beam, and follow a design philosophy centred on comfort, adaptability, and clean visual lines. The Grand Tourism variant is powered by three Mercury V12 600hp outboards, tuned for performance and open-water passage-making, while the Lounge Deck version runs on twin Volvo Penta D8-800 IPS drives, better suited to relaxed social cruising and longer passages. Both carry a CE-B classification and can accommodate 12 passengers, placing the Forte 47 squarely within the European grand touring category.
Below deck, the Forte 47 reflects the work of Paolo Giordano Yacht Design, whose influence carries through every corner of the interior. Two master cabins provide private space for owners and guests, and bespoke furnishings throughout can be tailored to individual preferences. Unusually, even the engine room has received careful attention, a space that rarely gets such treatment on yachts of this size. Moricca captures the intent plainly: "It's about creating a home at sea. A space of escape, perfectly attuned to the lifestyle of those who navigate."
Naval architecture for the Forte 47 comes from Umberto Tagliavini Marine Design, working alongside West Navaltech's own engineering team to develop the technical platform. Together, these contributions give the Forte 47 the depth of expertise needed to compete seriously in a crowded marketplace.
The arrival of Forte Yachts means more than a single model being added to a catalogue. It represents a deliberate restructuring of West Navaltech's activities, allowing commercial shipbuilding and leisure craft design to develop independently while continuing to draw from a shared pool of knowledge and skill. For anyone who still associates Italian boatbuilding solely with its traditions, Forte Yachts puts forward a different proposition: that strength, refined style, and genuine substance can find new expression together.
