Beneteau Group the NEO program for high-end refit

Beneteau Group strengthens its strategic presence in the Mediterranean basin and on the occasion of the Les Occasions du Multicoque et du Refit show, the French nautical giant announced the launch of an impressive industrial project: a new 15,000 square meter hub in Canet-en-Roussillon designed to become the global reference point for refitting in the large boat segment between 60 and 80 feet. The facility will leverage the established experience of BMS Shipyard, an excellence in the maintenance, customization, and refurbishment of large catamarans, and will be operational by mid-2029.

Thanks to BMS’s experience and the resources of the Group, we intend to develop a Mediterranean hub dedicated to large yachts, declares Clément Himily, General Manager of the Sailing Business Unit of the Beneteau Group. We are strongly convinced of the potential of the used refitting market and see it as a strategic lever for the development of our NEO program, with the ambition of making Canet-en-Roussillon a global reference for units from 60 to 80 feet.

An integrated hub for the fleet over 60 feet

The future site will allow the extension of BMS Shipyard’s know-how (acquired by the Group in October 2025) to the entire high-end range of the Beneteau Group: from catamarans to monohulls, both sail and motor. In addition to extraordinary maintenance and refit operations, the facility will handle the preparation, outfitting, and installation of onboard equipment for new production boats. The initial infrastructure plans for about 2,200 m² of covered areas, with the possibility of doubling the covered spaces in a second phase thanks to an extension option on an additional 10,000 m² of land.
This operation is part of a broader plan for the reorganization and enhancement of marine infrastructures. A parallel project is already underway in Les Sables d’Olonne with the Port Olona 3, a hub aimed at strengthening the activities of outfitting, customization, and launching of new units.

Beneteau Group and the NEO program: the certified used

In the shipyard’s intentions, the opening of Canet-en-Roussillon will give a strong boost to NEO, the Group’s official program dedicated to the refurbishment of second-hand boats from the brands LAGOON, BENETEAU, and JEANNEAU.
Already expanded during the last Cannes Yachting Festival from two to eight managed models, the program aims to extend the product lifecycle, ensuring owners the certainty of a refurbished and modernized used boat directly from the manufacturer. The NEO protocol stands out for its rigorous approach:

• the interventions are based on the original project drawings, the shipyard’s composite molds, and the components register associated with the specific hull number.

• an in-depth inspection and the use of internal craftsmanship ensure compliance with the same quality standards as new production boats.

After the first two successful pilot interventions carried out at the beginning of the year, the complete restoration of a Lagoon 42 and a Lagoon 450, Beneteau Group sets ambitious goals: to achieve a production capacity of 130 refurbished boats per year by 2030. In this context, the Canet-en-Roussillon shipyard alone will take on about ten large units per year.

Not just shipbuilding: the “Base Camp” for owners and crews is born

To complete the service offering, the second phase of development in Canet-en-Roussillon will see the creation of an experiential and educational space reserved for owners and their professional crews.
This true “base camp” will provide training modules dedicated to navigation conduct, safety at sea, and advanced management of onboard systems, offering the possibility to conduct practical sessions directly on their own boat or on equivalent models. The space will also become the venue for customer campuses, technical workshops, and exclusive events for the Beneteau community in the Mediterranean.