Case Study: Major Collision Rebuild – 28m Motor Yacht
M/Y Lonely Seagull- Builder: ALALUNGA, Italy
Material: Timber
Overview
A 28m motor yacht suffered a severe collision, resulting in the total loss of the bow section up to the owner’s quarters.
I was appointed in a multi-disciplinary role—as Project Manager, Surveyor, Naval Architect, Refit Supervisor, and Coating Inspector—taking full responsibility from initial assessment through to final delivery.
Objective
To take full technical and managerial control of a high-risk structural recovery, restoring the vessel to a safe, compliant, and operational condition—while ensuring precision in execution, coating performance, and adherence to schedule.
Scope of Work
- Conducted the damage survey, defining structural extent and recovery strategy
- Acted as Naval Architect, developing the refit specification and reconstruction design
- Led the project as Project Manager, controlling planning, sequencing, and execution
- Supervised all refit works on-site, ensuring correct implementation at every stage
- Coordinated shipyard, engineers, and contractors under a single point of responsibility
- Performed coating inspections, verifying surface preparation, application, and system integrity
Before
After
Key Challenges
- Rebuilding a structurally critical section from near-total loss
- Maintaining alignment between design intent and on-site execution
- Ensuring coating systems were applied correctly under reconstruction conditions
- Delivering a complex rebuild while maintaining strict schedule control
- Holding full technical responsibility across multiple disciplines simultaneously
Outcome
- Delivered a complete bow reconstruction, restoring structural integrity and seaworthiness
- Ensured coating system performance and long-term protection
- Maintained strict control over quality, timeline, and compliance
- Delivered the project on time, despite the complexity of the rebuild
- Returned the vessel to service with reliability and preserved asset value
Impact
This project demonstrates the strength of integrated technical leadership.
By combining the roles of Surveyor, Naval Architect, Project Manager, Supervisor, and Coating Inspector, I ensure that every decision—from damage assessment to final coating application—is technically consistent, efficiently executed, and fully controlled—delivering projects on time, with clarity, and without compromise on quality.