Alewijnse celebrates a successful first year at its new service hub in Vilanova
Alewijnse’s first year at its Vilanova i la Geltrú site in Spain has exceeded expectations. Yacht owners and managers are increasingly choosing the new service hub located a short distance south of Barcelona, one of the leading superyacht centres in the Mediterranean. This success looks set to continue with the recent appointment of Alexander Plishkin, a seasoned professional with a strong reputation in the yachting industry, as the new site manager.
“The demand for service and refits in the yacht sector is growing rapidly,” says Account Manager Marcel de Vree. “Owners are looking for partners with expertise in electrification, automation and other modern technologies such as AV, navigation and communication systems.
“Our new Spanish service hub at Pendennis Vilanova in the port city of Vilanova i la Geltrú, south-west of Barcelona, is ideal for this. The Mediterranean is a popular destination for many superyachts seeking specialised services and facilities. Alewijnse can deliver high-end electrical services and consultancy on board both motor and sailing yachts, in collaboration with Pendennis Vilanova.”
Faster service for superyachts
“Our presence in Spain allows us to respond more quickly and efficiently,” adds Maurice Vlaming, Service Manager at Alewijnse. “Our service now covers the entire eastern coast of Spain, from Barcelona to Malaga, with an additional hub in Palma de Mallorca. Together, these Mediterranean locations form a strategic extension of our service sites in the Netherlands, Romania, and Vietnam.”
Strong maritime industry network
With the arrival of Alexander Plishkin as site manager earlier this year, Alewijnse has enhanced its expertise in electrical engineering and automation. “With 25 years of experience in the maritime industry, I have built an extensive network. I know many ships, shipowners and shipyards, and I am well-versed in all types of electrical systems, from power management and alarm monitoring to bridge systems, navigation, communication, propulsion, and all other onboard electrical installations.
Strategic expansion
I look forward to further strengthening our service activities in this region. We work closely with our project location in La Ciotat in southern France for electrical service, and with our team in Palma de Mallorca for specialised navigation and communication needs of yachts and sailing vessels. Our teams are always ready to step in with additional capacity and to deliver the required expertise and experience."
Nurturing young talent
To ensure high-quality electrical engineering and service delivery, Alewijnse deploys its own engineers while also working with local specialists. “My passion lies in training young talent from the region,” says Alexander Plishkin. “Over the next five to ten years, we aim to develop them into independent service engineers who can work on all types of vessels. This way, we will contribute to both Alewijnse’s growth and bring new skills to communities.”
A one stop shop
Alewijnse is a well-established name in the yacht industry which, with more than 135 years of experience, can offer complete packages of electrical engineering solutions. Thanks to its collaboration with Tijssen Elektro, a specialist in yachts up to 60 metres, Alewijnse is a one stop shop for yachts ranging from 30 to 130 metres.
“You will find our systems on dozens of yachts worldwide,” says Leon Melet, Team Lead Service Yachts. “When these vessels require maintenance or upgrades, we are ready to assist from our location in Barcelona.”