Uruguay will export unique catamaran models from Juan Lacaze Industrial Park to the region and the world

On January 15, SM Catamarans, an Argentine company, announced the inauguration of a new shipyard in the Juan Lacaze Industrial Park, Colonia, with an event held at the Yacht Club of Punta del Este. This venture will mark a milestone in the export of ships from Uruguay to the world, as the company will build a model of vessels not yet produced on the continent.

Oscar Zubielqui, a project partner, informed El País newspaper that approximately US$ 3 million has already been invested, with a projected disbursement of US$ 20 million.

Uruguay XXI leveraged the landing of this venture by supporting the partners with information on the benefits available and possible installation sites, facilitating the entire process for the authorization of the shipyard.

The company will manufacture three models of exclusively designed ships through a precision assembly process, one specially designed for Mercosur and overseen by the historical naval design studio of the Argentine Germán Frers. During the presentation, the Argentine maritime designer specialized in yachts, Germán Frers, and his daughter Zelmira presented details of the structural and interior design of the catamarans.

The project will benefit from tax exemptions provided by the Investment Promotion Law. Additionally, the operation is covered by the Shipyard Law dating back to 1984, exempting from taxes the importation of materials, raw materials, capital goods, and everything that this type of business requires to operate. This will enable the company to use certified quality inputs from China (carbon fiber and resins) and electronic equipment and components from the United States.

Being situated in the Juan Lacaze Industrial Park, it has also granted additional tax benefits, including a five-year exemption from employer contributions for its workforce.

This new shipyard joins Astillero Álvarez, already established in the same park, along with nine other companies, including technological firms like Genexus and UY!Fish, as well as businesses in carpentry, metallurgy, and industrial electricity.

Boat manufacturing is one of the most demanding industrial activities regarding technical skills and inputs, such as plastics, carpentry, metalwork, upholstery, blacksmithing, mechanics, electricity, electronics, and architecture and engineering. Therefore, both shipyards may become the anchor of a naval industrial pole in Juan Lacaze.

SM Catamarans anticipates commencing production in 2024. In the first stage, it will build four premium catamarans per year and employ about ten people, whom naval architects and technicians from Argentina will train. The partners estimate that the project will indirectly create an additional 40 jobs.