What Nauticad does

Nauticad S.p.A. is an Italian naval engineering services and proprietary software company, founded in 1985 in Massa Carrara and operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Trefin Group since 2006. The firm provides full-lifecycle naval design across three primary customer segments: cruise ship construction (executive engineering for Chantiers de l'Atlantique and design contributions to Princess Cruises' Crown Princess), luxury mega-yachts (Riva, ISA Yachts), and military naval defense (Fincantieri, Italian Navy / Marina Militare, and NAVARM on the Cavour aircraft carrier). Nauticad states that it covers the entire naval platform design range — concept design, basic engineering, interior/exterior design, and executive engineering — with named anchor reference projects including the Cavour aircraft carrier, the Maltese Falcon sailing yacht, and the Destriero. The company reports €30M in annual turnover, approximately 10% reinvested in R&D, 500 employees, and 100+ customers.

The company's technology stack centers on proprietary naval engineering software developed in collaboration with sister Trefin-Group company 3F&EDIN. Flagship products include Nauship for parametric executive hull design, PROTEO for naval drawing and parts/reinforcement generation within a Microstation environment, Smart Plant for paperless 3D plant management with mobile QR-code navigation, and Quadernetto Travi for automated generation of 2D structural beam drawings from Smart 3D models. Beyond software, Nauticad runs an Additive Layer Manufacturing facility in Capua (opened 2017) equipped with Electron Beam Melting (EBM) technology, CNC machining, and thermoforming systems, alongside service lines for FEM structural analysis, reverse engineering of legacy vessels, and on-site technical production assistance (ATP). The company operates from Italian offices in Capua (HQ), Massa Carrara, Marghera, and Naples, plus an engineering office in Saint-Nazaire, France.

Nauticad generates revenue through project-based engineering contracts, proprietary software platform licensing and support, and additive-manufacturing parts production. Go-to-market is sales-led, relying on long-term enterprise relationships with European shipbuilders and naval primes rather than volume or channel-based distribution. Strategic R&D activities include participation in PAPIA (production engineering with AI and wearables, 2020-2023), SOLLETICO (thermoacoustic materials, 2016-2019), and ISPEDIA (drone-based infrastructure inspection with AI and AR, 2023-2026). Quality management is certified to UNI EN ISO 9001:2015, with UNI EN 9100:2018 (aerospace) certification actively in progress through SAI GLOBAL ITALIA.

Name

Nauticad

Legal name

Nauticad S.p.A.

Website

https://nauticad.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Nauticad S.p.A., a Trefin Group subsidiary founded 1985, provides concept-to-executive naval engineering services for cruise, mega-yacht, and military shipbuilders, complemented by proprietary ship-design software (Nauship, PROTEO, Smart Plant) and EBM additive-manufacturing production from facilities in Italy and France.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Naval Engineering Services

NAICS

Ship Building and Repairing (336611)

SIC

Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730)

akta.pro primary industry

Project Management & Owner’s Engineering / Technical Consultancy (Spec Writing, Bid Support, Site Support) (IMAJAGAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Stability, Weight & Load Analysis (Intact/Damage Stability, Weight Control) (IMAJAGAI), Safety, Risk & Compliance Engineering (SOLAS, Class Rules, HAZID/HAZOP, FMEA) (IMAJAGAJ)

Keywords

• Naval engineering services
• Ship design software
• 3D CAD modeling
• FEM structural analysis
• Additive manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Capua

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Naval Engineering Services: Professional engineering services for cruise ships, naval vessels, and mega-yachts including concept design, interior/exterior design, basic engineering, and executive engineering for production. Revenue generated through project-based contracts with major shipbuilders.
2. Software Development & Licensing: Custom software development and platform solutions (Nauship, PROTEO, Smart Plant, Quadernetto Travi) for naval engineering ecosystem. Includes implementation and support services.
3. Additive Manufacturing (EBM Technology): Production manufacturing using Electron Beam Melting (EBM) technology for naval components, thermoplastics, and specialized parts. Includes post-processing, CNC machining, and quality control services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Nauticad provides comprehensive naval engineering services for cruise ships, mega-yachts, and military vessels, covering concept design, interior/exterior design, basic engineering, and executive engineering for production. The company develops proprietary naval design software (Nauship, PROTEO, Smart Plant, Quadernetto Travi) and operates an additive manufacturing facility using Electron Beam Melting (EBM) technology for complex naval components. Services are delivered to enterprise shipbuilders and naval contractors through direct contractual partnerships.

Product overview

Nauticad offers an integrated portfolio combining naval engineering design services with proprietary software products. The core software platform includes Nauship for executive hull design, Smart Plant for plant management and 3D navigation, and Quadernetto Travi for automated structural beam drawing generation, all developed with sister company 3F&EDIN within the Trefin Group. These software products support the company's naval design services across cruise ships, yachts, and military vessels divisions. Manufacturing capabilities include Additive Layer Manufacturing with EBM technology, CNC machining, and thermoforming services, enabling end-to-end solutions from concept design through executive engineering and production support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Nauship Software for executive hull design and parametric naval ship design. Enables parametric management of individual ship components and automates production workflow optimization. Developed for luxury yacht and naval construction clients.
• Smart Plant Digital platform for managing, assembling, and maintaining ship systems. Eliminates paper documentation and provides 3D navigation accessible to all operators via mobile app with QR code scanning. Includes measurement tools and element filtering capabilities.
• Quadernetto Travi (Beam Drawing) Integrated system for automated generation of 2D structural beam tables from Smart 3D models. Processes XML data to produce digital and PDF format tables with web application for consultation, annotation, and controlled modifications.
• PROTEO Advanced utilities application in Microstation environment for naval drawing and design. Supports project management, generation of parts and naval reinforcements, creation of drawing tables, and generation of executive documentation for boat construction.
• Additive Layer Manufacturing (EBM Technology) Additive manufacturing service using Electron Beam Melting (EBM) technology for producing complex naval components, thermoplastics, and specialized parts. Includes post-processing, CNC machining, and quality control services.
• FEM Analysis Finite Element Method analysis service simulating hull and component behavior under static and dynamic loads, identifying critical issues, optimizing weight and resistance, and ensuring regulatory compliance.
• Reverse Engineering Service creating precise 3D models from real naval components, even without original documentation, supporting refitting, retrofit, and plant integration with targeted and compatible interventions.
• ATP (Assistenza Tecnica alla Produzione) Technical production assistance service providing specialist support throughout the production cycle, including on-site yard assistance and remote digital monitoring for real-time technical consulting.
• Manufacturing Services Comprehensive manufacturing services including CNC machining, thermoforming for thermoplastic composite materials, non-destructive quality inspections, dimensional controls, and additive manufacturing with GE ADDITIVE ARCAM Q20 and Stratasys Fortus 450mc systems.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30 Million revenue, 100+ satisfied customers, 500 employees, 10% R&D investment

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor, flagship and core.

• CeSMA - University of Naples Federico IIminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Research partner in ISPEDIA project (2023-2026), providing academic expertise in drone-based inspection, AI, and augmented reality for infrastructure inspection and maintenance.
• TME SrlminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partner in ISPEDIA project focused on innovative inspection platforms using drones, AI, and smart devices for infrastructure management and predictive maintenance.
• SMS Engineering SrlminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Project partner in PAPIA research project (2020-2023), an industrial research and experimental development initiative in temporary association of purpose (ATS) focused on advanced production engineering and product lifecycle management using AI and wearable devices.
• GEVEN S.p.A.minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Lead company in SOLLETICO project (2016-2019), a research initiative for thermoacoustic materials and solutions for transport. Nauticad contributed industrial research for thermoacoustic insulation requirements.
• Skytecno S.r.l.minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Partner in SOLLETICO project alongside GEVEN and Nauticad, contributing to development of innovative thermoacoustic panels for improved passenger comfort and weight reduction in transport applications.
• Chantiers de l'AtlantiqueflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Major French shipyard and leading cruise ship builder. Nauticad established presence in Saint-Nazaire in 2015 through new collaborations with Chantiers de l'Atlantique in cruise ship executive design. This partnership has expanded to include supply chain relationships within the shipyard ecosystem.
• Trefin GroupflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006Parent company of Nauticad since 2006 when acquired by Aerosoft Corporate engineering division. Trefin Group provides strategic direction and synergies across multiple engineering companies including 3F&EDIN (software), Aerosoft (aerospace/automotive), and Aerosoft France (structural analysis), enabling integrated engineering solutions.
• 3F&EDINcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2006Software house within Trefin Group providing IT development capabilities. Collaborates with Nauticad on custom software solutions including Nauship for hull design, Smart Plant platform, and enterprise infrastructure projects. Enables end-to-end solutions combining naval domain expertise with IT specialization.
• ItalcantieriflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1985Initial collaboration established when Nauticad was founded in 1985 as a technical drawing studio. This early partnership provided foundation for Nauticad's naval engineering expertise development.
• AerosoftcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngineering and advanced manufacturing company in aerospace, automotive, railway, and space sectors within Trefin Group. Partner of major players in innovative solution development, offering value through research and cutting-edge technology development for product and process optimization. Acquired Nauticad in 2006 as its engineering division.
• Aerosoft FrancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic international expansion of Trefin Group, based in Toulouse at the heart of international aerospace and naval sector. Actively collaborates with major players contributing to technological evolution of advanced global markets, specializing in advanced structural analysis.
• FincantieriflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian shipbuilding giant and leading naval contractor. Long-standing relationship including participation in Cavour aircraft carrier project through contract with Direzione Generale degli Armamenti Navali (NAVARM). Nauticad serves as comprehensive naval platform design partner.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Siemens Digital Industries Software: Siemens' NX and Teamcenter platforms serve shipbuilding and marine engineering customers with CAD/CAM/PLM. The breadth of Siemens' portfolio and global installed base make it a broad incumbent competitor to Nauticad's tool set.
• Dassault Systèmes: Dassault Systèmes' CATIA/3DEXPERIENCE platform is widely used in marine and shipbuilding for 3D design and PLM. As a broad PLM incumbent, it competes indirectly with Nauticad's proprietary design and production software tools.
• Fincantieri: Fincantieri is both Nauticad's largest Italian client and a vertically integrated shipbuilder with substantial internal naval design capability. It represents the dual dynamic of customer and potential competitor via insourcing of design work.
• Wärtsilä: Wärtsilä is a marine technology and services incumbent offering ship design support, propulsion, and lifecycle solutions. Although primarily a systems integrator, its marine solutions portfolio intersects with Nauticad's engineering services at the system integration and ship design level.
• AVEVA Group: AVEVA provides marine and ship design software (AVEVA Marine) used by global shipyards. It is a broad incumbent with a much larger portfolio across process and plant industries, competing indirectly with Nauticad's proprietary Nauship/PROTEO tools through standardized PLM platforms.

Direct peers

• BMT Group: BMT is a maritime engineering consultancy offering naval architecture, structural analysis, and ship design services globally — directly comparable to Nauticad's engineering services business across defense, commercial, and offshore markets.
• Bureau Veritas Marine: Bureau Veritas provides marine classification, engineering consultancy, and ship design support services. Its marine engineering division competes with Nauticad in classification-adjacent design and FEM/structural analysis work for shipbuilders.
• Lloyd's Register: Lloyd's Register provides marine classification, ship design support, structural engineering, and consulting services — directly comparable to Nauticad's naval engineering and FEM/structural advisory work, particularly in the defense and commercial marine segments.

Emerging players

• Kongsberg Maritime: Kongsberg Maritime delivers integrated ship design, engineering, and digital platform solutions (e.g., K-Sim, Vessel Insight) for naval and commercial vessels. It overlaps with Nauticad's software-and-engineering approach from a maritime technology angle.

Others

• Aerosoft (Trefin Group): Aerosoft is Nauticad's sister company within the Trefin Group, providing engineering and advanced manufacturing in aerospace, automotive, rail, and space. It is a strategic ecosystem partner rather than a direct competitor, and serves as a cross-sector capability vector.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat7 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

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Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Nauticad