Operazione SRL

What Operazione SRL does

Operazione SRL is the Italian holding entity behind Piloda Group, a privately held, Di Palo family-controlled industrial group founded in 1957 and headquartered in Naples. The group operates through three core wholly-owned divisions — Piloda Building (civil, industrial, port and residential construction, urban regeneration and heritage restoration), Piloda Shipyard (ship design, refit and maintenance for commercial, naval and military vessels) and Piloda Yachting (luxury yacht construction, refit and lifecycle management under the Ad Astra brand) — plus a Piloda Defence subdivision that represents 12% of the portfolio. Operations are anchored on an integrated network of Mediterranean facilities at Naples (Calata della Marinella and Afragola), Brindisi and Torre Annunziata, including the newly commissioned 143-metre Annamaria floating dock with 6,000-tonne lifting capacity and a 350-ton Travel Lift at Brindisi.

The group's technology stack combines traditional shipbuilding and construction capabilities with engineered defence systems developed jointly with VN Maritime Technologies (joint production of 40 high-performance 15-metre vessels for the Italian Coast Guard) and HAVELSAN (manned, unmanned and hybrid surface vessels, including the USV12 unmanned platform). The Ad Astra 60 yacht, designed with Francesco Guida and powered by twin MAN I6-800 engines, exemplifies the cross-divisional application of naval engineering know-how to commercial luxury products.

Piloda monetises primarily through project-based, multi-year contracts won via Italian and EU public procurement, with approximately 70% of revenue derived from public institutions — including the Italian Navy, Coast Guard, Guardia di Finanza and municipal authorities — and the remaining 30% from private commercial shipping, ferry operators and yacht owners. Pricing is contract-specific (typical project values €30M–€162M) and the company maintains a comprehensive compliance stack (ISO 9001, 14001, 45001, SA8000, 37001, UNI SOA, CEPAS FGAS, EcoVadis) required to bid on Italian public works and defence tenders. Geographic footprint remains primarily Italian, though partnerships with Turkish (VN Maritime) and other international defence partners extend its addressable market into broader European and Mediterranean defence procurement.

Name

Operazione SRL

Legal name

Piloda Group

Website

https://operazionesrl.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

1957

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Operazione SRL is the holding company of Piloda Group, a family-owned Italian industrial group operating Piloda Building, Piloda Shipyard and Piloda Yachting — serving Italian public institutions, defence agencies and private commercial clients with construction, naval refit and luxury yacht services across Mediterranean shipyard facilities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maritime and Construction Services

NAICS

Ship Building and Repairing (336611), Ship and Boat Building (3366), Ship and Boat Building (33661), Corporate, Subsidiary, and Regional Managing Offices (551114), Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883)

SIC

Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730)

akta.pro primary industry

Barge & Coastal Freighter Shipbuilding (IMAJAAAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Electrical, Automation & Navigation MRO (Power, Controls, Comms, ECDIS/Radar) (IMAJAFAD), Marine Terminals & Cargo Handling Infrastructure (RoRo, Bulk, Container) (IMAFAJAF), Passenger Ferries & Water Taxis (Fast Ferries, RoPax, Catamarans) (IMAJADAC), Offshore Marine & Aviation Support (PSVs, AHTS, Crew Boats, Helicopters) (EUALABAJ)

Keywords

• Shipbuilding and repair
• Civil construction services
• Naval refit services
• Luxury yacht construction
• Defence vessel production

Headquarters

HQ city

Naples, Campania

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public Infrastructure Contracts: Large-scale construction and restoration contracts with public institutions, including urban regeneration, port infrastructure, and civil works funded under Italy's National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR). Revenue from government tenders and long-term infrastructure projects.
2. Shipbuilding and Repair Services: Ship refit, repair, maintenance and newbuild services for commercial vessels, naval units, coast guard vessels, and ferry operators. Services include drydocking, propulsion system work, hull maintenance, and specialized naval engineering.
3. Yacht Construction and Refit: Construction of Ad Astra yachts and comprehensive refit, maintenance, and lifecycle management services for luxury yachts through integrated facilities in Naples, Torre Annunziata, and Brindisi.
4. Defence and Military Contracts: Production of military vessels including the PD15 and PD21 high-performance SAR vessels and USV platforms for the Italian Navy, Coast Guard, Guardia di Finanza and other government agencies. Includes development of next-generation manned and unmanned naval platforms.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Operazione SRL operates the Piloda Group, a vertically integrated Italian industrial network delivering civil construction and urban regeneration (Piloda Building), ship refit, repair and naval engineering (Piloda Shipyard, including the Annamaria floating dock), and luxury yacht construction and refit (Piloda Yachting, featuring the Ad Astra brand). It also produces defence vessels and unmanned surface platforms (Piloda Defence). Roughly 70% of activity serves public institutions including defence; 30% serves private enterprises such as shipping companies and yacht owners.

Product overview

Piloda Group is a multi-divisional industrial company comprising Piloda Building (construction and restoration), Piloda Shipyard (ship refit and maintenance), and Piloda Yachting (luxury yacht services), with Piloda Defence (12% of portfolio) focused on military vessels. The group operates a network of facilities in Naples, Brindisi, and Torre Annunziata, offering integrated solutions from urban regeneration and heritage restoration to naval refit, defence vessel production (PD15, PD21, USV12), and luxury yacht construction under the Ad Astra brand.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ad Astra: Luxury yacht brand developed by Piloda Yachting, featuring classic Down East style yachts designed by Francesco Guida. The Ad Astra 60 model was presented at Cannes 2025.

Products and services

• Piloda Building Civil, industrial, port and residential construction services focused on urban regeneration, heritage restoration and sustainable building projects for public institutions and private clients.
• Piloda Shipyard Ship design, refitting, repair and maintenance services for commercial, military and naval vessels, delivered through facilities in Naples and Brindisi including the Annamaria floating dock.
• Piloda Yachting Luxury yacht construction, refitting and maintenance services for vessels up to 40 meters through facilities in Naples, Torre Annunziata and Brindisi, with new painting booth and Final Assembly Line.
• Piloda Defence Military and paramilitary vessel production, naval engineering, and advanced platform development for SAR, maritime security and defence applications; represents 12% of Piloda Group's portfolio.
• Ad Astra 60 Yacht Luxury yacht model within the Ad Astra brand produced by Piloda Yachting, blending classic Down East yacht design with modern Mediterranean engineering and twin MAN I6-800 propulsion.
• PD15 High-Performance Vessel High-performance 15-meter vessel designed for Search and Rescue (SAR) missions within Piloda Defence's maritime defence portfolio.
• PD21 High-Performance Vessel High-performance vessel (PD21 class) designed for Search and Rescue (SAR) operations, part of Piloda Defence's maritime vessel portfolio.
• USV12 Unmanned Surface Vessel Unmanned Surface Vessel platform developed with VN Maritime Technologies and HAVELSAN for autonomous maritime defence and surveillance missions.
• 40 High-Performance Vessels for Italian Coast Guard Programme delivering 40 high-performance 15-meter vessels for Italian Coast Guard SAR, coastal security and patrol operations under the Piloda Shipyard / VN Maritime joint programme.
• Annamaria Floating Dock Floating drydock infrastructure of 143 meters with 6,000-tonne lifting capacity, integrated digital systems and low-impact environmental solutions used to deliver ship refit and repair services.

Quantifiable outcome

• Projects worth more than €162 million under Italy's National Recovery and Resilience Plan
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, major, supporting and minor.

• HAVELSANcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 October 2025Strategic cooperation agreement for development, integration and production of manned, unmanned and hybrid surface vessels for Italian and European defence markets. HAVELSAN contributes expertise in autonomous systems, command and control and sensor integration.
• VN Maritime TechnologiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint production programme for 40 vessels for Italian Coast Guard combining Italian shipbuilding capabilities with Turkish engineering expertise. Extended to advanced platforms for Italian Navy, Guardia di Finanza and government agencies. Includes USV12 unmanned vessel development.
• NautiluscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership within NA.VE. Scarl for integrated industrial model for Manfredonia Port redevelopment. Three operational hubs: Manfredonia for offshore installation, Brindisi for assembly and logistics, and specialized external production centres for steel components.
• Francesco GuidamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNaval architect and designer collaborated with Piloda Yachting on Ad Astra 60 yacht design, bringing expertise in classic yacht aesthetics and Mediterranean cruising vessel architecture.
• Ranieri TonissisupportingTechnology or IntegrationSupplier of MAN engines for Coast Guard vessels, providing propulsion systems for 15-meter high-performance vessels designed for SAR and patrol operations.
• Vulkan Italia (HamiltonJet)supportingTechnology or IntegrationProvides HamiltonJet waterjet propulsion systems for Coast Guard vessels, ensuring reliability, maneuverability and operational performance.
• Altieri AssociatisupportingOthersCreative agency responsible for Piloda Group's new visual identity system, including distinctive logo design, color palette, and brand strategy across all three divisions.
• Grimaldi FoundationminorOthersSupporter of Matteo Caracciolini training ship restoration project, part of 'Scugnizzi a Vela' social initiative for youth integration.
• Oltre l'OrizzonteminorOthersSocial initiative partner in Brindisi contributing to Piloda Group's community engagement and social responsibility programmes.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Ferretti Group: Italian luxury yacht builder and refit provider with multiple brands (Riva, Pershing, CRN, Custom Line). Closest direct peer to Piloda Yachting and Ad Astra in Mediterranean yacht construction, refit services, and premium positioning.
• Palumbo Superyachts: Italian group with shipyards in Naples, Savona, Marseille and Malta focused on superyacht newbuild and refit. Highly comparable to Piloda Yachting on geography, refit-centric model, and Mediterranean footprint.
• Sanlorenzo: Italian builder of bespoke luxury motor yachts (24m-70m+). Directly comparable to Piloda Yachting/Ad Astra in the high-end bespoke yacht segment, with similar design-driven branding and Mediterranean refit overlap.
• The Italian Sea Group: Italian luxury yacht builder and refitter (Admiral, Tecnomar, Perini Navi) with operations in Marina di Carrara and La Spezia. Comparable peer to Piloda Yachting in large-yacht refit and bespoke construction.
• Azimut|Benetti Group: World's largest privately-held luxury yacht builder with Italian manufacturing and global service network. Comparable peer to Piloda Yachting across construction and after-sales/refit services in the premium segment.

Broad incumbents

• Naval Group: France's leading naval defence shipbuilder (FREMM, Barracuda submarines). Comparable in the naval/defence vertical where Piloda Defence operates, though at much greater scale and breadth.
• Fincantieri: Italy's largest shipbuilder, active in cruise, naval, and offshore vessels with global shipyards. Directly comparable as an Italian naval and commercial shipbuilder, but vastly larger scale and broader portfolio than Piloda Shipyard's focused refit/defence offering.
• Damen Shipyards Group: Dutch global shipbuilder with broad naval, workboat and yacht support portfolio. Comparable as European naval/commercial shipbuilder with established refit and MRO capabilities across ship types.

Emerging players

• CCN (Custom Cantieri Navali): Italian builder of composite motor yachts up to 30m and sailing yachts. Comparable emerging peer to Piloda Yachting in the boutique bespoke yacht space where Ad Astra competes.
• Vulcano (Cantiere Navale Vittoria / Italian Workboat segment): Italian builder of patrol boats and high-performance vessels for coast guard/military. Comparable emerging peer in the same niche Piloda Defence targets with PD15/PD21 platforms.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/operazione-srl

Compliance9 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries4 records

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 Operazione SRL