Riccardo Peirano is a professional with over 35 years of experience in the naval and superyacht industry, combining a strong technical foundation with high-level operational leadership. Trained in the Italian Navy, he built an extensive career as a Chief Engineer on prestigious international yachts before moving into senior shipyard management, project coordination, department creation, training and mentoring.
Riccardo’s professional path combines deep technical knowledge, real operational pressure, new-build experience, owner-side construction perspective, refit leadership, project management, department creation, facility management and a clear commitment to raising standards in the superyacht world.
Riccardo Peirano is a professional with over 35 years of experience in the naval and superyacht industry. His career is built on the combination of a strong technical foundation and high-level operational leadership. Trained in the Italian Navy, he developed the discipline, systems thinking and technical responsibility that later became the foundation of his professional approach.
His entry into the yacht world began with new-build projects. One of his first major yacht construction experiences was PAS ENCORE, a 35-metre yacht built in 1990/1991, at a time when a yacht of that size was already considered a large vessel. This early stage gave him direct exposure to yacht construction, commissioning and the practical reality of turning drawings and systems into an operational yacht.
He later participated in THE ONE, a 40-metre Baglietto new-build developed in 2005/2006, and in NETANYA 8, a CMN new-build of 58 metres — almost 60 metres — developed in 2006/2007. NETANYA 8 received international press coverage, including an article where Riccardo was referenced as Chief Engineer for his knowledge of the yacht’s technical systems, machinery spaces and operational performance.
In parallel with his onboard career and new-build experience, Riccardo also acted from the owner’s side during yacht construction projects, gaining direct exposure to the expectations, priorities and decision-making process of yacht owners and their representatives. This owner-side perspective became an important part of his ability to understand both technical execution and strategic project expectations.
For more than two decades, Riccardo worked as a Chief Engineer on prestigious international yachts, managing critical and complex systems, multicultural teams and demanding operations in environments where reliability, safety, judgement and calm decision-making were essential.
In Palma de Mallorca, Riccardo also created from scratch the firefighting department at Ocean Safety, developing the operational structure, technical procedures and service capability for an area that would become essential for yacht safety, compliance and technical support.
After his years onboard, Riccardo transitioned into senior shipyard management roles. At Astilleros de Mallorca, he worked as Project Manager Coordinator, leading a team of five project managers and coordinating complex refit operations involving budgets, safety, regulatory compliance, contractors, technical execution, operational priorities and multidisciplinary teams.
Riccardo later created the Facility Department at Astilleros de Mallorca from scratch, establishing a structured operational department where none existed before. He currently leads the department, with responsibility for maintenance, safety, environmental compliance and operational excellence across multiple locations. This role combines technical judgement, long-term planning, team coordination, budget responsibility and the ability to transform daily operational needs into a stable working structure.
Throughout his career, he has managed over 350 refit projects and has built operational structures from the ground up, establishing himself as a benchmark in efficiency, technical judgement and decision-making under pressure.
Today, through Superyacht Engineers, Yacht Training Hub and Blue Life, Riccardo shares this knowledge with the next generation of industry professionals. His focus is clear: practical training, the right mindset and real preparation for the superyacht world.
His mission is to raise industry standards by developing engineers and yacht professionals capable of operating, leading and adapting in one of the most demanding environments in the world.
Riccardo’s authority comes from real operational exposure: machinery spaces, refit pressure, shipyard deadlines, owner expectations, crew dynamics, project coordination, department creation and technical decisions that cannot be solved with slogans.
New-build projects teach what refits alone cannot: construction logic, commissioning pressure, system integration, technical sequencing and the difference between a beautiful yacht and an operationally reliable yacht.
One of Riccardo’s first yacht new-build experiences. At that time, a 35-metre yacht was already considered a major project, giving him early exposure to yacht construction, technical commissioning and operational readiness.
Italian new-build project contributing to Riccardo’s practical understanding of yacht construction, shipyard coordination, commissioning and the transition from build phase to real onboard operation.
Internationally covered new-build project of almost 60 metres. Riccardo was referenced as Chief Engineer for his knowledge of the yacht’s technical systems, machinery spaces and operational performance.
NETANYA 8 was not just another yacht in Riccardo’s career. It was a large, technically demanding CMN new-build, covered by the international yachting press, where Riccardo was directly associated with the technical performance and operational efficiency of the vessel as Chief Engineer.
A visual reference from the NETANYA 8 article, where Riccardo Peirano was mentioned as Chief Engineer in relation to the yacht’s technical systems, machinery spaces and operational performance.
Decision-making, prioritisation and leadership for engineers, officers and technical managers working under pressure.
Practical knowledge of planning, coordination, contractor management, budgets, technical risks and delivery standards.
Structured learning for yacht professionals who want to grow faster, avoid common mistakes and build real competence.
Experience coordinating project managers, multidisciplinary teams and complex refit operations in a major shipyard environment.
Creating technical and operational departments from scratch, defining responsibilities, procedures, standards and long-term maintenance culture.
Direct exposure to new-build decision-making from the owner’s side, connecting technical execution with strategic expectations.
From creating a firefighting department to leading facility safety, Riccardo understands safety as an operational system, not paperwork.
Connecting technical systems, people, operations and decisions instead of treating problems as isolated events.
Building stable structures that make technical environments safer, cleaner, more efficient and easier to manage long term.
“The industry is not short of people. It is short of people who understand the system.”
Riccardo’s work is built around one idea: competence is not only technical knowledge. It is judgement, attitude, communication and the ability to make decisions when the situation is imperfect.Through Yacht Training Hub, Blue Life and Superyacht Engineers, Riccardo turns real-world experience into practical frameworks, mentoring, courses and professional guidance.
Use Superyacht Engineers as the entry point for mentoring, yacht training, technical insight and strategic guidance.
