Admiral

Admiral is an Italian yacht builder that began in Lavagna in the 1950s and launched its first Admiral-branded yacht, an 18-meter wooden vessel, in 1966. The brand is now part of The Italian Sea Group, which acquired Admiral in November 2011. Admiral builds luxury yachts and superyachts, with a long association with steel and aluminium construction.

Admiral’s roots go back to Cantieri Navali Lavagna, which produced wooden yachts in the 1950s under the names Arcobaleno Super and later President. The Admiral name appeared in 1966 on an 18-meter wooden yacht, and the yard then expanded into larger motor yachts during the 1970s. A first 30-meter wooden motor yacht and several yachts over 30 meters marked that period. In 2011, Admiral became part of The Italian Sea Group, which made it one of the group’s flagship brands.

Admiral is known for luxury yachts and superyachts built with steel and aluminium, a direction the brand adopted after moving beyond its early wooden boats. The yard’s history highlights a focus on performance and safety at sea, including the launch of its first light-alloy Admiral in 1982 at 23.50 meters. The brand’s published history mentions yachts from 32 to 54 meters, while broader listings show a range that includes larger custom projects. Admiral has remained associated with Italian yacht building, classic lines, and semi-displacement and displacement designs.