The fire at Maxi Dolphin broke out on Monday, 24 August 2026, at around 10 pm at the shipyard site in Erbusco, near Brescia. A total of 50 firefighters with 13 vehicles were deployed, including reinforcements from Bergamo and Mantua. They worked through the night and prevented the flames from spreading to a neighbouring business.
The building in question was completely destroyed. Inside the hall were an MD51 Power, an MD75 and an MD80. According to the information released so far, no one was injured. The cause of the fire remains unknown, and no reliable estimate of the cost of the damage has been given.
MD51 Power: Lightweight construction with two IPS drives
The MD51 Power is a 15.42-metre-long and 4.26-metre-wide motor yacht designed by Roberto Starkel. Maxi Dolphin launched the model in 2007 and built several boats with different cockpit and interior layouts. The shipyard combined classic lines with a composite construction designed for low weight.
According to the manufacturer, the hull is constructed from pre-impregnated fibreglass fabric and epoxy resin using a negative mould. CoreCell is used as the core material, after which the component is post-cured in an oven. Maxi Dolphin uses the same process with carbon fibres for the deck. The stated weight is 10.5 tonnes.
The MD51 Power in figures
- Length: 15.42 metres
- Width: 4.26 metres
- Draught: 0.98 metres
- Displacement: 10.5 tonnes
- Engines: two Volvo Penta IPS600s, each with 435 PS
- Maximum speed: 40 knots
- Cruising speed: 30 knots
The propulsion system consists of two Volvo Penta IPS600 units, each producing 435 PS. One Direct comparison of IPS and shaft drive systems explains the design differences and their impact on efficiency and space utilisation. Maxi Dolphin states that the MD51 Power has a top speed of 40 knots and a cruising speed of 30 knots.
It has not been confirmed which version was destroyed in the fire. The shipyard’s most recent project overview last listed an MD51P Walkaround 2027 as under construction.
The loss is affecting composite production
For Maxi Dolphin, the damage is not limited to the three new vessels. The Erbusco site comprised more than 2,700 square metres of workshop space and facilities for the manufacture of large composite components. These included a 40-metre-long oven for controlled post-curing. The shipyard has not yet disclosed whether the furnace, moulds and other production equipment were completely destroyed.
Facilities of this kind cannot be replaced at short notice by an ordinary industrial unit. The report on the Carbon fibre construction of the Wally 101 illustrates how closely mould-making, storage, lamination and curing are interlinked in large-scale composite projects. In the case of Maxi Dolphin, there is the added factor that the boats are built with bespoke deck and interior designs.
The MD80 was about to be transported
In addition to the MD51 Power, two sailing yachts were destroyed. The most advanced of these was the 27.07-metre-long MD80 by Botin & Partners. It was due to be transported from Erbusco to Marina di Ravenna at the end of September 2026. The project was therefore just a few weeks away from leaving the shipyard.
In the case of the MD75 and the MD51 Power, however, work is said to have been at an early stage. Production of motor and sailing yachts is to continue at another site.
Can Maxi Dolphin quickly re-establish its specialised production? Have your say.
Lars Bolle
Chief Editor Digital
