World’s Largest Boat Hoist With 1,700-Tonne Capacity Under Construction In Italy

Italian lifting equipment manufacturer ASCOM S.p.A. has started building a boat hoist that will be able to lift vessels weighing up to 1,700 tonnes.

The company says the BHT 1700 S.Ton will be the world’s largest boat hoist when completed. It will have 200 tonnes more lifting capacity than Cimolai Technology’s 1,500-tonne MBH 1500, which is located in Mauritius.

The new machine combines ASCOM’s hydraulic lifting system with a multi-axle mobile chassis. The design is intended to keep heavy loads stable and allow the hoist to move precisely in ports and shipyards.

ASCOM Managing Director Andrea Cuoghi said the project demonstrates the engineering capabilities of the company’s team and takes its hydraulic and structural design beyond its previous benchmarks.

The 1,700-tonne capacity is 200 tonnes higher than that of the MBH 1500. This will make the BHT 1700 S.Ton the largest boat hoist by lifting capacity if ASCOM completes the project as planned.

The size of the machine also means that stability and movement are important parts of its design. ASCOM is combining its hydraulic lifting system with several axles on a mobile chassis to move the hoist and its load around port and shipyard areas.

Unlike a fixed lifting system, the BHT 1700 S.Ton is being built as a mobile boat hoist. The company says its chassis is designed for precise manoeuvring, allowing the machine to be moved within the areas where it is being used.

ASCOM has not given a delivery date for the machine. It has also not said where the hoist will eventually be used, saying those details are confidential.

The company plans to show exclusive renderings of the BHT 1700 S.Ton at the Monaco Yacht Show 2026. The event will run from September 23 to 26, with ASCOM exhibiting at booth #DS69 in the Darse Sud section.

The renderings will offer the first detailed look at the new hoist before ASCOM provides further information about the machine.

ASCOM is based in Formigine, in Italy’s Modena province. The company makes travel lifts, boat hoists and port cranes for the marine and industrial sectors.

References: superyachttimes, Marina World