IGY Sète Marina Hits 100% Occupancy Thanks to Great Location, Facilities and Support

Photo Credit – Port de Sete-Sud de France

Sète has long been popular with the French but is now being discovered by international travellers thanks to its winning location close to beautiful Montpellier, historic castles, vineyards, beaches and the stunning Camargue natural park.

Now the port is finding fame as a world class facility for the world’s largest yachts, thanks to the superbly-equipped IGY Sète Marina and in-water shipyard – located just steps from the bustling town centre.

Loved by crew

Sète is an ideal port of call for food and wine lovers, with an exceptional market full of French delicacies, and a choice of authentic restaurants within easy walking distance of the marina.

Regular events and parties are held at IGY Sète Marina throughout the season, from wine tasting to DJ nights, and for those who want to continue the party, private escorted trips can be arranged to nearby Montpellier. Recently voted best city in France to have fun, Montpellier boasts 295 bars and 19 nightclubs and is significantly cheaper than further along the coast in St Tropez, Antibes, Cannes and Monte Carlo.

Loved by captains

Discovering Sète for the first time, superyacht captains are often pleasantly surprised, not just by the interesting port and beautifully unspoilt Languedoc region, but the facilities and service levels at the marina.

One of the captains won over by Sète admits he and his senior crew “were a bit nervous” when they first arrived in 2022 for the maintenance and repair of a 47m superyacht, never having visited the marina before. Any worries were quickly dispelled when the IGY team went the extra mile “to accomplish everything we needed”.

IGY provided French to English translations, speeded up customs and immigration procedures, and even recruited a project coordinator to help manage contractors and complete projects on schedule.

In a letter to Sète Marina General Manager Jérôme Cuaz, the captain remarked: “Your team did such a great job that we are now talking about cancelling our Spring 2025 shipyard in Florida and instead coming to Sète. An organization is only as good as its people and you and your team make Sète Marina a fantastic place to stay.”

Superbly equipped

Photo Credit – Port de Sete-Sud de France

IGY’s marina has seen a dramatic rise in occupancy as captains discover its full potential, resulting in significant increases in revenues for dockage and concierge services year on year.

A standout feature is the in-water shipyard which has recently been home to one of the world’s most iconic megayachts. With secure dockage, wide berths and crane resources, the marina is an ideal stopover for provisioning, maintenance and emergency repair, and provides a highly cost-effective alternative to traditional shipyards.

Expert support is on hand at the marina to help with customs and immigration services, and the processing of tax relief for non-EU flagged vessels under TPA (also known as Inward Processing).

Sète is surprisingly well connected, with two airports just over 30km away (Montpellier and Béziers), with daily flights to Paris, London and Amsterdam, and high-speed train connections to main European hubs including Barcelona.

It may not be as well-known as its glamourous neighbours along the coast, but Sète has everything you need for an affordable and enjoyable stay. Just remember to book in advance!

For more information visit IGY Shipyard Services and IGY Sète Marina.