A number of superyacht shipyards have donated stocks of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to those fighting the coronavirus outbreak on the frontline.
The Azimut Benetti Group has become the latest yard to announce a range of initiatives to distribute PPE to those in need.
The Italian superyacht yard is donating equipment to hospitals, police officers and port authorities located near the company’s facilities in Piedmont, Liguria, Tuscany and Marche.
The yard has set up a dedicated team that is working to procure, package and deliver the kits, which are usually used by the yard’s production employees.
Speaking about the initiative, group chairman Paolo Vitelli said: “With this practical contribution we want to express our closeness with and gratitude with local areas that have welcomed us and helped the company to develop. Our ties with them are stronger than they have ever been.”
It comes after UK yards Princess Yachts and Sunseeker International announced they too were donating stocks of PPE to frontline workers fighting coronavirus.
Sunseeker has donated a total of 400 face masks and 4000 gloves to local Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
Speaking about the donation, Sunseeker chief operating officer Michael Straughan said the yard was motivated “to support our hardworking NHS workers as they continue their exceptional frontline work against coronavirus.”
“As we had PPE equipment available, we felt it was important to donate these to Poole Hospital to help however we can,” he added.
Meanwhile, following a controlled shutdown of its sites, Princess Yachts has donated its stock of PPE to Plymouth City Council, which will distribute it across the region.
The stock will be handed out to key frontline workers, from members of the NHS to care workers.
Speaking about the donation, Princess Yachts chief executive Antony Sheriff said: “We hope this donation of our PPE goes some way to helping NHS staff and other such services in these incredibly difficult times.
“We are in regular discussions with Plymouth City Council and if we can find other ways to help in the collective effort against Covid-19 we will do whatever we can to support.”