Large-scale developments near Lake Balaton - MAHART Tiszayacht successfully takes the Hungarian port construction world to the next level

For 24 years, MAHART Tiszayacht Kft. has been engaged in the construction and repair of steel-framed vessels and the manufacture of metal structures for the building industry as its main activity in its current form. In recent years, while maintaining its previous activities, it has also entered the port construction market, where it has already completed several successful projects.

On the shores of Lake Balaton, we visited three completed and one ongoing project with Attila Lovászi, the managing director of the company. In the first half of the interview, we talked about the new element of MAHART Tiszayacht's activities as a strategic partner of KÉSZ Csoport , the construction of the port, which now accounts for about half of its total activity. The leading expert was then asked about the company's past, achievements and plans.

The MAHART Tiszayacht enters the port construction market with modular, yet customisable technology

As we learnt from the CEO on the shores of Lake Balaton, the company assembles the metal structures of the ports from prefabricated standard elements, for which the necessary raw materials are manufactured in Greece for the company based on the MAHART Tiszayacht's optimised production plans for port construction. Its shape has been designed to our company's specifications and we manufacture the elements ourselves from main profiles from abroad. Whether it's two and a half, six or even twelve metre pontoon elements, we can mass-produce all of them, regardless of size," he said, pointing out the advantages of the technology used to build piers in ports. "Another big plus is that we can also design the cladding according to the customer's needs, whether it is wood or plastic, and we can also meet specific requirements if the customer has other ideas."

While in Balatonfüred, Attila Lovászi showed us two completed ports where MAHART Tiszayacht has worked: one was their very first port project, the Kékszalag Port (also known as the Balatonfüred Water Sports and Recreation Centre), where they first used their modular technology to build a 140 berth small boat facility.

"We are particularly proud of this harbour because it is also the starting point of Europe's longest and oldest cross-country sailing race, the Kékszalag. It is also one of our most important references."

"Our second development, the UNI Port, is also located in Balatonfüred, where the receiving authority was so satisfied with our precise work that they did not request any modifications, and they specifically emphasized their satisfaction.

We got the permit for the plant on the first inspection: this is very rare for a project like this."

A construction project to increase the surface area of Lake Balaton

On our way along the Hungarian coast we visited two other towns: the sailing harbour of the Balatonfűzfő Sailing Sports Association, which was also renovated by MAHART Tiszayacht, and the construction of the Mediterranean Harbour in Unterörs, which Attila Lovászi spoke about with perhaps the greatest enthusiasm.

"It is interesting to note that although we are talking about a nearly 7.5 hectare facility, the port does not take land from Lake Balaton, but increases its water surface, as the project has created an artificial bay by dry construction.

The outer and inner harbour together will be able to accommodate nearly 300 ships, and we are in charge of building this, among other things, and we have made significant progress: we are now laying the wooden surfaces of the piers and the access bridge."

In close cooperation with KÉSZ Csoport member companies

A major advantage of the MAHART Tiszayacht is that it is in strategic partnership with, among others, the KÉSZ Ipari Gyártó Kft based in Kecskemét, and the MA-HARD Hajózási és Vízépítő Kft. The former has extensive experience in metalworking and is equipped to carry out large iron and steel structural work.

Thanks to these collaborations, the MAHART Tiszayacht is able to handle the entire range of port berthing projects from design, through manufacturing and installation, to commissioning. From the customer's side, this results in more efficient collaboration, faster construction processes and a simple one-stop-shop system. The CEO is confident that in the future they will have the opportunity to work with the other two companies on a number of projects, further strengthening synergies within the group.

Szeged Centre on the banks of the Tisza

Although the conversation has so far been mainly about the company's work on the shores of Lake Balaton and the new profile it has built up in recent years, Attila Lovászi also reminded that it is not by chance that the company is called MAHART Tiszayacht.

"The headquarters of the company is located in Szeged: in 1996, continuing a century-old institutional tradition, it started its operations in its present organizational form on the former MAHART Ship Repair Plant's premises, near the Tisza River. We operate in a very special place: we have an area of about 15,000 square metres on the banks of the Tisza, including a slipway that is unique in Hungary for the length of 100 metres and the capacity to lift and launch a 500-tonne vessel. Moreover, in Hungary, only MAHART Tiszayacht has a falconry licence on the Tisza River, which entitles it to launch and lift vessels."

From boats to doors: almost anything that is metal construction

We also briefly mentioned that, while the company has entered the port construction market very quickly, this area still represents only about half of its portfolio, even with rapid growth. The plant in Tâtepää is continuously producing, converting and repairing barges, ships, ferries, complete harbour pontoons, flood protection pontoons, piers and access bridges for various purposes, according to demand. "We design to order or sample and repair aluminium and steel boat hulls, and assist in the design and licensing of waterborne equipment - and that's still not all we do."

From the construction of the Puskás Arena to the roof structure of the National Athletics Centre - the executive's career before the MAHART Tiszayacht

Attila explained:"I started working at KÉSZ Ipari Gyártó Kft. in 2018 as a local controller for a custom steel structure welding robot. I have been involved in several large projects, from the construction of the Puskás Arena to the roof structure of the National Athletics Stadium - part of the ring structure was fabricated under my leadership. For the KÉSZ Ipari Gyártó, my team and I also carried out a number of on-site installations and preassemblies: for all this - and many other works - we were jointly awarded the Group's internal Hexagon prize."

This is the area where Attila Lovászi's expertise and professional background in the KÉSZ Csoport environment has led him to his current position, having spent 5 years strengthening the KÉSZ Ipari Gyártó Kft. team before moving to MAHART Tiszayacht.

Comprehensive thinking and vision of the water world - Attila Lovászi's plans

In addition, a brief digression at the end of the interview revealed that the CEO is also attracted to aquatic life: at the winter port of Tape, where major developments are planned, he is not only concerned about the conservation of fish stocks and nature, but is also creating new habitats for the Tisza's wildlife. "We have installed ten perch nests in the bay - there are about 3 million eggs in one. About 20-25 percent of these are reaching young adulthood" - he gave a brief example to show that his interests and management activities are not limited to construction and production, but also include a wide range of plans for the future. And just one of many is that the CEO plans to develop new fishing spots on the Szeged side of the Tisza with MAHART Tiszayacht's own products.